UNITED STATES WAR RECOIH;. 



808 



more or less disabled. The " Hornet " was struck 

 by many^shells and the main steam pipe was shot 

 .iway. The only casualties were 3 men scalded. 



On July 11 assisted in cable cutting near Man- 

 zanillo. On July 15 captured Spanish schooner. 

 On July 18 assisted in the second attack on Manza- 

 n.llo, when 4 Spanish war' vessels were burned and 

 blown up, 2 transports burned, and 4 other war 

 vessels beached and totally disabled. This result 

 was achieved without loss of life or damage to 

 United States ships. Fired 748 shells during this 

 action. On Aug. 9 captured Spanish schooner 

 attempting to run blockade off the Isle of Pines. 

 The " Hornet " was schooner rigged, 180 feet long, 

 with a breadth of 24 feet and a tonnage of 301.89. 

 She carried 3 6-pounders, 2 1-pounders, 2 Colts, and 

 2 other guns. 



Hudson. Revenue cutter. First-Lieut. F. H. 

 Newcomb. Rescued the "Winslow" when the 

 latter vessel was disabled at Cardenas on May 11, 

 1898. The " Winslow " had been engaged with 

 shore batteries. 



Indiana. First-class battle ship. 32 officers, 441 

 men. Cost, $3,020.000. Launched Feb. 28, 1893. 

 First commission, Nov. 20, 1895. Capt. H. C. Tay- 

 lor. On April 22, 1898, joined Admiral Sampson's 

 fleet on the way to blockade Havana. On April 25 

 aided in capture of Spanish steamer. On April 26 

 with (table-cutting expedition. On May 4 formed 

 one of fleet to search for Cervera's squadron. On 

 May 12 took part in bombardment of San Juan 

 fortifications, Puerto Rico. On June 22 engaged 

 with Santiago batteries. On duty at blockade of 

 Santiago until July 1. Next day took part in bom- 

 bardment of Santiago forts. On July 3 the " Indi- 

 ana "was close into the Morro when the Spanish 

 ships came out of Santiago harbor and received the 

 fire of each ship, at the same time keeping up a hot 

 fire on the escaping vessels. Within forty minutes 

 the " Indiana's " guns fired nearly 1,000 shells from 

 13-inch to 6-pounders, with about 20 1-pounder 

 shots. Was in action about one hour and twenty 

 minutes, or until she had assisted in beaching or 

 sinking the " Maria Teresa," Oquendo," " Vizcaya," 

 " Pluton," and " Furor." and fired a number of 

 shells at the "Cristobal Colon." On July 10-11 

 engaged in long-range bombardment of Santiago 

 city. On July 17 proceeded to Guantanamo Bay 

 and prepared to accompany Eastern squadron. 



Iowa. First-class battle ship. 36 officers, 469 

 men. Cost, $3,010.000. Launched March 28, 1896. 

 First commission, June 16, 1897. Capt. R. D. 

 Evans. Took part in bombardment of Morro 

 battery, San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 12, 1898. 

 Three men wounded, being struck by fragments of 

 a shell which exploded abreast of the after 8-inch 

 turret. On May 22 joined Commodore Sehley's 

 squadron off Cienfuegos. On May 24 took part in 

 Cienfuegos blockade. On May 29 took up position 

 off Santiago harbor. Took part in firing at Span- 

 ish vessels in Santiago harbor on May 31, 1898. 

 Participated in engagement with Spanish squadron 

 on July 3, 1898, heading toward the " Infanta Maria 

 Teresa " (Admiral Cervera's flagship), then leading 

 the Spanish squadron, and fired first shot, at a dis- 

 tance of about 6,000 yards. The course of the " Iowa " 

 was so laid that the range speedily diminished. A 

 number of shots were fired at ranges varying be- 

 tween 6,000 and 4.000 yards. The range was rapii 1 ly 

 reduced to 2,500 yards, and subsequently to 2,000 

 and to 1,200 yards. 



