THIRTEEN GUNBOATS

On April 17 I went to Manila on board the Petrel, which was convoying thirteen gunboats bought from Spain, was most royally treated by all the officers and enjoyed the trip immensely. It has always been my desire to be aboard a man-of-war in time of action, and my desire came very near being gratified, and in a manner it was, for the reason that one of these Spanish gunboats - which, by the way, were named by the insurgents - tried to give us the shake and started off at full speed in the opposite direction. No sooner had the Quartermaster reported this fact to the officer of the deck when call to quarters was sounded, and in a short time the 6-pounder soon brought the runaway alongside our boat.
Bayless Gives Minute Account of the Taking of Iloilo