TME-'BOYS-OF-'S LIBRARY I ANNEX Oil hi a 7is- CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 051 360 174 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924051360174 DATE DUE Inter ibrary L( an GAYLORD PRINTED IN U.S.A. THE BOYS OF '98 THE CHARGE AT EL CANEY. THE BOYS OF '98 BY JAMES OTIS AUTHOR OF "TOBY TYLER," "JENNY WREN'S BOARDING HOUSE," "THE BOYS OF FORT SCHUYLER," ETC. Illustrate bg J. STEEPLE DAVIS FRANK T. MERRILL, And with Reproductions of Photographs TENTH THOUSAND BOSTON DANA ESTES & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, i8g8 By Dana Estes & Company Colonial tyros Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. Boston, U.S.A. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. The Battle-ship Maine i II. The Preliminaries 19 III. A Declaration of War 38 IV. The Battle of Manila Bay .... 64 V. News of the Day 92 VI. Cardenas and San Juan 117 VII. From All Quarters 130 VIII. Hobson and the Merrimac .... 149 IX. By Wire 171 X. Santiago de Cuba 194 XI. El Caney and San Juan Heights . . . 224 XII. The Spanish Fleet 254 XIII. The Surrender of Santiago .... 290 XIV. Minor Events 302 XV. The Porto Rican Campaign .... 320 XVI. The Fall of Manila 335 XVII. Peace 345 Appendix A — The Philippine Islands . . 355 Appendix B — War-ships and Signals . .370 Appendix C — Santiago de Cuba . . .379 Appendix D — Porto Rico .... 383 Appendix E — The Bay of Guantanamo . 386 ILLUSTRATIONS. -♦- PAGE The Charge at El Caney .... Frontispiece U. S. S. Maine 7 Captain C. D. Sigsbee 12 Ex-Minister De Lome 20 U. S. S. Montgomery 24 Major-General Fitzhugh Lee 30 U. S. S. Columbia 38 Captain-General Blanco 44 Premier Sagasta 49 President William McKinley 55 U. S. S. Puritan 58 Admiral George Dewey 64 U. S. S. Olympia 69 U. S. S. Baltimore 72 Battle of Manila Bay 75 U. S. S. Boston 77 U. S. S. Concord 82 U. S. S. Terror 99 John D. Long, Secretary of Navy . . . .107 U. S. S. Chicago 117 The Tragedy of the Winslow 119 U. S. S. Amphitrite 123 The Bombardment of San Juan, Porto Rico . .127 vii Vlll ILLUSTRATIONS. fage U. S. S. MlANTONOMAH 130 Admiral Schley 135 U. S. S. Monterey 144 U. S. S. Massachusetts 151 Lieutenant Hobson 156 U. -S. S. New York 161 Hobson and His Men on the Raft . . . .166 Admiral Cervera 169 Queen Regent, Maria Christina of Spain . .171 General Garcia 181 Admiral Camara 186 General Augusti 192 U. S. S. Marblehead ....... 261 U. S. S. Vesuvius 207 U. S. S. Texas 215 Colonel Theodore Roosevelt 218 Major-General Shafter 224 The Attack on San Juan Hill 229 Vice-President Hobart 234 U. S. S. Newark 239 Admiral W. T. Sampson 243 General Weyler 254 Captain R. D. Evans ....... 256 U. S. S. Iowa 262 The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet . . . 266 U. S. S. Indiana 269 U. S. S. Oregon . 275 U. S. S. Brooklyn 282 Major-General Joseph Wheeler .... 292 King Alphonso XIII. of Spain 300 General Gomez 311 U. S. S. New Orleans 314 U. S. S. San Francisco. . . ■ . . . 318 ILLUSTRATIONS. IX PAGE Major-General Miles . . . . . • .320 Major-General Brooke 327 General Brooke Receiving the News of the Pro- tocol . 333 General Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War . 334 Major-General Wesley Merritt .... 344 Don Carlos 349 THE BOYS OF '98. CHAPTER I. THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. AT or about eleven o'clock on the morning of January 25 th the United States battle-ship Maine steamed through the narrow channel which gives entrance to the inner harbour of Havana, and came to anchor at Buoy No. 4, in obedience to orders from the captain of the port, in from five and one-half to six fathoms of water. She swung at her cables within five hundred yards of the arsenal, and about two hundred yards distant from the floating dock. Very shortly afterward the rapid-firing guns on her bow roared out a salute as the Spanish colours were run up to the mizzenmast-head, and this thunderous announcement of friendliness was first answered by Monro Castle, followed a few moments later by the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII. and a German school-ship. The reverberations had hardly ceased before the 2 THE BOYS OF '98. captain of the port and an officer from the Spanish war-vessel, each in his gaily decked launch, came along- side the battle-ship in accordance with the rules of naval etiquette. Lieut. John J. Blandin, officer of the deck, received the visitors at the head of the gangway and escorted ■ them to the captain's cabin. A few moments later came an officer from the German ship, and the cour- tesies of welcoming the Americans were at an end. The Maine was an armoured, twin-screw battle-ship of the second class, 318 feet in length, 5 7 feet in breadth, with a draught of 21 feet, 6 inches; of- 6,648 tons dis- placement, with engines of 9,293 indicated horse-power, giving her a speed of 17.75 knots. She was built in the Brooklyn navy yard, according to act of Congress, August 3, 1886. Work on her was commenced Octo- ber 11, 1888; she was launched November 18, 1890, and put into commission September 17, 1895. She was built after the designs of chief constructor T. D. Wilson. The delay in going into commission is said to have been due to the difficulty in getting satisfactory armour. The side armour was twelve inches thick ; the two steel barbettes were each of the same thick- ness, and the walls of the turrets were eight inches thick. In her main battery were four 10-inch and six 6-inch breech-loading rifles ; in the secondary bat- tery seven 6-pounder and eight 1 -pounder rapid-fire guns and four Gatlings. Her crew was made up of THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. 3 370 men, and the following officers : Capt. C. D. Sigsbee, Lieut.-Commander R. Wainwright, Lieut. G. F. W. Holman, Lieut. J. Hood, Lieut. C. W. Jungen, Lieut. G. P. Blow, Lieut. F. W. Jenkins, Lieut. J. J. Blandin, Surgeon S. G. Heneberger, Paymaster C. M. Ray, Chief Engineer C. P. Howell, Chaplain J. P. Chid- wick, Passed Assistant Engineer F. C. Bowers, Lieu- tenant of Marines A. Catlin, Assistant Engineer J. R. Morris, Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt, Naval Cadet J. H. Holden, Naval Cadet W. T. Cluverius, Naval Cadet R. Bronson, Naval Cadet P. Washington, Naval Cadet A. Crenshaw, Naval Cadet J. T. Boyd, Boatswain F. E. Larkin, Gunner J. Hill, Carpenter J. Helm, Paymaster's Clerk B. McCarthy. Why had the Maine been sent to this port ? The official reason given by the Secretary of the Navy when he notified the Spanish minister, Sefior Dupuy de Lome, was that the visit of the Maine was simply intended as a friendly call, according to the recognised custom of nations. The United States minister at Madrid, General Woodford, also announced the same in substance to the Spanish Minister of State. It having been repeatedly declared by the govern- ment at Madrid that a state of war did not exist in Cuba, and that the relations between the United States and Spain were of the most friendly character, nothing less could be done than accept the official construction put upon the visit. 4 THE BOYS OF '98. The Spanish public, however, were not disposed to view the matter in the same light, as may be seen by the following extracts from newspapers : " If the government of the United States sends one war-ship to Cuba, a thing it is no longer likely to do, Spain would act with energy and without vacillation." — El Heraldo, January 16th. " We see now the eagerness of the Yankees to seize Cuba." — The Impartial, January 23d. The same paper, on the 27th, declared : " If Havana people, exasperated at American im- pudence in sending the Maine, do some rash, disagree- able thing, the civilised world will know too well who is responsible. The American government must know that the road it has taken leads to war between both nations." On January 25th Madrid newspapers made general comment upon the official explanation of the Maine's visit to Havana, and agreed in expressing the opinion that her visit is "inopportune and calculated to en- courage the insurgents." It was announced that, "following Washington's example," the Spanish gov- ernment will " instruct Spanish war-ships to visit a few American ports." The Impartial expresses fear that the despatch of the Maine to Havana will provoke a conflict, and adds : " Europe cannot doubt America's attitude towards Spain. But the Spanish people, if necessary, will do their duty with honour." THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. 5 The Epocha asks if the despatch of the Maine to Havana is "intended as a sop to the Jingoes," and adds : " We cannot suppose the American government so naive or badly informed as to imagine that the presence of American war-vessels at Havana will be a cause of satisfaction to Spain or an indication of friendship." The people of the United States generally believed that the battle-ship had been sent to Cuba because of the disturbances existing in the city of Havana, which seemingly threatened the safety of Americans there. On the morning of January 12th what is termed the "anti-liberal outbreak" occurred in the city of Havana. Officers of the regular and volunteer forces headed the ultra-Spanish element in an attack upon the lead- ing liberal newspaper offices, because, as alleged, of Captain-General Blanco's refusal to authorise the sup- pression of the liberal press. It was evidently a riotous protest against Spain's policy of granting autonomy to the Cubans. The mob, gathered in such numbers as to be for the time being most formidable, indulged in open threats against Americans, and it was believed by the public generally that American interests, and the safety of citizens of the United States in Havana, demanded the protection of a war-vessel. The people of Havana received the big fighting ship 6 THE BOYS OF '98. impassively. Soldiers, sailors, and civilians gathered at the water-front as spectators, but no word, either of threat or friendly greeting, was heard. In the city the American residents experienced . a certain sense of relief because now a safe refuge was provided in case of more serious rioting. That the officers and crew of the Maine were appre- hensive regarding their situation there can be little doubt. During the first week after the arrival of the battle-ship several of the sailors wrote to friends or relatives expressing fears as to what might be the result of the visit, and on the tenth of February one of the lieutenants is reported as having stated : " If we don't get away from here soon there will be trouble." The customary ceremonial visits on shore were made by the commander of the ship and his staff, and, so far as concerned the officials of the city, the Americans were seemingly welcome visitors. The more radical of the citizens were not so appar- ently content with seeing the Maine in their harbour. Within a week after the arrival of the ship incendiary circulars were distributed in the streets, on the railway cars, and in many other public places, calling upon all Spaniards to avenge the "insult" of the battle-ship's visit. A translation of one such circular serves as a speci- men of all : " Spaniards : Long live Spain and honour. THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. 7 " What are ye doing, that ye allow yourselves to be insulted in this way ? " Do you not see what they have done to us in with- drawing our brave and beloved Weyler, who at this very time would have finished with this unworthy rebellious rabble, who are trampling on our flag and our honour ? " Autonomy is imposed on us so as to thrust us to one side and to give posts of honour and authority to those who initiated this rebellion, these ill-born autono- mists, ungrateful sons of our beloved country. " And, finally, these Yankee hogs who meddle in our affairs humiliate us to the last degree, and for still greater taunt order to us one of the ships of war of their rotten squadron, after insulting us in their news- papers and driving us from our homes. " Spaniards, the moment of action has arrived. Sleep not. Let us show these vile traitors that we have not yet lost shame and that we know how to pro- tect ourselves with energy befitting a nation worthy and strong as our Spain is and always will be. "TDeath to Americans. Death to autonomy. " Long live Spain ! " Long live Weyler ! " At eight o'clock on the evening of February 15 th all the magazines aboard the battle-ship were closed, and the keys delivered to her commander according to the rules of the service. 8 THE BOYS OF '98. An hour and a half later Lieut. John J. Blandin was on watch as officer of the deck ; Captain Sigsbee sat in his cabin writing letters ; on the starboard side of the ship, made fast to the boom, was the steam cutter, with her crew on board waiting to make the regular ten o'clock trip to the shore to bring off such of the officers or crew as were on leave of absence. The night was unusually dark ; great banks of thick clouds hung over the city and harbour; the ripple of the waves against the hulls of the vessels at anchor, and the subdued hum of voices, alone broke the silence. The lights here and there, together with the dark tra- cery of spar and cordage against the sky, was all that betokened the presence of war-ship or peaceful merchantman. Suddenly, and when the silence was most profound, the watch on board the steamer City of Washington, and some sailors ashore, saw what appeared to be a sheet of fire flash up in the water directly beneath the Maine, and even as the blinding glare was in their eyes came a mighty, confused rumble as of grinding and rending, followed an instant later by a roar as if a volcano had sprung into activity beneath the waves of the harbour. Then was flung high in the air what might be likened to a shaft of fire filled with fragments of iron, wood, and human flesh, rising higher and higher until its force was spent, when it fell outwardly as falls a column of water broken by the wind. The earth literally trembled ; the air suddenly became THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. 