"When it "was certain," says Capt. Evans in his 

 official report, "that the 'Maria Teresa' would 

 pass ahead of us. the helm was put to starboard, 

 and the starboard broadside delivered at a range 

 of 2,500 yards. The helm was then put to port and 

 the ship 'headed across the bow of the second ship, 



and as she drew ahead the helm was again pul to 

 starboard and she received in turn the full weight 

 of our starboard broadside at a range of about 1,800 

 yards. The ' Iowa ' was again headed off w ith 

 helm for the third ship, and as she approached the 

 helm was put to starboard until our course was 

 approximately that of the Spanish ship. In this 

 position at a range of 1,400 yards the fire of the 

 ent ire battery, including rapid-fire gun*, was poun-il 

 into the enemy's ship. 



"About ten o'clock the enemy's torpedo-boat 

 destroyers ' Furor ' and ' Pluton ' were observed 

 to have left the harbor and to be following the 

 Spanish squadron. At the time that they were 

 observed, and in fact most of the time that they 

 were under fire, they were at a distance varying 

 from 4,500 to 4,000 yards. As soon as they were 

 discovered the secondary battery of this ship was 

 turned upon them, while the main battery con- 

 tinued to engage the 'Vizcaya,' 'Oqaendo, 1 and 

 ' Maria Teresa.' The fire of the main battery of 

 this ship when the range was below 2.500 yards was 

 most effective and destructive, and after a continu- 

 ance of this fire for perhaps twenty minutes it was 

 noticed that the 'Maria Teresa' and 'Oquendo' 

 were in flames and were being headed for the beach. 

 Their colors were struck about 10.20. and tlif\ 

 beached about 8 miles west of Santiago. 



"About the same time (about 10.25) the fire of 

 this vessel, together with that of the 'Gloucester' 

 and another smaller vessel, proved so dest motive 

 that one of the torpedo-boat destroyers ( Pluton ') 

 was sunk and the 'Furor' was so much damaged 

 that she was run upon the rocks. After having 

 passed, at 10.35, the ' Oquendo ' and Maria Te- 

 resa,' on fire and ashore, this vessel continued to 

 chase and fire upon the ' Vizcaya ' until 10.36, 

 when signal to cease firing was sounded on board, 

 it having been discovered that the ' Vi/caya ' had 

 struck her colors. At eleven the ' Iowa ' arrived 

 in the vicinity of the Vizcaya,' which had been 

 run ashore, and. as it was evident that she could 

 not catch the 'Cristobal Colon,' and that the 

 ' Oregon,' ' Brooklyn,' and ' New York ' would, 

 two steam cutters and three cutters were immedi- 

 ately hoisted out and sent to the * Vizcaya ' to 

 rescue her crew. Our boats succeeding in bring- 

 ing off a large number of officers and men of that 

 ship's company, and in placing many of them on 

 board the torpedo boat .'Ericsson ' and the auxil- 

 iary dispatch vessel 'Hist.' About 11.30 the 'New- 

 York ' passed in chase of the 'Cristobal Colon.* 

 which was endeavoring to escape from the ' Ore- 

 gon,' ' Brooklyn,' and ' Texas.' " 



The " Iowa " was selected as one of the vessels of 

 the Eastern squadron, which was organized for 

 service along the coast of Spain. 



Justin. Steamer converted into collier. Ci. in- 

 missioned in United States navy April ','?. 189K 

 Commander George E. Ide. Served chiefly in Vir- 

 ginian waters. 



h'ntn/idiii. Armored ram. 7 officers, 90 men. 

 Cost, $930.000. Launched Feb. 4, 1893. First com- 

 mission, Feb. 20, 1896. Commander);. F. F. Wilde. 

 Served chiefly in Massachusetts and Virginian 

 waters. 



/xmOMfer. Wooden steam vessel. Built in 1**58. 

 Cuinmnnder Thomas Perry, ('oiiiinissioiied M 

 1898, as a station ship to be stationed at l\ 

 Fla. Arrived at Key West. May 31. Became flag- 

 ship of Commodore ( ).('. Uemey. oommandai 

 the naval base of operations. Remained there dur- 

 ing the entire war on that service. 



Lebanon. Steamer converted into collier. Com- 

 missioned in United States navy April 16. 

 Lieut.-Commander C. T. Force. Stationed chiefly 

 in Cuban waters. 



