800 



UNITED STATES WAR RECORD. 



signed : " Oregon,'' on July 7, 1898 ; " Newark," on 

 July 7, 1898 (detached Aug. 3) ; " Yankee," on July 

 7, 1898; "Yosemite," on July 7, 1898; "Dixie," on 

 July 7, 1898 ; " Massachusetts," on July 9, 1898 ; 

 "Badger," on July 12, 1898; "New Orleans," on 

 July 17, 1898. The colliers " Abarenda," " Alexan- 

 der," "Cassias," "Caesar," "Scindia," and "Justin " 

 and the supply ship " Glacier " were attached to 

 this squadron on Aug. 3, with orders to hold them- 

 selves in readiness at Hampton Roads to join the 

 squadron. At the time of formation of the Eastern 

 squadron the Navy Department especially directed 

 that the vessels assigned to it were to remain under 

 the orders of the commander in chief of the North 

 Atlantic station until the departure of the Eastern 

 squadron for Europe, but as this squadron was 

 never sent abroad the vessels composing it always 

 remained under the orders of Admiral Sampson. 



Abarenda. Steamer converted into a collier. 

 Commissioned in United States navy May 20, 1898. 

 Lieut.-Commander W. H. Buford. Took part in 

 the attack on Guantanamo, June 12, 1898. As- 

 signed to Eastern squadron, under Commodore 

 Watson. 



Alexander. Steamer converted into a collier. 

 Commissioned in United States navy June 1, 1898. 

 Commander W. T. Burwell. Assigned to Eastern 

 squadron, under Commodore Watson. Served 

 chiefly at Santiago and Guantanamo. 



Amphitrite. Double-turreted monitor. Twenty- 

 six officers, 156 men. Launched June 7, 1883. First 

 commission, April 23, 1895. Capt. C. J. Barclay. 

 Ordered to Key West early 'in March, 1898. Off 

 Matanzas early in April. Ordered to San Juan, 

 Puerto Rico, May 4. Supported naval force in 

 holding lighthouse at Cape ban Juan, Aug. 9. 



Annapolis. Gunboat. 11 officers, 124 men. Cost, 

 $227,700. Launched Dec. 23, 1896. First commis- 

 sion, July 20, 1897. Commander J. J. Hunker. 

 With expedition of Gen. Miles to Puerto Rico. Pro- 

 ceeded on July 27, 1898, with " Dixie," " Wasp," and 

 " Gloucester," from Guanica to blockade Ponce and 

 to capture lighters for the use of the army. 



Apache. Converted tug. 4 officers, 44 men. First 

 commission in United States navy. June 11, 1898. 

 Lieut. G. C. Hanus. Served chiefly in Hampton 

 Roads and at Key West. 



Armeria. Lighthouse tender. Commander L. 

 C. Logan. Served chiefly at Key West, Santiago, 

 Guantanamo. 



Accomac. Converted tug. 1 officer, 11 men. 

 First commission, April 2, 1898. Ensign W. S. 

 Crosby commanded to May 6, 1898 ; Boatswain J. 

 W. Angus held command from May 6 to close of 

 war. 



Badger. Auxiliary cruiser. 19 officers, 216 men. 

 First commission in United States navy, April 22, 

 1898. Commander A. S. Snow. Officers and crew 

 made up almost entirely from the Battalion of the 

 East, New Jersey Naval Reserves. Served on the 

 northern patrol, having a patrol line of 120 miles, 

 from Quoddy Head to the westward. Assisted in 

 the destruction of the "Alfonso XII" on July 6. 

 Carried supplies and mail to Guantanamo Bay, in 

 August, for fleet and army. Brought home three 

 companies of the Thirty-fourth Michigan Volun- 

 teers from Cuba. When on blockade duty at Nue- 

 vitas on July 26, captured a Spanish tug, barge, 

 and brigantine. These vessels were subsequently 

 released. 



