“The strain of the night fighting and the heavy details for outpost duty made it imperative to re-enforce General Greene’s troops with General MacArthur’s brigade, which had arrived in transports on the 31st of July.  The difficulties of this operation can hardly be overestimated.  The transports were at anchor off Cavite, five miles from a point on the beach where it was desired to disembark the men.  Several squalls, accompanied by floods of rain, raged day after day, and the only way to get the troops and supplies ashore was to load them from the ship’s side into native lighters (called ‘cascos’) or small steamboats, move them to a point opposite the camp, and then disembark them through the surf in small boats, or by running the lighters head on to the beach.  The landing was finally accomplished, after days of hard work and hardship; and I desire here to express again my admiration for the fortitude and cheerful willingness of the men of all commands engaged in this operation.

“Upon the assembly of MacArthur’s brigade in support of Greene’s, I had about 8,500 men in position to attack, and I deemed the time had come for final action.  During the time of the night attacks I had communicated my desire to Admiral Dewey that he would allow his ships to open fire on the right of the Spanish line of intrenchments, believing that such action would stop the night firing and loss of life, but the Admiral had declined to order it unless we were in danger of losing our position by the assaults of the Spanish, for the reason that, in his opinion, it would precipitate a general engagement, for which he was not ready.  Now, however, the brigade of General MacArthur was in position and the Monterey had arrived, and under date of August 6 Admiral Dewey agreed to my suggestion that we should send a joint letter to the Captain General notifying him that he should remove from the city all non-combatants within forty-eight hours.”

The joint note of General Merritt and Admiral Dewey was as follows: 

Headquarters U.S.  Land and Naval Forces,
Manila Bay,
Philippine Islands,
August 7, 1898.

The General in Chief Commanding Spanish Forces in Manila.

Sir:  We have the honor to notify your excellency that operations of the land and naval forces of the United States against the defenses of Manila may begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours from the hour of receipt by you of this communication, or sooner if made necessary by an attack on your part.

This notice is given in order to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city.

Very respectfully,

Wesley Merritt, Major-General, United States Army, Commanding Land Forces of the United States.

George Dewey, Rear-Admiral, United States Navy, Commanding United States Naval Forces on Asiatic Station.

The notable words in this are those “against the defenses of Manila,” instead of against the city itself—­the usual way—­the city was to be spared if possible.