9 heavy with stifling smoke. Electric lights on shore were extinguished ; the tinkling of breaking glass could be heard everywhere in that portion of the city nearest the harbour. When the shower of fragments and of fire ceased to fall a dense blackness enshrouded the harbour, from the midst of which could be heard cries of agony, appeals for help, and the shouts of those who, even while struggling to save their own lives, would cheer their comrades. After this, and no man could have said how many seconds passed while the confusing, bewildering black- ness lay heavy over that scene of death and destruc- tion, long tongues of flame burst up from the torn and splintered decks of the doomed battle-ship, a signal of distress, as well as a beacon for those who would succour the dying. Captain Sigsbee, recovering in the briefest space of time from the bewilderment of the shock, ran out of the cabin toward the deck, groping his way as best he might in the darkness through the long passage until he came upon the marine orderly, William Anthony, who was at his post of duty near the captain's quarters. It was a moment full of horror all the more intense because unknown, but the soldier, mindful even then of his duty, saluting, said in the tone of one who makes an ordinary report : "Sir, I have to inform you that the ship has been blown up, and is sinking." IO THE BOYS OF '98. "Follow me," the captain replied, acknowledging his subordinate's salute, and the two pressed forward through the blackness and suffocating vapour. Lieutenant Blandin, officer of the deck, was sitting on the starboard side of the quarter-deck when the terrible upheaval began, and was knocked down by a piece of cement hurled from the lowermost portion of the ship's frame, perhaps ; but, leaping quickly to his feet, he ran to the poop that he might be at his proper station when the supreme moment came. Lieut. Friend W. Jenkins was in the junior officers' mess-room when the first of a battle-ship's death-throes was felt, and as soon as possible made his way toward the deck, encouraging some of the bewildered marines to make a brave fight for life ; but he never joined his comrades. Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt and Naval Cadet Boyd together ran toward the hatch, but only to find the ladder gone. Boyd climbed through, and then did his best to aid Merritt ; but his efforts were vain, and the engineer went down with his ship. It seemed as if only the merest fraction of time elapsed before the uninjured survivors were gathered on the poop-deck. Forward of them, where a moment previous had been the main-deck, was a huge mass looming up in the darkness like some threatening promontory. On the starboard quarter hung the gig, and opposite her, on the port side, was the barge. THE BATTLE -SHIP MAINE. II During the first two or three seconds only muffled, gurgling, choking exclamations were heard indistinctly ; and then, when the terrible vibrations of the air ceased, cries for help went up from every quarter. Lieutenant Blandin says, in describing those few but terrible moments : " Captain Sigsbee ordered that the gig and the launch be lowered, and the officers and men, who by this time had assembled, got the boats out and rescued a number in the water. " Captain Sigsbee ordered Lieut.-Commander Wain- wright forward to see the extent of the damage, and if anything could be done to rescue those forward, or to extinguish the flames which followed close upon the explosion and burned fiercely as long as there were any combustibles above water to feed them. " Lieut.-Commander Wainwright on his return re- ported the total and awful character of the calamity, and Captain Sigsbee gave the last sad order, ' Abandon ship,' to men overwhelmed with grief indeed, but calm and apparently unexcited." The quiet, yet at the same time sharp, words of command from the captain aroused his officers from the stupefaction of horror which had begun to creep, over them, and this handful of men, who even then were standing face to face with death, set about aiding their less fortunate companions. As soon as they could be manned, boats put off from the vessels in the harbour, and the work of rescue was 12 THE BOYS OF '98. continued until all the torn and mangled bodies in which life yet remained had been taken from the water. Capt. H. H. Woods, of the British steamer Thurston, was among the first in this labour of mercy, and con- cerning it he says : "My vessel was within half a mile of the Maine, and my small boat was the first to gain the wreck. It is beyond irfy power to describe the explosion. It was awful. It paralysed the intellect for a few moments. The cries that came over the water awakened us to a realisation that some great tragedy had occurred. " I made all haste to the wreck. There were very few men in the water. All told, I do not believe there were thirty. We picked up some of them and passed them on to other vessels, and then continued our work of rescue. "The sight was appalling. Dismembered legs and trunks of bodies were floating about, together with pieces of clothing, boxes of meats, and all sorts of wreckage. Now and then the agonised cry of some poor suffering fellow could be heard above the tumult. " One grand figure stood out in all the terrible scene. That was Captain Sigsbee. Every American has reason to be proud of that officer. He seemed to have realised in an instant all that happened. Not for a moment did he show evidence of excitement. He alone was cool. Discipline ? Why, man, the discipline was there as strong as ever, despite the fact that all around was death and disaster." CAPTAIN SIGSBEE. THE BATTLE-SHIP MAINE. I % The commander of the Maine was the last to leave the wreck, and then all that was left of the mighty ship was beginning to settle in the slime and putrefaction which covers the bottom of Havana harbour. Calmly, with the same observance of etiquette as if they had been assisting at some social function, the officers took their respective places in the boats, and, amid a silence born of deepest grief, rowed a short distance from the rent and riven mass so lately their post of duty. A gentleman from Chicago, a guest at the Grand Hotel, was seated in front of the building when the explosion occurred. " It was followed by another and a much louder one," he said. "We thought the whole city had been blown to pieces. Some said the insurgents were entering Havana. Others cried out that Morro Castle was blown up. " On the Prado is a large cab-stand. One minute after the explosion was heard the cabmen cracked their whips and went rattling over the cobblestones like crazy men. The fire department turned out, and bodies of cavalry and infantry rushed through the streets. There was no sleep in Havana that night." Soon after the disaster Admiral Manterola and General Solano put off to the wreck, and offered their services to Captain Sigsbee. There were many wonderful escapes from death. 14 THE BOYS OF '98. One of the ward-room cooks was thrown outboard into the water. A Japanese sailor was blown into the air, and, falling in the sea, was picked up alive. One seaman was sleeping in a yawl hanging at the davits. The boat was crushed like an egg-shell ; but the sailor fell overboard and was picked up unhurt. Three men were doing punishment watch on the port quarter-deck, and thus probably escaped death. One sailor swam about until help came, although both his legs were broken. Another had the bones of his ankle crushed, and yet managed to keep afloat. Two hours or more passed before the unsubmerged, wooden portion of the wreck had been consumed by the flames, and at 11.30 p.m. the smoke-stacks of the ill-fated ship fell. On board the steamer City of Washington, two boats were literally riddled by fragments of the Maine which fell after the explosion, and among them was an iron truss which, crashing through the pantry, demolished the tableware. When morning came the wreck was the central figure of an otherwise bright picture, sad as it was terrible. The huge mass of flame-charred debris for- ward looked as if it had been thrown up from a subter- ranean storehouse of fused cement, steel, wood, and iron. Further aft, one military mast protruded at a slight angle from the perpendicular, while the poop afforded a resting-place for the workmen or divers. THE BATTLE-SHIP MAINE. 1 5 Of the predominant white which distinguishes our war-vessels in time of peace, not a vestige remained. In its place was the blackness of desolating death, marking the spot where two hundred and sixty-six brave men had gone over into the Beyond. The total loss to the government as a result of the disaster was officially pronounced to be $4,689,261.31. This embraced the cost of hull, machinery, equipment, armour, gun protection and armament, both in main and secondary batteries. It included the cost of ammuni- tion, shells, current supplies, coal, and, in short, the entire outfit. The pet of the Maine s crew, a big cat, was found next morning, perched on a fragment of a truss which yet remained above the water, and near her, as if seek- ing companionship, was the captain's dog, Peggy. Consul-General .Lee cabled from Havana on the afternoon of the sixteenth : "Profound sorrow is expressed by the government and municipal authorities, consuls of foreign nations, organised bodies of all sorts, and citizens generally. "Flags are at half-mast on the governor-general's palace, on shipping in the harbour, and in the city. "Business is suspended, and the theatres are closed." On the afternoon of the seventeenth the bodies which had been found up to that time were buried in 1 6 THE BOYS OF *9&. Havana with military honours, two companies of Spanish sailors from the cruiser Alphonso XII. acting as escort. A board of inquiry, composed of Capt. W. T. Samp- son of the U. S. S. Iowa as presiding officer, Com- mander Adolph Marix as judge advocate, Capt. F. E. Chadwick, and Commander W. P. Potter, all of the New York, was convened, and on March 28th Presi- dent McKinley sent a message to Congress, the conclu- sion of which was as .follows : " The appalling calamity fell upon the people of our country with crushing force, and for a brief time an intense excitement prevailed, which in a community less just and self-controlled than ours might have led to hasty acts of blind resentment. "This spirit, however, soon gave way to calmer processes of reason, and to the resolve to investigate the facts and await material proof before forming a judgment as to the cause, the responsibility, and, if the facts warranted, the remedy due. This course necessarily recommended itself from the outset to the executive, for only in the light of a dispassionately ascertained certainty will it determine the nature and measure of its full duty in the matter. "The usual procedure was followed, as in all cases of casualty or disaster to national vessels of any maritime state. "A naval court of inquiry was at once organised, composed of officers well qualified by rank and prac- THE BATTLE-SHIP MAINE. 1J tical experience to discharge the onerous duty imposed upon them. " Aided by a strong force of wreckers and divers, the court proceeded to make a thorough investigation on the spot, employing every available means for im- partial and exact determination of the causes of the explosion. Its operations have been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment, and, while inde- pendently pursued, no source of information was neglected, and the fullest opportunity was allowed for a simultaneous investigation by the Spanish authorities. "The finding of the court of inquiry was reached, after twenty-three days of continuous labour, on the twenty-first of March instant, and, having been ap- proved on the twenty-second by the commander-in- chief of the United States naval force in the North Atlantic station, was transmitted to the executive. " It is herewith laid before the Congress, together with the voluminous testimony taken before the court. "The conclusions of the court are : That the loss of the Maine was not in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or mem- bers of her crew. " That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines ; and that no evidence has been obtainable fixing the responsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons. 1 8 THE BOYS OF '98. " I have directed that the finding of the court of inquiry and the views of this government thereon be communicated to the government of her majesty, the queen regent, and I do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate a course of action suggested by honour and the friendly relations of the two governments. " It will be the duty of the executive to advise the Congress of the result, and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked." It was the preface to a mustering of the boys of '61 who had worn the blue or the gray, this tragedy in the harbour of Havana, and, when the government gave permission, the boys of '98 came forward many and many a thousand strong to emulate the deeds of their fathers — the boys of '61 — who, although the hand of Time had been laid heavily upon them, panted to partic- ipate in the punishment of those who were responsible for the slaughter of American sailors within the shadow of Morro Castle. CHAPTER II. THE PRELIMINARIES. "I X 7AR between two nations does not begin sud * * denly. The respective governments are exceed- ingly ceremonious before opening the " game of death," and it is not to be supposed that the United States commenced hostilities immediately after the disaster to the Maine in the harbour of Havana. To tell the story of the war which ensued, without first giving in regular order the series of events which marked the preparations for hostilities, would be much like relating an adventure without explaining why the hero was brought into the situation. It is admitted that, as a rule, details, and especially those of a political nature, are dry reading ; but once take into consideration the fact that they all aid in giving a clearer idea of how one nation begins hostili- ties with another, and much of the tediousness may be forgiven. Just previous to the disaster to the Maine, during the last of March or the first of February, Senor En- rique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister at Wash- ington, wrote a private letter to the editor of the 19 20 THE BOYS OF '98. Madrid Herald, Sefior Canal ej as, who was his intimate friend, in which he made some uncomplimentary re- marks regarding the President of the United States, and intimated that Spain was not sincere in certain commercial negotiations which were then being carried on between the two countries. By some means, not yet fully explained, certain Cubans got possession of this letter, and caused it to be published in the newspapers. Sefior de Lome did not deny having written the objectionable matter ; but claimed that, since it was a private communication, it should not affect him officially. The Secretary of State instructed General Woodford, our minister at Madrid, to demand that the Spanish government imme- diately recall Minister de Lome, and to state that, if he was not relieved from duty within twenty-four hours, the President would issue to him his passports, which is but another way of ordering a foreign minister out of the country. February p. Sefior de Lome made all haste to re- sign, and the resignation was accepted by his govern- ment before — so it was claimed by the Spanish authori- ties — President McKinley's demand for the recall was received. February 15. The de Lome incident was a political matter which caused considerable diplomatic corre- spondence ; but it was overshadowed when the bat- tle-ship Maine was blown up in the harbour of Havana. EX-MINISTER DE LOME. THE PRELIMINARIES. 