Spanish–American War A Spanish battery of three
naval guns from the Spanish navy cruiser
Velasco was on the eastern end of the island in 1898, but was not engaged in the Battle of Manila Bay. sited at Battery Craighill The initial construction on Fort Hughes was largely complete by 1914 except the mortar battery, completed in 1919. The initial gun batteries were: Circa 1940 an
antiaircraft battery of four
guns on mobile mounts was added on the eastern end of the island, known as Battery Idaho. During 1941 Battery Williams was built, with three
mobile guns on concrete "
Panama mounts". Battery Gillespie was named for Major General
George Lewis Gillespie Jr.,
Chief of Engineers 1901–1903. Battery Woodruff was named for Brigadier General
Carle Augustus Woodruff, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. Battery Craighill was named for Brigadier General
William Price Craighill, Chief of Engineers 1895–1897. Battery Leach was named for Colonel Smith Stallard Leach, an engineer officer. Battery Fuger was named for Lt. Col.
Frederick Füger, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. Battery Williams was named for 1st. Lt. George R. Williams, a Philippine Scouts officer killed at Abucay, Bataan in January 1942.
World War II Fort Hughes was occupied by Japanese forces after their
conquest of the Philippines. The fort was surrendered along with Corregidor and all other US and Filipino forces in the islands on 6 May 1942. The fort's garrison executed destruction procedures on their guns prior to their surrender and the Japanese occupation. The Japanese were able to salvage the 3-inch guns of Battery Fuger and redeploy them at the
Malinta Tunnel on
Corregidor. Also, Battery Idaho's four AA guns were redeployed to
Clark Field. The Japanese had prepared positions around the batteries and were able to shelter in the tunnels. Initial assaults were unsuccessful; the terrain was such that tanks could not bring their guns to bear on the Japanese positions. On 31 March an attempt was made to burn out the defenders by pouring diesel fuel down the only vent shaft accessible to the Americans. However, this did not work, as the diesel fuel could not be delivered up the sides of the battery fast enough. The commander of the 113th Engineer Battalion devised a solution using two diesel-filled
pontoon cubes from the naval forces and a pump and flex hose from the air forces. On 5 April over of diesel fuel were pumped down the vent shaft and ignited using
white phosphorus mortar rounds. This was repeated twice more on 6 and 7 April, followed by two demolition charges. The next few days were occupied with probing infantry attacks and attempts to persuade the surviving Japanese to surrender. On 13 April the last defender was killed and the fort was reclaimed. ==Present==