▁colonial ▁period . ▁▁ ▁It ▁was ▁unique ▁among ▁for ts ▁built ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁between ▁the ▁Civil ▁War ▁and ▁early ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁both ▁as ▁a ▁sea ▁fort ▁and ▁in ▁having ▁tur rets . ▁It ▁was ▁captured ▁and ▁occupied ▁by ▁the ▁Japanese ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁and ▁was ▁re capt ured ▁by ▁the ▁U . S . ▁after ▁U . S . ▁forces ▁ign ited ▁pet role um ▁and ▁gas oline ▁in ▁the ▁fort , ▁leaving ▁it ▁perman ently ▁out ▁of ▁commission . ▁Si xty - e ight ▁Japanese ▁soldiers ▁per ished ▁in ▁the ▁bla ze . ▁It ▁took ▁the ▁U . S . ▁soldiers ▁days ▁before ▁they ▁could ▁even ▁go ▁into ▁the ▁for tr ess ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁heat . ▁ ▁The ▁now - ab andon ed ▁fort ▁was ▁named ▁after ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁Richard ▁C . ▁Dr um , ▁who ▁served ▁with ▁distinction ▁during ▁the ▁Mexican – American ▁War ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War , ▁and ▁died ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 0 9 , ▁the ▁year ▁of ▁the ▁fort ' s ▁construction . ▁The ▁island ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁former ▁har bor ▁def enses ▁of ▁Man ila ▁Bay ▁fall ▁under ▁the ▁juris diction ▁of ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁Cav ite ▁in ▁Cav ite ▁Province . ▁ ▁Battle ▁of ▁Man ila ▁Bay ▁On ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁ 3 0 ▁April – 1 ▁May ▁ 1 8 9 8 , ▁Com mod ore ▁George ▁De we y ' s ▁squad ron ▁entered ▁Man ila ▁Bay ,