21 As has already been said, the United States govern- ment at once ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the disaster, and this, together with the search for the bodies of the drowned crew, was prose- cuted with utmost vigour. Very many of the people in the United States believed that Spanish officials were chargeable with the terrible crime, while those who were not disposed to make such exceedingly serious accusation insisted that the Spanish government was responsible for the safety of the vessel, — that she had been destroyed by outside agencies in a friendly harbour. In the newspapers, on the streets, in all public places, the American people spoke of the possibility of war, and the officials of the government set to work as if, so it would seem, they also were confident there would be an open rupture between the two nations, February 28. In Congress, Representative Gibson of Tennessee introduced a bill appropriating twenty million dollars " for the maintenance of national honour and defence." Representative Bromwell, of Ohio, intro- duced a similar resolution, appropriating a like amount of money " to place the naval strength of the country upon a proper footing for immediate hostilities with any foreign power," On the same day orders were issued to the commandant at Fort Barrancas, Florida, directing him to send men to man the guns at Santa Rosa Island, opposite Pensacola. February 28, Senor Louis Polo y Bernabe, appointed 2 2 THE BOYS OF '98. minister in the place of Sefior de Lome, who resigned, sailed from Gibraltar. By the end of February the work of preparing the vessels at the different navy yards for sea was being pushed forward with the utmost rapidity, and munitions of war were distributed hurriedly among the forts and fortifications, as if the officials of the War Department believed that hostilities might be begun at any moment. Nor was it only within the borders of this country that such preparations were making. A despatch from Shanghai to London reported that the United States squadron, which included the cruisers Olympia, Boston, Raleigh, Concord, and Petrel, were concentrating at Hongkong, with a view of active operations against Manila, in the Philippine Islands, in event of war. At about the same time came news from Spain telling that the Spanish were making ready for hostil- ities. An exceptionally large number of artisans were at work preparing for sea battle-ships, cruisers, and tor- pedo-boat destroyers. The cruisers Oquendo and Vis- caya, with the torpedo-boat destroyers Furor and Terror, were already on their way to Cuba, where were stationed the Alphonso XII., the Infanta Isabel, and the Nueva Espana, together with twelve gunboats of about three hundred tons each, and eighteen vessels of two hundred and fifty tons each. The United States naval authorities decided that heavy batteries should be placed on all the revenue cutters built within the previous twelve months, and THE PRELIMINARIES. 23 large quantities of high explosives were shipped in every direction. During the early days of March, Sefior Gullon, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, intimated to Minister Woodford that the Spanish government desired the recall from Havana of Consul-General Lee. Spain also intimated that the American war-ships, which had been designated to convey supplies to Cuba for the relief of the sufferers there, should be replaced by merchant vessels, in order to deprive the assistance sent to the reconcentrados of an official character. Minister Woodford cabled such requests to the government at Washington, to which it replied by refusing to recall General Lee under the present cir- cumstances, or to countermand the orders for the despatch of war-vessels, making the representation that relief vessels are not fighting ships. March 5. Secretary Long closed a contract for the delivery at Key West, within forty days, of four hun- dred thousand tons of coal. Work was begun upon the old monitors, which for years had been lying at League Island navy yard, Philadelphia. Orders were sent to the Norfolk navy yard to concentrate all the energies and fidelities of the yard on the cruiser Newark, to the end that she might be ready for service within sixty days. March 6. The President made a public statement 24 THE BOYS OF '98. that under no circumstances would Consul-General Fitzhugh Lee be recalled at the request of Spain. He had borne himself, so it was stated from the White House, throughout the crisis with judgment, fidelity, and courage, to the President's entire satisfac- tion. As to supplies for the relief of the Cuban people, all arrangements had been made to carry con- signments at once from Key West by one of the naval vessels, whichever might be best adapted and most available for the purpose, to Matanzas and Sagua. March 6. Chairman Cannon of the House appro- priations committee introduced a resolution that fifty millions of dollars be appropriated for the national de- fence. It was passed almost immediately, without a single negative vote. Significant was the news of the day. The cruiser Montgomery had been ordered to Havana, Brigadier- General Wilson, chief of the engineers of the army, arrived at Key West from Tampa with his eorps of men, who were in charge of locating and firing submarine mines. ■> March 10. The newly appointed Spanish minister arrived at Washington. March 11. The House committee on naval affairs authorised the immediate construction of three battle- ships, one to be named the Maine, and provided for an increase of 473 men in the marine force. The despatch-boat Fern sailed for Matanzas with supplies for the relief of starving Cubans. o a H A C THE PRELIMINARIES. 25 News by cable was received from the Philippine Islands to the effect that the rebellion there had broken out once more ; the whole of the northern province had revolted ; the inhabitants refused to pay taxes, and the insurgents appeared to be well supplied with arms and ammunition. March 12, Senor Bernabe was presented to Presi- dent MeKinley, and laid great stress upon the love which Spain bore for the United States. March 14. The Spanish flying squadron, composed of three torpedo-boats, set sail from Cadi?, bound for Porto Rico. Although this would seem to be good proof that the Spanish government anticipated war with the United States, Senor Bernabe made two demands upon this government on the day following the receipt of such news. The first was that the United States fleet at Key West and Tortugas be withdrawn, and the second, that an explanation be given as to why two war-ships had been purchased abroad. March iy. A bill was submitted to both houses of Congress reorganising the army, and placing it on a war footing of one hundred and four thousand men. Senator Proctor made a significant speech in the Senate, on the condition of affairs in Cuba, He announced himself as being opposed to annexation, and declared that the Cubans were "suffering under the worst misgovernment in the world," The public generally accepted his remarks as having been sang- 26 THE BOYS OF '98. tioned by the President, and understood them as indicating that this country should recognise the inde- pendence of Cuba on the ground that the people are capable of self-government, and that under no other conditions could peace or prosperity be restored in the island. March if. The more important telegraphic news from Spain was to the effect that the Minister of Marine had cabled the commander of the torpedo flotilla at the Canaries not to proceed to Havana ; that the government arsenal was being run night and day in the manufacture of small arms, and that in- fantry and cavalry rifles were being purchased in Germany. The United States revenue cutter cruiser McCulloch was ordered to proceed from Aden, in the Red Sea, to Hongkong, in order that she might be attached to the Asiatic squadron, if necessary. March 18. The cruiser Amazonas, purchased from the Brazilian government, was formally transferred to the United States at Gravesend, England, to be known in the future as the New Orleans. March 19. The Maine court of inquiry concluded its work. The general sentiments of the people, as voiced by the newspapers, were that war with Spain was near at hand, and this belief was strengthened March 24th, when authority was given by the Navy Department for unlimited enlistment in all grades of the service, when the revenue service was transferred THE PRELIMINARIES. 27 from the Treasury to the Naval Department, and arrangements made for the quick employment of the National Guards of the States and Territories. March 24.. The report of the Maine court of inquiry arrived at Washington. March 27. Madrid correspondents of Berlin news- papers declared that war with the United States was next to certain. The United States cruisers San Francisco and New Orleans sailed from England for New York, and the active work of mining the harbours of the United States coast was begun. March 28. The President sent to Congress, with a message, the report of the Maine court of inquiry, as has been stated in a previous chapter. March 29. Resolutions declaring war on Spain, and recognising the independence of Cuba, were introduced in both houses of Congress. With the beginning of April it was to the public generally as if the war had already begun. In every city, town, or hamlet throughout the country the newspapers were scanned eagerly for notes of warlike preparation, and from Washington, sent by those who were in position to know what steps were being taken by the government, ' came information which dashed the hopes of those who had been praying that peace might not be broken. There had been a conference between the President, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the chairman of the committee on ways and means, regarding the best 28 THE BOYS OF '98. methods of raising funds for the carrying on of a war. A joint board of the army and navy had met to formu- late plans of defence, and a speedy report was made to Secretary Long. Instructions were sent by the State Department to all United States consuls in Cuba to be prepared to leave the island at any moment, and to hold them- selves in readiness to proceed to Havana in order to embark for the United States. April 2. A gentleman in touch with public affairs wrote from Washington as follows : " To-day's developments show that there is only the very faintest hope of peace. Unless Spain yields war must come. The administration realises that as fully as do members of Congress. "The orders sent by the State Department to all our consuls in Cuba, especially those in the interior, to hold themselves in readiness to leave their positions and proceed to Havana, show that the department looks upon war as a certainty, and has taken all proper precautions for the safety of its agents. " Such an order, it is unnecessary to say, would not have been issued unless a crisis was imminent, and the State Department, as well as other branches of the government, has now become convinced that peace cannot much longer be maintained, and that the safety of the consular agents is a first consideration. " General Lee has also been advised that he should be ready to leave as soon as notified, and that the THE PRELIMINARIES. 2Q American newspaper correspondents now in Havana must prepare themselves to receive the notification of instant departure. "The Secretary of the Navy has instructed the Boston Towboat Company, which corporation had charge of the wrecking operations on the U. S. S. Maine, to suspend work at once. The Secretary of War has authorised an allotment of one million dol- lars from the emergency fund for the office of the chief of engineers, and this amount will be expended in purchasing material for the torpedo defences con- nected with the seacoast fortifications. The United States naval attache at London has purchased a cruiser of eighteen hundred tons displacement, cap- able of a speed of sixteen knots, and the vessel will put to sea immediately. The Spanish torpedo flotilla is reported as having arrived at the Cape Verde Islands." April 4. Senators Perkins, Mantle, and Rawlins spoke in the Senate, charging Spain with the murder of the sailors of the Maine, claiming that it was prop- erly an act of war, and insisting that the United States should declare for the independence of Cuba and armed intervention. April 5. Senator Chandler announced as his belief that the United States was, justified in beginning hos- tilities, and Senators Kenny, Turpie, and Turner made powerful speeches in the same line, fiercely denouncing Spain. General Woodford was instructed by cable to 30 THE BOYS OF '98. be prepared to ask of the Madrid government his passports at any moment. , Marine underwriters, believing that war was inevi- table, doubled their rates. The merchants and manu- facturers' board of trade of New York notified Congress and the President that it believed Spain was responsible for the blowing up of the Maine ; that the independ- ence of Cuba should be recognised, and that it should be brought about by force of arms, if necessary. April 7. The representatives of six great powers met at the White House in the hope of being able to influence the President for peace. In closing his address to the diplomats, Mr. McKinley said : "The government of the United States" appreciates the humanitarian and disinterested character of the communication now made in behalf of the powers named, and for its part is confident that equal appre- ciation will be shown for its own earnest and unselfish endeavours to fulfil a duty to humanity by ending a situation, the indefinite prolongation of which has become insufferable." Americans made haste to leave Cuba, after learning that Consul-General Lee had received orders to set sail from Havana on or before the ninth. The American consul at Santiago de Cuba closed the consulate in that city. Solomon Berlin, appointed consul at the Canary Islands, was, by the State Department, ordered not MAJOR-GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE. THE PRELIMINARIES. 