On May 7, 1898, , an American dispatch boat, arrived in Hong Kong from Manila, bringing reports of Dewey's victory in the Battle of Manila Bay. Agunaldo had recently returned there from Singapore expecting to be transported to Manila by the Americans, but "McCulloch" had no orders regarding this. "McCulloch" again arrived in Hong Kong on May 15 bearing such orders and departed Hong Kong with Aguinaldo aboard on May 17, arriving in Manila Bay on May 19. Several revolutionaries, as well as Filipino soldiers employed by the Spanish army, crossed over to Aguinaldo's command.