Wesley Merritt

Wesley Merritt (June 16, 1834 – December 3, 1910) was a general in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. He is noted for distinguished service in the cavalry.

Spanish-American War

After George Dewey defeated the Spanish navy at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, the U.S. began to organize ground forces to attack and capture the city of Manila. Merritt was placed in command of the U.S. VIII Corps being raised in California. In June, 1898, Merritt and the last of the VIII Corps departed from San Francisco for the Philippines.

Related Topics:
George Dewey - Spanish - Battle of Manila Bay - 1898 - Manila - VIII Corps - California - June - San Francisco - Philippines

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Once Merritt arrived on the island of Luzon he and Dewey made preparations for the attack on the city. The two intentionally kept Emilio Aguinaldo out of the plans for the attack, neither wanting Aguinaldo's Insurgents to have any control over the city. It is widely believed that Merritt and Dewey made arrangements with General Fermin Juadenes, commander of the Spanish garrison, to surrender the city to the U.S. only after putting up a token resistance. In any case the city fell on August 13 and Merritt became the military governor of Manila. He later advised the U.S. in the peace negotiations at the Treaty of Paris. He was promoted to major general in the U.S. Army in 1895.

Related Topics:
Luzon - Emilio Aguinaldo - Fermin Juadenes - August 13 - Manila - Treaty of Paris - 1895

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Merritt retired from the Army in 1900 and died ten years later in Natural Bridge, Virginia. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Related Topics:
1900 - Natural Bridge, Virginia - Arlington National Cemetery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~