31 to proceed to his post, and he remained at New York. The Spanish consul at Tampa, Florida, left that town for Washington, by order of his government. The following cablegram gives a good idea of the temper of the Spanish people : " London, April 7. — A special dispatch from Madrid says that the ambassadors of France, Germany, Russia, and Italy waited together this evening upon Sefior Gullon, the Foreign Minister, and presented a joint note in the interests of peace. " Sefior Gullon, replying, declared that the members of the Spanish Cabinet were unanimous in considering that Spain had reached the limit of international policy in the direction of conceding the demands and allowing the pretensions of the United States." April p. Guards about the United States legation in Madrid were trebled. General Blanco, captain-gen- eral of Cuba, issued a draft order calling on every able- bodied man, between the ages of nineteen and forty, to register for immediate military duty. At ten o'clock in the morning, Consul-General Lee, accompanied by British Consul Gollan, called on General Blanco to bid him good-bye. The captain-general was too busy to receive visitors. General Lee left the island at six o'clock in the evening. April 11. The President sent a message, together 32 THE BOYS OF '98. with Consul Lee's report, to the Congress, and Senator Chandler thus analysed it : First: A graphic and powerful description of the horrible condition of affairs in Cuba. Second: An assertion that the independence of the revolutionists should not be recognised until Cuba has achieved its own independence beyond the possibility of overthrow. Third: An argument against the recognition of the Cuban republic. Fourth: As to intervention in the interest of hu- manity, that is well enough, and also on account of the injury to commerce and peril to our citizens, and the generally uncomfortable conditions all around. Fifth : Illustrative of these uncomfortable conditions is the destruction of the Maine. It helps make the existing situation intolerable. But Spain proposes an arbitration, to which proposition the President has no reply. Sixth : On the whole, as the war goes on and Spain cannot end it, mediation or intervention must take place. President Cleveland said "intervention would finally be necessary." The enforced pacification of Cuba must come. The war must stop. Therefore, the President should be authorised to terminate hostili- ties, secure peace, and establish a stable government, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States to accomplish these results, and food supplies should also be furnished by the United States. TrfE PRELlMlftAkiES. J3 ApMl 12. CoHsul-GefKinll Lee was summoned before the Senate committee on foreign fe'latifcifis. it was dflfioiirigea tBsLt the RepuBHc'afi iheiftberS Of the ways arid means committee had agfeed upofi a pidft for raisirlg fevdriiie iri Case df Heed tt) carry dfi waf with Spairi. The plan was intended tb raise niore' than $100,600,000 additional reveniie ahhually, and was thus distributed : Arl addlfcibrial tax dfi beef df one' dollar' per barrel, estimated tb yield $35,6o6,b66; a bank stamp tax dh the lines of the law of 1866, estimated td yield $36;66o,60O ; a duty of three ce'nts per pdurid oh coffee,- and ten" cents per pOUrid oft tea on Hatid in the United Stateg, estimated to yield $2 8,660,606; addi- tional tax dh tobaccb, expected to yield $15,666,660. The e'dnitiiitte'e also dgteed to authorise the issUirig df $5 66,066,666 bdhds. These bonds td be offered for sale at all post-offices in the Uflited States' in ambunts df fifty dollars 6ifch, niakihg a great papu- lar loan tb be absorbed by the- people. Td tide bvef emergencies, the S^cretafy df the Treas- ury td Be authorised to issue tr'eastify certificates. These certificates' df debentures' to be used to pay rUnhiflg expenses when the fevenUfes db hot frieet the eipehditUr'es. These preparations wefe diitirietly War ffleasUres, arid WdUld be pUt in dpefatidii Only should wit dccUr. 34 THE BOYS OF '98. April 13. The House of Representatives passed the following resolutions : Whereas, the government of Spain for three years past has been waging war on the island of Cuba against a revolution by the inhabitants thereof, with- out making any substantial progress toward the suppression of said revolution, and has conducted the warfare in a manner contrary to the laws of nations by methods inhuman and uncivilised, causing the death by starvation of more than two hundred thousand innocent non-combatants, the victims being for the most part helpless women and children, inflict- ing intolerable injury to the commercial interests of the United States, involving the destruction of the lives and property of many of our citizens, entailing the expenditure of millions of money in patrolling our coasts and policing the high seas in order to maintain our neutrality ; and, Whereas, this long series of losses, injuries, and burdens for which Spain is responsible has culminated in the destruction of the United States battle-ship Maine in the harbour of Havana, and the death of two hundred and sixty-six of our seamen, — Resolved, That the President is hereby authorised and directed to intervene at once to stop the war in Cuba, to the end and with the purpose of securing permanent peace and order there, and establishing by the free action of the people there of a stable and independent government of their own in the island THE PRELIMINARIES. 35 of Cuba ; and the President is hereby authorised and empowered to use the land and naval forces of the United States to execute the purpose of this resolution. In the Senate the majority resolution reported : Whereas, the abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have been a disgrace to Christian civilisation, culminating as they have in the destruction of a United States battle-ship with two hundred and sixty-six of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbour of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by the President of the United States in his message " to Congress on April n, 1898, upon which the action of Congress was invited ; therefore, Resolved, First, that the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent. Second, That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. Third, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the 3^ the Soys of '98. rfiilitia bf the several States tb such e'^tefit as may Be tie'ces'sary, to caffy these resbliitibris into effect. April 14. The Spanish minister at Washington sealed his archives arid placed them in the charge of the French ambassador, M. Cafnbbri. The queen regent of Spairi, at a Cabinet meeting, signed a call for the Cortes to riiee't on the' twentieth of the" month, and a decree bpehirig A. national subscription for increasing the riavy and otRe'f war services. April t$. The United States consulate at Malaga, Spain, was attacked by a mob, and the shield torn dbwn and frarnpled upon. ApHl iy. The Spanish committee bf inquiry into the destfiictibh bf the Maine reported that the explo- sion could not have" been caused by a torpedo or a mine' of any kind, becaiise no trace of anything was fbtihd to justify such a conclusion. It gave trie testi- mony of two eye-witnesses to the catastrophe, whd swdfe that there was absolutely ho disturbance on the surface of the harbour afbuhd the Maine. The committee gave great stress to the fact that the ex- plosion did hb damage' td the qilays, arid none tb the Vessels' moored close' tb the Maine, whose officers and crews noticed nothing that could lead therh tb suppose that the disaster was caused otherwise than by an acci- dent inside the American vessel. April 18. Congress passed the Senate resolution, as given above, with an additional clause as follows : THE PRELIMINARIES. 37 Fourth, That the United States hereby disclaim any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, juris- diction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof ; and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people. CHAPTER III. A DECLARATION OF WAR. A LL that had been done by the governments of the ■*■*- United States and of Spain was indicative of war, — it was virtually a declaration that an appeal would be made to arms. April 20. Preparations were making in each country for actual hostilities, and the American people were prepared to receive the statement made by a gentleman in close touch with high officials, when he wrote : "The United States has thrown down the gage of battle and Spain has picked it up. "The signing by the President of the joint resolu- tions instructing him to intervene in Cuba was no sooner communicated to the Spanish minister than he immediately asked the State Department to furnish him with his passports. " It was defiance, prompt and direct. " It was the shortest and quickest manner for Spain to answer our ultimatum. " Nominally Spain has three days in which to make her reply. Actually that reply has already been delivered. 38 A DECLARATION OF WAR. 39 "When a nation withdraws her minister from the territory of another it is an open announcement to the world that all friendly relations have terminated. " Answers to ultimatums have before this been returned at the cannon's mouth. First the minister is withdrawn, then comes the firing. Spain is ready to speak through shotted guns. " And the United States is ready to answer, gun for gun. " The queen regent opened the Cortes in Madrid yesterday, saying, in her speech from the throne : ' I have summoned the Gortes to defend our rights, what- ever sacrifice they may entail, trusting to the Spanish people to gather behind my son's throne. With our glorious army, navy, and nation united before foreign aggression, we trust in God that we shall overcome, without stain on our honour, the baseless and unjust attacks made on us.' " Orders were sent last night to Captain Sampson at Key West to have all the vessels of his fleet under full steam, ready to move immediately upon orders." The Spanish minister, accompanied by six members of his staff, departed from Washington during the evening, after having made a hurried call at the French embassy and the Austrian legation, where Spanish interests were left in charge, having announced that he would spend several days in Toronto, Canada. April 21. The ultimatum of the United States was received at Madrid early in the morning, and the gov- 40 THE BQYS OF '98. erproent immediately brpke off diplomatic relations by sending the fpllqwing communication to Minister Wqqdfqrd, before he could present any note from Washington : "Dear Sir: — In compliance with a painful duty, I have the honour to inform you tfyat there has been sanctioned by the President of the republic^ a. resolu- tion of both chambers of the United States, which denies the legitimate sovereignty of Spain' and threat- ens armed intervention in Cuba, which is equivalent to a declaration of war. "The government of her majesty have ordered her minister to return without loss of time from North American territory, together with all the personnel of the legation. " By this act the diplomatic relations hitherto exist- ing between the two countries, and all offipial commu- nication between tlieir respective representatives, cease. " I am obliged thus to inform you, so that you ma^y make §uch arrangemepts as you think fit. I beg your excellency to acknowledge receipt of thjs note at such time as you deem prqper, taking this opportunity to reiterate to yqu the assurances of my distinguished consideration. (Signed) " H. Gullon." Relative to the ultimatum and its reception, the government of this country gave ' out , the follqwing inf qrmatipn : A DECLARATION Of VYAR. 4 1 " Qn yesterday, April 20, J898, abopt one p'plppk f,.M., the Department of State §gryed n Ptice of fhe purpqses of thj§ governmept by delivering t° ]Vfini§f:er Pp}p a cppy pf ap instruction tq Minister \Vgpdfqrd, apd alsq a copy of the resolutions passed by the Congress of the United. States on thg nineteepth ip^tant. After the receipt of this potice the $panish[ rpjnjster forwarded tp the Sta|:e pepartrnent a pequgst fpr his passports, ^fhich were fufPisheq 1 him op yesterday affprnqqp. (fGpRJes of the jnstrpctiops to ^oqcjfqrd are hgre? with appepdefj. ThS United States pppister at M,ac}n4 was at the s.arpe time instructed tp make a }jke ppm 7 mpnicatjon to fhe Spapish gqvejpment. ffThjs mprnipg the pepartpept received frprp Cjeperal 'VVpodford a telegram, a cppy pf which is hereuptp attached, shpwing £hat the Spapish gpvern T mept had brqkep qff diplorpatip relations wjfh this govern rnen}:. {'This pourse renders unnecessary any fur^er dip- Ipmatip action on the part pf the Upitef} States. " ' April 20, 1 898. " ' Woodford, Minister, Madrid: — You have been furnished with