Bancroft. Gunboat. 10 officers, 113 men. Cost, 

 $250,000.' Launched April 30, 1892. First com- 

 mission, March 3, 1893. Commander Richardson 

 Clover. The Bancroft served before Havana, Santia- 

 go, Guantunamo, and about the Isle of Pines, where 

 she was engaged in several sharp fights. The only 

 persons killed the first day that Gen. Shafter's army 



landed at Daiquiri were Major Luis Belini, com- 

 mandant at Siboney, and two Spanish soldiers, by a 

 shell from the "Bancroft." The last man killed in 

 the navy during the war, Emanouil Koulouris, WHS 

 from the " Bancroft," in a sharp boat attack at 

 Bailen in the Bay of Cortes. Now out of com- 

 mission. 



Brooklyn. Armored cruiser. 46 officers, 470 

 men. Cost, $2,986,000. Launched Oct. 2, 1895. 

 First commission, Dec. 1, 1896. Capt. F. A. Cook 

 in flying squadron from beginning of war to May 

 24, 1898. Sailed in search of Cervera's squadron oh 

 May 13. Assisted in destruction of same on July 

 3, chasing the " Cristobal Colon," which surren- 

 dered to her commander. During this engagement 

 Chief- Yeoman G. H. Ellis was killed and one man 

 wounded. The " Brooklyn " also took part in the 

 bombardment of Santiago, Cuba, on Sunday, July 

 10, 1898. Now serving in the North Atlantic fleet. 



Cant. Cook, in his official report of the " Brook- 

 lyn's ' action during the pursuit and destruction of 

 Cervera's ships said, after noting the time and 

 method of exit of the Spanish ships from Santiago 

 harbor : " We opened fire on the leading ship in five 

 minutes from the discovery. The port battery was 

 first engaged as we stood with port helm to head off 

 the leading ship, and giving them a raking fire at 

 about 1,500 yards range. The enemy turned to the 

 westward to close into the land. We then wore 

 around to starboard, bringing the starboard battery 

 into action. The enemy hugged the shore to the 

 westward. 



" The ' Brooklyn ' leading, was followed by the 

 'Texas,' 'Iowa,' 'Oregon,' 'Indiana,' and 'Glou- 

 cester.' The 'Vixen,' which had been to the 

 westward of us on the blockade, ran to the south- 

 ward and eastward of us, and kept for some time 

 off our port side distant about 1,000 yards, evident- 

 ly intending to guard against torpedo attack upon 

 this ship. The shell passing over us fell very thick 

 about her, some passing over her. At this time 

 the firing was very fast and the whistling of shell 

 incessant. . . . The 'Maria Teresa,' which had 

 dropped astern while we were wearing, under the 

 heavy fire of our fleet ran ashore, the 'Vizcaya,' 

 ' Oquendo,' and ' Colon ' continuing on and gain- 

 ing in distance. 



" The ' Brooklyn ' was engaged with the three 

 leading ships of the enemy, which were forging 

 ahead, the ' Texas,' ' Iowa,' and ' Indiana ' keep- 

 ing up a heavy fire, but steadily dropping astern. 

 The ' Oregon ' was keeping up a steady fire and 

 was coming up in the most glorious and gallant 

 style, outstripping all others. . . . We were 

 making 14 knots at the time, and the ' Oregon ' 

 came up off our starboard quarter at about 600 

 yards and maintained her position, though we soon 

 after increased our speed to 15 knots, and just be- 

 fore the ' Colon ' surrendered were making nearly Hi. 



"The 'Oquendo' . . . dropped astern, and, on 

 fire, ran ashore. The 'Vizcaya' and 'Colon 'con- 

 tinued on, under fire from the ' Brooklyn ' and ' < >iv- 

 gon.' The other vessels of our fleet were well astern 

 and out of range. The 'Texas' was evidently 

 coining up fast. At about 10.53 A. M. the ' Vizca- 

 ya ' was seen to be on fire, and the ' Colon ' passed 

 inside of her with increased speed, took the lead. 

 and gradually forged ahead. The ' Vizcaya ' soon 

 after ran on the beach, ablaze with fire. We sig- 

 naled the 'Oregon 'to cease firing on the 'Vizca- 

 ya,' as her flag was down. Firing immediately 

 ceased, and we both continued the chase of tin- 

 ' Colon,' now about 12,000 yards away. The ranges 

 ran from 1,500 to 3,000 yards with "the 'Vizcaya' 

 as she kept in and out from the coast. 



"We steered straight for a distant point near 

 Cape Cruz, while the 'Colon' kept close to the 



