Having delivered the port broadside, the American fleet turned, heading toward the shore, and moved back toward the northeast, delivering the starboard broadside.

As our ships passed to and fro, the stars and stripes could be seen whirling out from the clouds of smoke, and as the line passed the second and third times without a sign of any ship being injured, the sailors began to feel that the Spaniards were not so formidable after all.  Their shots went tearing away over our ships or splashed the water farther in shore.  Some of the men who fought at the guns said that after the first general broadside, the sailors laughed at the wild shots, and exposed themselves recklessly, feeling that they were in no particular danger.

The story of the first general engagement is that the Americans moved in front of the Spanish line five times, pouring in broadsides with all the available guns.  Each time the fleet drew nearer to shore, and each time the firing became more terribly effective, while the Spaniards failed to improve in marksmanship.  Our gunners fired first the port broadsides, then the starboard, then the port again, then the starboard and then the port guns for a third time, and at this last, or fifth, return for an engagement along the line they were within 1,500 yards of the Spanish position.  Our whole line was choked with smoke, but still unhurt.  The Spanish fleet was already wounded beyond recovery.

Duel of the flagships.

It was during the delivery of this last attack that the Reina Christina made a valiant attack.  Up to that time not a Spanish ship had left the line of battle.  As the Olympia approached, Admiral Montejo gave orders, and the Reina Christina moved out from the line to engage the big flagship of the American fleet.  Admiral Dewey’s boat welcomed the battle.  Every battery on the Olympia was turned on the Reina Christina.  In the face of this awful fire she still advanced.  The American sailors had ridiculed the gunnery of the Spaniards, but they had to admire this act of bravery.  She came forward and attempted to swing into action against the Olympia, but was, struck fore and aft by a perfect storm of projectiles.  With the Olympia still pounding at her, she swung around and started back for the protection of the navy yard.  Just after she had turned a well-aimed shell from one of the Olympia’s eight-inch guns struck her, fairly wrecking the engine-room and exploding a magazine.  She was seen to be on fire, but she painfully continued her way toward the shelter of Cavite and continued firing until she was a mass of flames.  It was during this retreat that Captain Cadarso was killed.  The bridge was shot from under Admiral Montejo.  The Spanish sailors could be seen swarming out of the burning ship and into the small boats.  Admiral Montejo escaped and transferred his pennant to the Castilla.  He had been on the Castilla less than five minutes when it was set on fire by an exploding shell.