the text pf a jpint resolution, ypted by the Congress of the United States on the nineteenth instant, approved to T day, in rejatipn tp the pacifica- tipn pf the jglapd of Cuba. In qbedienpe tq that act, the Prggjdept directs ypu \o immediately cpmmupipatq to trjg gpyernment qf Spain said resolution, with X]\& 42 THE BOYS OF '98. formal demand of the government of the United States, that the government of Spain at once relinquish her authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw her land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. " ' In taking this step, the United States disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and con- trol of the island to its people under such free and independent government as they may establish. "'If, by the hour of noon on Saturday next, the twenty-third day of April, there be not communicated to this government by that of Spain a full and satisfac- tory response to this demand and resolutions,' whereby the ends of peace in Cuba shall be assured, the Presi- dent will proceed without further notice to use the power and authority enjoined and conferred upon him by the said joint resolution to such an extent as may be necessary to carry the same into effect. " ' Sherman.' " This is Woodford's telegram of this morning : " ' Madrid, April 21. (Received at 9.02 a.m.) " ' To Sherman, Washington : — Early this morning (Tuesday), immediately after the receipt of your tele- gram, and before I communicated the same to the A DECLARATION OF WAR. 43 Spanish government, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs notified me that diplomatic relations are broken between the two countries, and that all official com- munication between the respective representatives has ceased. I accordingly asked for my passports. Have turned the legation over to the British embassy, and leave for Paris this afternoon. Have notified consuls. ♦"Woodford."' The Spanish newspapers applauded the " energy " of their government, and printed the paragraph inserted below as a semi-official statement from the throne : "The Spanish government having received the ulti- matum of the President of the United States, considers that the document constitutes a declaration of war against Spain, and that the proper form to be adopted is not to make any further reply, but to await the expiration of the time mentioned in the ultimatum before opening hostilities. In the meantime the Span- ish authorities have placed their possessions in a state of defence, and their fleet is already on its way to meet that of the United States." April 21. General Woodford left Madrid late in the afternoon, and although an enormous throng of citizens were gathered at the railway station to witness his departure, no indignities were attempted. The people of Madrid professed the greatest enthusiasm for war, and the general opinion among the masses was that Spain would speedily vanquish the United States. 44 THE BPYS pf 'q8. |n Ifayana, in response to the manjfpstq frpm tlje palace, the .citizens began ear}y tq deepratp the puhlic buildings and many prjyate residences, balppnjps, and windows with the national Gplpup§. A general iUpmina : tjon followed, as qn the qccasjofi of a great natipnaj festivity. Early in the eyenjng np Jess, than eight thqusand dprnqnstratprs fi)!e4 the. square opposite the palace, a cqmmittee entering and tendering to the captain -general, in the name of all, their estates, prop- erty, and lives in aid, of fhp gqyernment, and Fudging thpir readiness to fight thp invader. General Blanpo thar)ke4 them in the name pf the king, the queen regent anp} thp jmperja} and cplpnial governments, assuring them that h e Fpuld dP every r thing in his power to prevent thp jnyadprg from setting foot in Cuba. " Otherwise I shalj pot live," fye said, }0 cpnclusipn. " D,o yqu swear tp follow me tp the fight ■ " " Yps, yes, we do ! " the crqwd ariswerpd. ?f Do ypu swear to give thp last drop pf ]}Jqpd W your yejris befpre letting a fqrpignex step his fppt RP the land we discovered, and place bis ypke upqn the people we civilised ? " 'f Yes, yes, we do ! " ff The enemy's flppt is ajmqst at Mprrp Castje, almost at the doors qf Havana," General Blancp added. " They have mqney ; but we have hJopd tR shed, ar»d we |pg readj tq shed it. W e wu l throw them into the spa ! " The people interrupted him with cries of applaugg, and he finished his spepph by shquting V Viva ILsfram ! " CAPTAIN-GENERAL BLANCO. A DECLARATION dF WAR. 45 " Viva elRey ! " >' Lotig live the army", the riavy, arid the volunteers ! " The* Gdhgfess 6f the Ufiited States passed a joint resolution authorising the Pr'e'sidSnt, in his disfffetioh, td prdhibit the exportation df coal and other war ma- terial. The measure was df great importance, because through if was prevented the shipment of coal to ports in the We§f Indies' where it might Be' used by Spain. April 22. At half past five o'cldck in the morning the vessels cbfnpOsing the North Atlantic Squadron 1 put td sea from Key West. The' flag-ship New York led the way. Close behind her steamed the towd and the Ihdidna. Fdlldw'ihg the war-ships came the gunboat Mdihiai; and then the Newport. The ArnphilHte, the first of the fleet, lying clbse to shore, stearfied out after the* Mdchias, arid theft followed in order the Nashville, the Wilmington, the Castine, the" Clntintidil, and ttig other B6at§ of the fleet; save the monitors Terror and PUritan, which were' cdalihg, the cruiser Mdrblehedd, f-Re despatch-bdat Dtilphlh, and the guribdat Helena. After ge'tting out df Sight bt land the flag df a r'ear= adrriifal was hoisted dVef the New' York, indicating to the fleet that Captairi Sampsofi was actifig as a reaf- admifaL Wheri in the open sea the fleet Was divided ihtd fhfe'e' divisions. The New Ydrk, I'owd, arid Indi- ana had the position of honour. Stretching out ib the fight w£fe the Montgomery, Wilmington, Newport, and sftialler efaft ; tb the left Was the Nashville ih the; lead, 46 THE BOYS OF '98. followed by the Cincinnati, Castine, Machias, Mayflower, and some of the torpedo-boats. At seven o'clock in the morning the first gun of the war was fired. The Nashville, which had been sailing at about six knots an hour, in obedience to orders, suddenly swung out of line. Clouds of black smoke poured from her long, slim stacks, her speed was grad- ually increased until the water ascended in fine spray on each side of the bow, and behind her trailed out a long, creamy streak on the quiet waters. She was headed for a Spanish merchantman, which was then about half a mile away, apparently paying no heed to the monsters of war. A shot from one of the 4-pound ers was sent across the stranger's bow, and then, no attention having been paid to it, a 6-inch gun was discharged. This last shot struck the water and bounded along the surface a mile or more, sending up great clouds of spray. The Spaniard wisely concluded to heave to, and within five minutes a boat was lowered from the Nashville to put on board the first prize a crew of six men, under command of Ensign Magruder. The captured vessel was the Buena Ventura, of 1,741 tons burthen ; laden with lumber, valued at eleven thousand dollars, and carrying a deck -load of cattle. The record of this first day of hostilities was not to end with one capture. Late in the afternoon, almost within' gunshot of the Cuban shore, while the United States fleet was stand- A DECLARATION OF WAR. 47 ing toward Havana, with the Mayflower a. mile or more in advance of the flag-ship New York, the merchant steamship Pedro hove in sight. The Mayflower sud- denly swung sharply to the westward, and a moment later a string of butterfly flags went fluttering to her masthead. The New York flung her answering pennant to the breeze, and, making another signal to the fleet, which probably meant " Stay where you are until I get back," swung her bow to the westward and went racing for the game that the Mayflower had sighted. The big cruiser dashed forward, smoke trailing in dense masses from each of her three big funnels, a hill of foam around her bow, and in her wake a swell like a tidal wave. It was a winning pace, and a magnificent sight she presented as she dashed through the choppy seas with never an undulation of her long, graceful hull. When she was well inshore a puff of smoke came from the bow of the cruiser, followed by a dull report, then another and another, until four shots had been sent from one of the small, rapid-fire guns. The Span- ish steamer, probably believing the pursuing craft car- ried no heavier guns, was trying to keep at a safe distance until the friendly darkness of night should hide her from view. During sixty seconds or more the big cruiser held her course in silence, and then her entire bow was hidden from the spectators in a swirl of white smoke as a main battery gun roared out its demand. 48 THfe BOYS OF '98. The whizzing shell spoke plainly to the Spanish craft, and had hardly more than flung' up a column of water a hundred yards or less in front of the merchantman feefbfe' she was hastily rounded to with her engines reversed A prize crew under Ensign Marble was thrown on Board, arid the steamer Pedro, twenty-eight hundred tdfls burthen, suddenly had a change of commanders. April 22. The President issued a proclamation announcing a blockade of Cuban ports, and also signed the bill providing for the utilising of volunteer forces in tiriies of war. tbe foreign news of immediate interest to the people b'f the* United States' was, first, from Havana, that Cap'tairi-Genefal Blanco had publisbed a decree con- flrriiirig his previous decree, and declaring tbe island to be' in a state' of war. He ais6 annulled his former similar decrees grant- ing pardon td insurgents, arid placed under martial law all those who were guilty of treason, espionage, crimes against peace' bf against the independence of the nation, seditious revolts; attacks against the form of government of against the authorities, and against those who disturb public order, though only by means of printed rhattef. Frtitii Madrid came the information that during the eVe'hing a throng of no less than six thousand people, carrying flags and shouting " Viva Espana ! " " We want war ! " and " Down with the Yankees ! " burned the stars PREMIER SAGASTA. A DECLARATION OF- WAR. 49 and stripes in front of the residence of Sefior Sagasta, the premier, who was accorded an ovation. The mob then went to the residence of M..Patenotre, the French ambassador, and insisted that he should make his ap- pearance, but the French ambassador was not at home. Correspondents at Hongkong announced that Ad- miral Dewey had ordered the commanders of the ves- sels composing his squadron to be in readiness for an immediate movement against the Philippine Islands. April 23. The President issued a proclamation call- ing for one hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteer soldiers. In the new war tariff bill a loan of $500,000,000 was provided for in the form of three per cent. 10-20 bonds. The third capture of a Spanish vessel was made early in the morning by the torpedo-boat Ericsson. The fish- ing-boat Perdito was sighted making for Havana har- bour, and overhauled only when she was directly under the guns of Morro Castle, where a single shot from the fortification might have sunk either craft. After a prize-crew had been put on board Rear-Admiral Samp- son decided to turn her loose, and so she was permitted to return to Havana to spread the news of the blockade. During the afternoon the rum-laden schooner Ma- thilde was taken, after a lively chase, by the torpedo- boat Porter. Between five and six o'clock in the evening the torpedo-boat Foote, Lieut. W. L. Rodgers commanding, received the first Spanish fire. She was taking soundings in the harbour of Matanzas, 50 THE BOYS OF 98. and had approached within two or three hundred yards of the shore, when suddenly a masked battery on the east side of the harbour, and not far distant from the Foote, fired three shots at the torpedo-boat. The missiles went wide of the mark, and the Foote leisurely returned to the Cincinnati to report the result of her work. At Hongkong the United States consul notified Governor Blake of the British colony that the Ameri- can fleet would leave the harbour in forty-eight hours, and that no warlike stores, or more coal than would be necessary to carry the vessels to the nearest home port, would be shipped. The United States demanded of Portugal, the owner of the Cape Verde Islands, that, in accordance with international law, she send the Spanish war-ships away from St. Vincent, or require them to remain in that port during the war. April 24. The following decree was gazetted in Madrid : " Diplomatic relations are broken off between Spain and the United States, and a state of war being be- gun between the two countries, numerous questions of international law arise, which must be precisely defined chiefly because the injustice and provocation came from our adversaries, and it is they who by their de- testable conduct have caused this great conflict." The royal decree then states that Spain maintains her right to have recourse to privateering, and an- a McLAkATioN of War. 51 nounces that for the present only auxiliary cruisers will be fitted out. All treaties with the United States are annulled ; thirty days are given to American ships to leave Spanish ports, and the rules Spain will observe during the war are outlined in five clauses, covering neutral flags and goods contraband of war ; what will be considered a blockade ; the right of search, and what constitutes contraband of war, ending with saying that foreign privateers will be regarded as pirates. Continuing, the decree declared : " We have ob- served with the strictest fidelity the principles of inter- national law, and have shown the most scrupulous respect for morality and the right of government. " There is an opinion that the fact that we have not adhered to the declaration of Paris does not exempt us from the duty of respecting the principles therein enunciated. The principle Spain unquestionably re- fused to admit then was the abolition of privateering. " The government now considers it most indispen- sable to make absolute reserve on this point, in order to maintain our liberty of action and uncontested right to have recourse to privateering when we consider it expedient, first, by organising immediately a force of cruisers, auxiliary to the navy, which will be composed of vessels of our mercantile marine, and with equal distinction in the work of our navy. " Clause i : The sta'te of war existing between Spain and the United States annuls the treaty of peace and amity of October 27, 1795, and the procotol of January 52 THE BOYS OF '98. 