First Battle of Manzanillo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Manzanillo
Part of the Spanish–American War
USS Wompatuck, circa 21 April 1899
Date 30 June 1898 Location Manzanillo, Cuba Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	United States
Commanders and leaders
Joaquín Barreda	Lucien Young
Strength
4 gunboats 3 pontoons 3 field guns	2 gunboats 1 armed tug
Casualties and losses
2 killed 4 wounded 1 gunboat damaged	1 killed 2 wounded 2 gunboats damaged 1 armed tug damaged

The First Battle of Manzanillo was a sea battle during the Spanish–American War. It took place on June 30, 1898. The fighting happened in and around the harbor of Manzanillo, Cuba. Three American gunboats attacked Spanish ships but were forced to leave.

Why the Battle Happened

After the blockade of Santiago, Spain tried to send supplies to the city. They used ports on the southern coast of Cuba that were not blocked. The American consul (a government official) in Kingston learned about this. He sent a message that Spain was preparing to send supplies from Kingston.

To stop these efforts, President McKinley expanded the blockade on June 28. It now included the southern coast of Cuba and Puerto Rico. To enforce this blockade, a group of American gunboats and support ships was sent. This group included the USS Hist, Hornet, and Wompatuck. These three American ships started by exploring the area between Santa Cruz and Manzanillo.

The Battle Begins

Fighting at Niguero Bay

While patrolling near Niguero Bay, the Americans saw a small Spanish gunboat. It was called the Centinela and weighed about 30 tons. The American ships decided to attack it. The Wompatuck had a deep draft, meaning it sat low in the water. So, the Hornet and Hist moved closer to fight the Centinela.

As they got near, the Centinela started firing its two Maxim guns. Spanish soldiers on shore also began shooting at the Americans. But they ran away when the Americans shot back. The Centinela's back gun was destroyed. The ship then tried to hide behind a small island, called a cay. This did not work, and the Americans still hit the ship. Its crew then ran it aground (stuck it on the shore). However, the Centinela was later refloated and joined the Spanish ships at Manzanillo.

Fighting at Manzanillo Harbor

The three American gunboats then continued towards Manzanillo. There, a group of Spanish ships spotted them. This group included the gunboats Guantánamo, Estrella, and Delgado Parejo. Each of these had 19 sailors and officers. There were also three armed pontoons (flat-bottomed boats). These pontoons were the Guardián, with four gunners and an old Parrott gun. The Cuba Española was an old wooden gunboat with a Parrott gun and seven men. There was also an old sailboat used as a barracks ship (a ship where sailors lived). Many other commercial ships were also in the port.

The Americans opened fire at 3:20 PM. The Spanish ships fired back accurately, hitting all three American ships several times. The Hist was hit many times, including near its engine room. The Hornet took a damaging hit to its main steam pipe. This badly burned three men, and at least one of them died.

The American reports said the Hist sank some Spanish boats. But this was not true. The Hornet was badly damaged, so the Wompatuck had to tow it away. The Wompatuck itself was only lightly damaged compared to the other American ships. As the Wompatuck began to tow the Hornet, the Spanish ships started firing at them. The Americans were taking damage and losing men. They decided to leave because their guns were not strong enough to destroy the rest of the Spanish ships.

What Happened Next

Two more American ships arrived a day later to meet with the others. They tried again to silence the Spanish ships but were also pushed back. This was called the Second Battle of Manzanillo. The Spanish ships were later repaired, so most of their group was still ready to fight.

More American ships arrived by mid-July. On July 18, a third important battle was fought. This engagement finally destroyed the small Spanish fleet for good. Even though the fleet was destroyed, the town's soldiers kept fighting until August. That's when the Fourth Battle of Manzanillo was fought.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Manzanillo para niños

• Second Battle of Manzanillo
• Third Battle of Manzanillo

Ships Involved

Spain

Gunboats

• Estrella
• Guantánamo
• Centinela
• Delgado Parejo

Pontoons

• Maria
• Cuba Española
• Guardián

United States

Gunboats

• USS Hist
• USS Hornet

Armed tugs

• USS Wompatuck

Sources