A New Force at Sea

David A. Smith's "A New Force at Sea: George Dewey and the Rise of the American Navy" examines the career of Admiral George Dewey, focusing particularly on the pivotal Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War of 1898. The book situates Dewey's rise within the broader transformation of the United States Navy from a modest coastal defense force into a modern fleet capable of projecting power across the globe. Smith uses Dewey's biography as a lens through which readers can understand the larger institutional and technological changes reshaping American naval power at the turn of the twentieth century.

The book traces Dewey's early naval career, including his service during the Civil War, before moving into a detailed account of the events leading up to his famous victory at Manila Bay. Smith carefully explains how Dewey's decisive action against the Spanish fleet in the Philippines not only secured a swift and lopsided American victory but also announced the United States as an emerging naval power on the world stage. The author places this battle within the context of the broader Spanish-American War, describing how the conflict marked a turning point in American foreign policy and military ambition.

One of the strengths of Smith's work is its attention to the technological and organizational changes that made Dewey's victory possible. The book discusses the shift from wooden sailing ships to steel-hulled, steam-powered vessels, and how naval reformers pushed for modernization in the decades following the Civil War. Smith connects these institutional changes to the broader debates in American politics about the nation's role in world affairs, including the influence of naval theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose ideas about sea power shaped American strategic thinking during this period.

Smith also explores Dewey's personality and leadership style, portraying him as a capable and confident commander who understood both the military and political dimensions of his role. The author does not shy away from discussing the ways in which Dewey's success at Manila Bay elevated him to national celebrity status, a phenomenon that had significant implications for how Americans viewed their navy and their nation's place in the world. The book examines how Dewey's fame translated into political considerations, including brief speculation about a potential presidential candidacy, though this ambition ultimately did not materialize into a serious campaign.

The narrative benefits from Smith's clear and accessible prose, which makes the technical and strategic aspects of naval warfare understandable to general readers while still offering enough detail to satisfy those with a deeper interest in military history. The book balances biographical detail about Dewey himself with broader historical analysis of the Navy's institutional development, avoiding an overly narrow focus on either the man or the larger historical forces at play.

Readers interested in American military history, the Spanish-American War, or the broader story of American naval expansion will find this book a useful and engaging resource. Smith's work fits within a growing body of scholarship examining how the United States transitioned from a regional power focused on continental expansion to a nation with global military reach. By focusing on Dewey as a central figure, the book offers a personal and human dimension to what might otherwise be a purely institutional or technological history.

The book's structure allows readers to follow both the specific events of Dewey's career and the larger currents of naval reform and international politics that shaped the era. This dual focus helps illuminate why the Battle of Manila Bay resonated so strongly with the American public and how it contributed to lasting changes in American foreign policy, including the acquisition of overseas territories and a more assertive role in global affairs.

Overall, "A New Force at Sea" provides a well-researched and thoughtfully written account of a significant figure and moment in American naval history. Smith succeeds in demonstrating how individual leadership, institutional reform, and changing geopolitical circumstances converged to reshape the United States Navy at a critical juncture in the nation's history. The book serves as both a biography of Dewey and a broader history of American naval modernization, making it a valuable addition to the literature on this important period.