12, 1877, and all other agreements, treaties, or conven- tions in force between the two countries. " Clause 2 : From the publication of these presents, thirty days are granted to all ships of the United States anchored in our harbours to take their departure free of hindrance. " Clause 3 : Notwithstanding that Spain has not ad- hered to the declaration of Paris, the government, respecting the principles of the law of nations, proposes to observe, and hereby orders to be observed, the following regulations of maritime laws : " One : Neutral flags cover the enemy's merchandise, except contraband of war. " Two : Neutral merchandise, except contraband of war, is not seizable under the enemy's flag. " Three: A blockade, to be obligatory, must be effective ; viz., it must be maintained with sufficient force to prevent access to the enemy's littoral. "Four: The Spanish government, upholding its rights to grant letters of marque, will at present confine itself to organising, with the vessels of the mercantile marine, a force of auxiliary cruisers which will cooperate with the navy, according to the needs of the campaign, and will be under naval control. "Five: In order to capture the enemy's ships, and confiscate the enemy's merchandise and contraband of war under whatever form, the auxiliary cruisers will exercise the right of search on the high seas, and in the waters under the enemy's jurisdiction, in accordance A DECLARATION OF WAR. 53 with international law and the regulations which will be published. " Six : Defines what is included in contraband of war, naming weapons, ammunition, equipments, engines, and, in general, all the appliances used in war. " Seven: To be regarded and judged as pirates, with all the rigour of the law, are captains, masters, officers, and two-thirds of the crew of vessels, which, not being American, shall commit acts of war against Spain, even if provided with letters of marque by the United States." April 24.. The U. S. S. Helena captured the steamer Miguel Jover. The U. S. S. Detroit captured the steamer Catalania ; the Wilmington took the schooner Candidor; the Winona made a prize of the steamer Saturnia, and the Terror brought in the schooners Saco and Tres Hermanes. April 25. Early in the day the President sent the following message to Congress : «• I transmit to the Congress, for its consideration and appropriate action, copies of correspondence re- cently had with the representatives of Spain and the United States, with the United States minister at Ma- drid, through the latter with government of Spain, show- ing the action taken under the joint resolution approved April 20, 1898, ' For the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces 54 THE BOYS OF '98. from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the Presi- dent of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect.' " Upon communicating with the Spanish minister in Washington the demand, which it became the duty of the executive to address to the government of Spain in obedience with said resolution, the minister asked for his passports and withdrew. ' The United States minis- ter at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, that the withdrawal of the Spanish representative from the United States had terminated diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that all official communications between their respective representatives ceased therewith. " I commend to your especial attention . the note addressed to the United States minister at Madrid by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs on the twenty- first instant, whereby the foregoing notification was conveyed. It will be perceived therefrom, that the government of Spain, having cognisance of the joint resolution of the United States Congress, and, in view of the things which the President is thereby required and authorised to do, responds by treating the reason- able demands of this government as measures of hos- tility/following with that instant and complete severance of relations by its action, which by the usage of nations accompanied an existing state of war between sovereign powers. " The position of Spain being thus made known, and Missing Page Missing Page Missing Page Missing Page A DECLARATION OF WAR. 59 and the story of the chase is thus told by an eye- witness : "The Spanish steamer Guido, Captain Armarechia, was bound for Havana. There was Spanish urgency that she should reach that port. Aboard was a large cargo, provisions for the beleaguered city, money for the Spanish troops — or officers. The steamer had left Liverpool on April 2d, and Corunna on April 9th. "Ten miles off Cardenas, in the early morning, the Guido, setting her fastest pace, made for Havana and the guardian guns of Morro. Ten miles off Cardenas plodded the heavy monitor. The half light betrayed the fugitive, and the pursuit was begun. " Slowly, very slowly, the monitor gained. It would be a long chase. Men in the engine-room toiled like galley-slaves under the whip. There was prize-money to be gained. The Guido fled fast. Every light aboard her was hid. " Reluctantly the pursuer aimed a 6-pounder. It was prize aim, and the shot found more than a billet in the Guido' 's pilot-house. It tore a part away; the splinters flew. "Another 6-pounder, and another. It was profit- able shooting. The pilot-house, a fair mark, was piece by piece nearly destroyed. Jagged bits of wood floated in the steamer's wake. "The gunboat Machias, which was some distance away, heard the sound of the firing, came up, and brought her 4-inch rifle into play, firing one shot, 60 THE BOYS OF '98. which failed to hit the Spaniard. This, however, brought her to, and Lieutenant Qualto and a prize- crew were put on board." A cablegram from Hongkong announced the cap- ture of the American bark Saranac off Manila, by the Spanish gunboat El Correo. By a conference of both branches of Congress a naval bill of $49,277,558 was agreed upon. It stands as the heaviest naval outlay since the civil war, pro- viding for the construction of three battle-ships, four monitors, sixteen torpedo-boat destroyers, and twelve torpedo-boats. The U. S. S. Newport captured the Spanish sloop Engracia, and the U. S. S. Dolphin made a prize of the Spanish schooner Lola. April 29. The flag-ship New York was lying about two miles off the harbour of Cabanas, having just com- pleted a cruise of inspection. With her were the torpedo-boats Porter and Ericsson. On the shore could be seen the white ruins of what may have been the dwelling of a plantation. No signs of life were visible. It was as if war's alarms had never been heard on this portion of the island. Suddenly a volley of musketry rang out, repeated again and again, at regular intervals, and the tiny jets of water which were sent up by the bullets told that, concealed near about the ruins of the hacienda, a troop of Spanish soldiers were making what possibly they may have believed to be an attack upon the big war- A DECLARATION OP WAR. 6 1 ship. It was much as if a swarm of gnats had set about endeavouring to worry an elephant, and likely to have as little effect ; yet Rear-Admiral Sampson be- lieved it was necessary to teach the enemy that any playing at war, however harmless, was dangerous to themselves, and he ordered that the port battery be manned. Half a dozen shots from the 4-inch guns were con- sidered sufficient, although there was no evidence any execution had been done, and the big vessel's bow was turned eastward just as a troop of Spanish cavalry rode rapidly away from the ruin. The horsemen served as a target for a 4-inch gun in the starboard battery, and the troop dispersed in hot haste. While this mimic warfare was being carried on off Cabanas, a most important capture was made. The Nashville, Marblehead, and the Eagle left the station on the north coast, April 25 th, to blockade Cienfuegos, arriving at the latter place on the twenty-eighth. They spent the day reconnoitring, and, next morn- ing, in order to get better information, steamed close to the mouth of the harbour of Cienfuegos. The Eagle was to the eastward, and in the van. The Marblehead was slightly in the rear, and the Nashville to the westward. All were cleared for action. Suddenly smoke was seen rising on the western horizon, and the Nashville, because of her position, put on all steam in that direc- tion. Twenty minutes later she fired two shots across 62 the boys of '98. the bow of the coming steamer, which promptly hove to. She was the Argonauta. Ensign Keunzli was sent with a prize-crew of nine to take possession of her. Learning that Spanish soldiers were on board, word was given to send them to the Nashville immediately as prisoners of war, and when this had been done arrangements were made to transfer the passengers and non-combatants to the shore. The women and children were placed in the first boat, and under cover of a flag of truce were soon bound toward the entrance to Cienfuegos. A second crew took the other passen- gers and landed them about noon. The Argonauta had on board Colonel Corijo of the Third Spanish Cavalry, his first lieutenant, sergeant- major, seven other lieutenants, and ten privates and non-commissioned officers. The steamer also carried a large cargo of arms and Mauser ammunition. She was bound from Satabanao, Spain, for Cienfuegos, stopping at Port Louis, Trinidad, and Manzanillo. Half an hour later the Eagle hoisted a signal con- veying the intelligence that she had been fired upon by Spanish boats coming out of the river. She imme- diately returned the fire with the 6-pounders, and held her ground until the Marblehead came up. Both vessels then fired broadside after broadside up the entrance to the river. The boats coming down were two torpedo-boats and one torpedo-boat destroyer. After twenty minutes of firing by the Eagle, during" the last five of which the A DECLARATION OF WAR. 63 Marblehead participated, the Spanish vessels ceased firing. April 29. A cablegram from St. Vincent, Cape Verde, reported the departure from that port of the Spanish squadron, consisting of the first-class cruisers Vizcaya, Almirante Oquendo, Infanta Maria Teresa, and Cristobal Colon, and the three torpedo-boat destroy- ers Furor, Terror, and Phiton, bound westward, prob- ably for Porto Rico. April jo. The American schooner Ann Louisa Lockwood was taken by the Spaniards off Mole St. Nicolas. The capture of a small Spanish schooner, the Mas- cota, near Havana, by the torpedo-boat Foote, closed the record of the month of April. Anxiously awaiting some word from Manila were the people of the United States, and it was as if everything else was relegated to the background until information could be had regarding that American fleet which sailed from Mirs Bay, in the China Sea, on the after- noon of April 27th. CHAPTER IV. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. Tl/fA Y i. " Manila, May i. — The squadron arrived ■*■ ***■ at Manila at daybreak this morning. Imme- diately engaged the enemy, and destroyed the follow- ing Spanish vessels : Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon, Reina Christina, Castilla, Don Antonio d'Ulloa, Don Juan d' Austria, Velasco, General Lezo, El Correo, Marques del Duero, Isla de Mindanao, and the water-battery at Cavite. The squadron is uninjured. Few men were slightly injured. The only means of telegraphing is to American consulate, Hongkong. I shall communicate with him. " Dewey." All the world loves a hero, but idolises- him when he performs his deeds of valour without too many prelim- inaries, and, therefore, when on the seventh of May the telegram quoted above was" flashed over the wires to an anxiously expectant people, it was as if all the country remembered but one name, — that of Dewey. April 25. It was known to the public that the Asiatic Squadron had sailed from Hongkong on the 64 ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 65 25th of April to avoid possible complications such as might arise in a neutral port, and had rendezvoused in Mirs Bay, there to await orders from the government at Washington. April 26. So also was it known that on the next day Commodore Dewey received the following cable- gram. "Washington, April 26th. "Dewey, Asiatic Squadron: — Commence operations at once, particularly against Spanish fleet. You must capture or destroy them. " MCKINLEY." April 2j. On the twenty-seventh came information from Hongkong that the squadron had put to sea, and from that day until the seventh of May no word regard- ing the commodore's movements had been received, save through Spanish sources. Then came a cablegram containing the bare facts concerning the most complete naval victory the world had ever known. It was the first engagement of the war, and a crushing defeat for the enemy. It is not strange that the people, literally overwhelmed with joy, gave little heed to the movements of our forces elsewhere until the details of this marvellous fight could be sent under the oceans and across the coun- tries, thousands of leagues in distance, describing the deeds of the heroes who had made their names famous so long as history shall exist. 66 THE BOYS OF '98. During such time of waiting all were eager to familiarise themselves with the theatre of this scene of action, and every source of information was applied to until the bay of Manila had become as well known as the nearest home waters. For a better understanding of the battle a rough diagram of the bay, from the entrance as far as the city of Manila, may not come amiss. 