August 13, 1898 · Philippines Theater
August 13, 1898
The fall of Manila on August 13, 1898 was one of the most peculiar engagements in military history — a prearranged surrender designed to exclude Filipino forces from entering the city. Governor-General Fermín Jáudenes, facing both Dewey's fleet in the bay and Filipino insurgents under Emilio Aguinaldo surrounding the city on land, secretly negotiated with the Americans: he would offer token resistance and then surrender to U.S. forces, provided the Filipinos were kept out. The Americans agreed. On the morning of August 13, the mock battle was fought, the Spanish flag was struck, and Manila fell. Crucially, the armistice ending the war had been signed the previous day in Washington — but the telegram had not yet arrived.
Commanders