Existing comment:
Shell Casing and Painting:
Upon commissioning in 1894, Raleigh spent three years operating in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Having joined Dewey's squadron in 1897, the ship participated in the Battle of Manila Bay. While passing the batteries guarding the entrance to the bay, Raleigh returned fire on the island of El Fraile, thus claiming to have fired the first shot in the battle. This powder casing is from the first round fired by the American cruiser.
Raleigh was decommissioned in April 1919 and sold for scrapping on August 5, 1921. |