1 Twenty-six miles from the entrance to the bay is situated the city of Manila, through which the river Pasig runs, dividing what is known as the old city from the new, and forming several small islands. Sixteen miles from the sea is the town and arsenal of Cavite, which, projecting as it does from the main- land, forms a most commodious and safe harbour. Cavite was well fortified, and directly opposite its for,., on the mainland, was a heavy mortar battery. Between the arsenal and the city was a Krupp battery, at what was known as the Luneta Fort, while further toward the sea, extending from Cavite to the outermost por- tion of Limbones Point, were shore-batteries, — for- midable forts, so it had been given out by the Spanish , government, such as would render the city of Manila impregnable. Between Limbones and Talago Point are two islands, Corregidor and Caballo, which divide the entrance of the bay into three channels. On each of these islands "See Appendix, Part A, for general description of the Philippine Islands and their inhabitants. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 67 is a lighthouse, and it was said that both were strongly fortified with modern guns. North of Corregidor, nearly opposite, but on the inner shore, is the point of San Jos6, where was another water-battery mounting formidable guns. That channel between Corregidor and San Jose Point is known as the Boca Grande, and is nearly two miles wide. The middle channel, or the one situated between the two islands, is shallow, and but little used. The third, which separates Caballo Island from Limbones Point, is nearly three miles in width, at least twenty fathoms deep, and known as the Boca Chica. All of these channels, as well as the waters of the bay, were said to have been thickly mined, and the enemy had caused • it to be reported that no ship could safely enter without the aid of a govern- ment pilot. In addition to the vessels of the American fleet, as set down at the conclusion of this chapter,- were two transports, the steamers Nanshan and Zafiro, which had come into the port of Hongkong laden with coal shortly before Commodore Dewey's departure, and had been purchased by him, together with their cargoes, in anticipation .of the declaration of war. And now, the details having been set down in order that what follows may be the better understood, we will come to that sultry Sunday morning, shortly after midnight, when the American fleet steamed along the coast toward the entrance to Manila Bay,, the flag-ship 68 THE BOYS OF '98. Olympia leading, with the Baltimore, the Raleigh, the Petrel, the Concord, and the Boston following in the order named. In the rear of these came the two transports, the Nanshan and Zafiro, convoyed by the despatch steamer McCulloch. The commodore had decided to enter by the Boca Grande channel, and the fleet kept well out from Talago Point until the great light of Corregidor came into view. Then the crews of the war-vessels were summoned on deck, the men ordered to wash, and afterwards served with a cup of coffee. All lights were extin- guished except one on the stern of each ship, and that was hooded. All hands were at quarters ; all guns loaded, with extra charges ready at hand ; every eye was strained, and every ear on the alert to catch the slightest sound. Perhaps there was not a man from commodore to seaman, who believed it would be possible for the war- vessels to enter the bay without giving an alarm, and yet the big ships continued on and were nearly past Corregidor Island before a gun was fired. The flag-ship was well into the bay, steaming at a four-knot speed, when from the smoke-stack of the little McCulloch a column of sparks shot up high into the air. In the run her fires had fallen low, and it became necessary to replenish them. The firemen, perhaps fearing lest they should not be in. at the death, were more energetic than prudent, and THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 69 thus a signal was given to the sleepy garrison of Corregidor. " Perhaps they will see us now," the commodore remarked, quietly, as his attention was called to this indiscretion. A flash of light burst from the fort ; there was a dull report, and in the air could be heard that peculiar sing- ing and sighing of a flying projectile as a heavy missile passed over the Olympia and the Raleigh. The garrison on Corregidor was awakened, but not until after the last vessel in that ominous procession had steamed past. It was the first gun in the battle of Manila Bay, and it neither worked harm nor caused alarm. Again and again in rapid succession came these flashes of light, dull reports, and sinister hummings in the air, before the American fleet gave heed that this signal to heave to had been heard. Then a 4-inch shell was sent from the Concord directly inside of the fortification, where it exploded. The Raleigh and the Boston each threw a shell by way of salute, and then all was silent. The channel, which had been thickly mined, accord- ing to the Spanish reports, was passed in safety, and the fleet, looking so unsubstantial in the darkness, had yet to meet the mines in the bay, as well as the Spanish fleet, which all knew was lying somewhere near about the city. On the forward bridge of the Olympia stood Commo- 70 THE BOYS OF '98. dore Dewey, his chief of staff, Commander Lamberton, Lieutenant Rees, Lieutenant Calkins, and an insurgent Filippino, who had volunteered as pilot. In the conning-tower was Captain Gridley, who, much against his will, was forced to take up his position in that partially sheltered place because the commander of the fleet was not willing to take the chances that all the chief officers of the ship should be exposed to death on the bridge. The word was given to "slow down," and the speed of the big ships decreased until they had barely steerageway. The men were allowed to sleep beside their guns. The moon had set, the darkness and the silence was almost profound, until suddenly day broke, as it does in the tropics, like unto a flash of light, and all that bay, with its fighting-machines in readiness for the first signal, was disclosed to view. From the masthead of the American 'vessels rose tiny balls of bunting, and then were broken out, disclosing the broad folds of the stars and stripes. Cavite was hardly more than five miles ahead, and beyond, the city of Manila. The Reina Christina, flying the Spanish rear-ad- miral's flag, lay off the arsenal. Astern of her was moored the Castillo., her port battery ready for action. Slightly to seaward were the Don Juan de Austria, the Don Antonio de Ulloa, the Isla de Cuba and Isla de THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 7 1 Luzon, the El Correo, the Marques del Duero, and the General Lezo. They were under steam and slowly moving about, apparently ready to receive the fire of the advancing squadron. The flag-ship Reina Christina also was under way. " Prepare for general action ! Steam at eight-knot speed ! " were the signals which floated from the Olympia as she led the fleet in, keeping well toward the shore opposite the city. The American fleet was yet five miles distant, when from the arsenal came a flame and report ; but the missile was not to be seen. Another shot from Cavite, and then was strung aloft on the Olympia a line of tiny flags, telling by the code what was to be the American battle-cry : " Remember the Maine," and from the throat of every man on the incoming ships went up a shout of defiance and exultation that the moment was near at hand when the dastardly deed done in the harbour of Havana might be avenged. Steaming steadily onward were the huge vessels, dropping ; astern and beyond range the transports as they passed opposite Cavite Point, until, having gained such -a distance above the city as permitted of an evolu- tion, the fleet swung swiftly around until it held a course parallel with the westernmost shore, and distant from it mayhap six thousand yards. Every nerve was strained to its utmost tension ; each man took a mental grip upon himself, believing that he 72 THE BOYS OF '98. stood face to face with death ; but no cheek paled ; no hand trembled save it might have been from excitement. The ships were coming down on their fighting course when a shell from one of the shore-batteries burst over the Olympic/.; the guns from the fort and from the water-batteries vomited jets of flame and screaming missiles with thunderous reports ; every man on the American fleet save one believed the moment had come when they should act their part in the battle which had been begun by the enemy ; but up went the signal : " Hold your fire until close in." Had the American fleet opened fire then, the city of Manila would have been laid in ashes and thousands of non-combatants slain. The Olympia was yet two miles from Cavite when, directly in front of the Baltimore, a huge shaft of water shot high into the air, and with a heavy booming that drowned the reports of the Spanish guns. " The torpedoes ! " some one on the Olympia said, in a low tone, with an indrawing of the breath ; but it was as if Dewey did not hear. With Farragut in Mobile Bay he had seen the effects of such engines of destruction, and, like Farragut, he gave little heed to that which might in a single instant send his vessel to the bottom, even as the Maine had been sent. Then, so near the Raleigh as to send a flood across her decks, another spouting of water, another dull roar, and the much vaunted mines of the Spaniards in Manila Bay had been exploded, w o THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 73 The roar and crackle of the enemy's guns still con- tinued, yet Dewey withheld the order which every man was now most eager to hear. The Spanish gunners were getting the range ; the shells which had passed over our fleet now fell close about them ; the tension among officers and men was terrible. They wondered how much longer the com- modore would restrain them from firing. The heat was rapidly becoming intense. The guns' crews began to throw off their clothes. Soon they wore nothing but their trousers, and perspiration fairly ran from their bodies. Still the word was not given to fire, though the ships steadily steamed on and drew nearer the fort. Orders were given by the officers in low voices, but they were perfectly audible, so great was the silence which was broken only by the throbbing of the engines. The men hugged their posts ready to open fire at the word. A huge shell from Cavite hissed through the air and came directly for the Olympia. High over the smoke- stack it burst with a mighty snap. Commodore Dewey did not raise his eyes. He simply turned, made a motion to a boatswain's mate who stood near the after 5 -inch gun. With a voice of thunder the man bellowed an order along the decks. " Remember the Maine ! " yelled a chorus of five hundred gallant sailors. Below decks in the engine- rooms the cry was taken up, a cry of defiance and revenge. Up in the turrets resounded the words, and 74 THE BOYS OF '98. the threatening notes were swept across the bay to the other ships. " Remember the Maine ! " In that strange cry was loosed the pent-up wrath of hundreds of American sailors who resented the cowardly death of their comrades. It bespoke the terrible ven- geance that was about to be dealt out to the defenders of a detestable flag. "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," was Commodore Dewey's quiet remark to the captain of the Olympia, who was still in the conning-tower. The Olympia s 8-inch gun in the forward turret belched forth, and an instant later was run up the signal to the ships astern : " Fire as convenient." The other vessels in the squadron followed the example set by the Olympia. The big 8-inch guns of the Baltimore and the Boston hurled their two hun- dred and fifty pound shells at the Spanish flag-ship and at the Castilla. The Spanish fleet fired fast and furiously. The guns on Cavite hurled their shells at the swiftly moving vessels ; the water-batteries added their din to the horrible confusion of noises ; the air was sulphurous with the odour of burning powder, and great clouds of smoke hung here and there, obscuring this vessel or that from view. It was the game of death with all its horrible accompaniments. One big shell came toward the Olympia straight for < n < « O W H H <: m w W H THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 75 the bridge. When a hundred feet away it suddenly burst, its fragments continuing onward. One piece struck the rigging directly over the head of Com- mander Lamberton. He did not wince. The Olympia continued on. It was evident Com- modore Dewey was making straight for the centre of the enemy's line, which was the big cruiser Reina Christina. Being the nearest ship, the Olympia received more attention from the Spaniards than any of the other vessels. The water was now getting shallow. Commodore Dewey did not wish to run aground. He altered his course when about four thousand yards from the Spanish vessels, and swung around to give them his broadside. A small torpedo-boat was seen to emerge from the shore near the arsenal, making for the coal-laden steamers at a high rate of speed. The secondary batteries on the ships nearest were brought to bear upon her ; it was a veritable shower of shot and shell which fell ahead, astern, and either side of her. To continue on would have been certain destruction, and, turning in the midst of that deadly hail which had half disabled her, the craft was run high and dry on the beach, where she was at once abandoned, her crew doubtless fearing lest the magazines would explode. " Open with all guns," came the signal as the course 76 THE BOYS OF '98. of the American vessels was changed, and soon all the port guns were at work. The American fleet was steaming back and forth off Cavite Bay as if bent on leaving such a wake as would form a figure eight, delivering broadside after broadside with splendid results. All this time the enemy's vessels were keeping up a steady fire, the smaller ships retreating inside the mole several times during the action. The forts were not idle, but kept thundering forth their tribute with no noticeable effect. The enemy's fire seemed to be concentrated on the Baltimore, and she was hit several times. A 4.7-inch armour-piercing shell punctured her side on the main-deck line, tore up the wooden deck, and, striking the steel deck under this, glanced upward, went through the after engine-room hatch, and, emerg- ing, struck the cylinder of the port 6-inch gun on the quarter-deck, temporarily rendering the gun unfit for use. In its flight it also struck a box of 3-pounder ammunition, exploding one shell, which in turn slightly wounded one of No. 4 gun's crew. One shell pierced her starboard side forward of No. 2 sponson, and lodged in a clothes-locker on the berth-deck ; another struck her port beam a little above the water-line, and a few feet forward of, and above this, another shell came crashing across the berth-deck, Striking a steam-pipe and exploding behind the starboard SB o H CO O cq THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 77 blower-engine, but with no serious results. A fragment of a shell went through one of the ventilators, and the colours of the mainmast were shot through. The concussion from the 8-inch guns on the poop shattered the whaleboats, and they had to be cut adrift. A fragment of a shell that burst over the quarter-deck cut the signal halliards which Lieutenant Brumby held in his hand. On the Boston a shell came through a port-hole in Ensign Doddridge's stateroom, and wrecked it badly. The explosion set a fire which was quickly put out. Another shell struck the port hammock netting, where it burst, setting fire to the hammocks. This was also soon extinguished. Still another shell struck the Boston's foremast, cutting a great gash in it. It came within twenty feet of Captain Wildes on the bridge. The Raleigh was forced inshore by the strong current, and carried directly upon the bows of two Spanish cruisers. By all the rules of warfare she should have been sunk ; but instead, her commander delivered two raking broadsides as she steamed back into place. Three times the American ships passed back and forth, opening first with one broadside and then with another as the ship swung around, and then the Reina Christina, black smoke pouring from her stacks, and a vapour as of wool coming from the steam-pipes, gallantly sallied out to meet the Olympia. Between the two flag-ships ensued a duel, in which 78 THE BOYS OF '98. the Spaniard was speedily worsted to such a degree that she was literally forced to turn and make for the shore. As she swung around, with her stern directly toward the Olympia, an 8-inch shell struck her squarely, and the explosive must have travelled directly through the ill-fated craft until it reached the after boiler, where it exploded, ripping up the decks, and vomiting forth showers of iron fragments and portions of dismembered human bodies. A gunboat came out from behind the Cavite pier, and made directly for the Olympia. In less than five minutes she was in a sinking condition ; as she turned, a shell struck her just inside the stern railing, and she disappeared beneath the waves as if crushed by some titanic force. Navigator Calkins of the Olympia had soundings taken, and told Commodore Dewey that he could take the ship farther in toward the Spanish fleet. " Take her in, then," the commodore replied. The ship moved up to within two thousand yards of the Spanish fleet. This brought the smaller guns into effective play. The rain of shell upon the doomed Spaniards was terrific. The Castilla was in flames from stem to stern. Black smoke poured up from the decks of the Is la de Cuba, and on the flag-ship fire was completing the work of destruction begun by the American shells. It was 7.35 a. m. when the battle, which began at THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 79 5.41, came to a temporary close. The first round was concluded. There was yet ample time in which to finish the work so well begun, and from the flag-ship Olympia went up the signal : " Cease firing and follow." The fleet was headed for the opposite shore, and, once partially beyond range, " mess-gear " was sounded. The only casualty worthy of mention which had occurred was the death of Chief Engineer Frank B. Randall, of the steamer McCulloch, who died from heart disease, probably superinduced by excitement, while the fleet was passing Corregidor. There were handshakings and congratulations on every hand as smoke-begrimed friends, parted during the battle, met again, and loud were the cheers that went up from the various ships in passing. After breakfast had been served and the ships made ready for the second round, or, in other words, at 10.15 in the forenoon, the Spanish flag-ship Reina Christina hauled down her colours, and the admiral's flag was transferred to the Isla de Cuba. At 10.45 a signal was made from the Olympia: " Get under way with men at quarters." Again the fleet stood in toward Cavite, the Baltimore in the lead, but the latter vessel's course was quickly changed as a strange steamer was observed entering the bay. Not many moments were spent in reconnoitring ; So tHE BOYS OF '9$. the signal flags soon told that the stranger was flying the English ensign. Then came the order for the Baltimore to stand in and destroy the enemy's fortifications, and ten minutes later the battle was on once more. Now the fire was slow and deliberate, the gunners taking careful aim, bent on expending the least amount of ammunition with the greatest possible execution. The Baltimore suffered most at the beginning of this second round, because all the enemy's fire was concen- trated upon her. Soon after this second half of the engagement had begun a Spanish shell exploded on the Baltimore's deck, wounding five of the crew, and another partially disabled three. It was as if every square yard of sur- face in that portion of the bay was covered by a missile from the enemy's guns, and yet no further damage to the American fleet was done. When the Baltimore was within twenty-five hundred- yard range she* poured a broadside into the Reina Christina which literally blew that craft into fragments, and the smoke from the guns yet hung like a cloud above the deck when the ill-fated flag-ship sank beneath the waters of the bay. The San Juan de Austria was the next of the enemy's fleet to be sunk, and then a like fate overtook the El Correo. The General Lezo was run on shore and abandoned to the flames. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 8 1 The cruiser Castillo, was scuttled by her crew lest the fire which was raging fiercely should explode her magazine, The Valasco went down before all her men could escape to the boats. The guns of the Don Antonio de Ulloa were fought with most desperate bravery, and even as she sank beneath the surface were the pieces discharged by the brave Spaniards who stood at their posts of duty until death overtook them. The Concord started after the Mindanao lying close inshore, and was soon joined by the Olympia, who poured 8-inch shells into the transport until she was set on fire in a dozen places. The entire Spanish fleet had been destroyed ; not a vessel remained afloat, and Commodore Dewey turned his attention to the Cavite battery. It was 12.45 p - M - when the magazine in the arsenal was exploded by a shell from the Olympia, or the Pet- rel, it is impossible to say which, and the battle of Manila had been fought and won. Not until the thirteenth of May was Commodore Dewey's official report received at the Navy Depart- ment, and then it was given to the public "without loss of time. It is copied below : "Flagship Olympia, Cavite, May 4, 1898. "The squadron left Mirs Bay on April 27th. Ar- rived off Bolinao on the morning of April 30th, and 82 THE BOYS OF '98. finding no vessels there proceeded down the coast and arrived off the entrance to Manila Bay on the same afternoon. The Boston and Concord were sent to reconnoitre Point Subic. ... A thorough search of the port was made by the Boston and the Concord, but the Spanish fleet was not found. . . . " Entered the south channel at 1 1.30 p. m., steaming in column at eight knots. After half the squadron had passed, a battery on the south side of the channel opened fire, none of the shots taking effect. The Boston and McCulloch returned the fire. " The squadron proceeded across the bay at slow speed, and arrived off Manila at daybreak, and was fired upon at 5.15 a.m. by three batteries at Manila and two near Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet anchored in an approximately east and west line across the mouth of Baker Bay, with their left in shoal water in Canacoa Bay. " The squadron then proceeded to the attack, the flag-ship Olympia, under my personal direction, leading, followed at distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel, Concord, and Boston, in the order named, which for- mation was maintained throughout the action. The squadron opened fire at 5.41 a. m. "While advancing to the attack two mines were exploded ahead of the flag-ship, too far to be effective. The squadron maintained a continuous and precise fire at ranges varying from five thousand to two thousand yards, countermarching in a line approximately parallel Q et o o y, o u THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 83 to that of the Spanish fleet. The enemy's fire was vigorous, hut generally ineffective. " Early in the engagement two launches put out toward the Olympia, with the apparent intention of using torpedoes. One was sunk and the other disabled by our fire, and beached before an opportunity occurred to fire torpedoes. " At seven a. m. the Spanish flag-ship, Reina Christina, made a desperate attempt to leave the line and come out to engage at short range, but was received with such a volley of fire, the entire battery of the Olympia being concentrated upon her, that she was barely able to return to the shelter of the point. The fires started in her by our shell at this time were not extinguished until she sank. " The three batteries at Manila had kept up a con- tinuous report from the beginning of the engagement, which fire was not returned by this squadron. " The first of these batteries was situated on the South Mole head, at the entrance to the Pasig River, the second on the south bastion of the walled city of Manila, and the third at Malate, about one-half mile farther south. At this point I sent a message to the governor-general, in effect that if the batteries did not cease firing the city would be shelled. This had the effect of silencing them. "At 7.35 a.m. I ceased firing and withdrew the squadron for breakfast. "At 1 1. 16 a.m. returned to the attack. By this 84 THE BOYS OF '98. time the Spanish flag-ship and almost the entire Spanish fleet were in flames. At 12.30 p. m. the squadron ceased firing, the batteries being silenced, and the ships sunk, burned, and destroyed. "At 12.40 p. m. the squadron returned and anchored off Manila, the Petrel being left behind to complete the destruction of the smaller gunboats, which were behind the point of Cavite. This duty was performed by Commander E. P. Wood in the most expeditious and complete manner possible. " The Spanish lost the following vessels : " Sunk : Reina Christina, Castillo., Don Antonio de Ulloa. " Burned : Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Marques del Dttero, El Correo, Velasco, and Isla de Mindanao, transport. " Captured : Rapido and Hercules, tugs, and several small launches. " I am unable to obtain complete accounts of the enemy's killed and wounded, but believe their losses to be very heavy. " The Reina Christina alone had 150 killed, including the captain, and ninety wounded. " I am happy to report that the damage done to the squadron under my command was inconsiderable. There were none killed, and only seven men in the squadron were slightly wounded. " Several of the vessels were struck, and two pene- trated, but the damage was of the slightest, and the THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 85 squadron is in as good condition now as before the battle. " I beg to state to the department that I doubt if any commander-in-chief was ever served by more loyal, efficient, and gallant captains than those of the squad- ron now under my command. Capt. Frank Wildes, commanding the Boston, volun- teered to remain in command of his vessel, although his relief arrived before leaving Hongkong, Assistant Surgeon Kindleberger of the Olympia and Gunner J. C. Evans of the Boston also volunteered to remain after orders detaching them had arrived. "The conduct of my personal staff was excellent. Commander B. P. Lamberton, chief of staff, was a volunteer for that position, and gave me most efficient aid. Lieutenant Brumby, flag lieutenant, and Ensign W. P. Scott, aid, performed their duties as signal officers in a highly creditable manner. " The Olympia being short of officers for the battery, Ensign H. H. Caldwell, flag secretary, volunteered for and was assigned to a subdivision of 5 -inch battery. Mr. J. L. Stickney, formerly an officer in the United States navy, and now correspondent of the New York Herald, volunteered for duty as my aid, and did valuable service. " I desire specially to mention the coolness of Lieut. C. G. Calkins, the navigator of the Olympia, who came under my personal observation, being on the bridge with me throughout the entire action, and giving the 86 THE BOYS OF '98. ranges to the guns with an accuracy that was proved by the excellence of the firing. " On May 2d, the day following the engagement, the squadron again went to Cavite, where it remained. " On the 3d, the military forces evacuated the Cavite arsenal, which was taken possession of by a landing party. On the same day the Raleigh and Baltimore secured the surrender of the batteries on Corregi- dor Island, paroling the garrison and destroying the guns. " On the morning of May 4th the transport Manila, which had been aground in Baker Bay, was towed off and made a prize." List of the two fleets engaged at the battle of Manila Bay, together with the officers of ( the American fleet : " AMERICAN FLEET. The U. S. S. Olympia, protected cruiser, 5,870 tons, speed, 21.6 knots. Battery: four 8-inch rifles, ten 5-inch rapid-fire guns, fourteen 6-pounder rapid-fire guns, six 1 -pounder rapid-fire cannon, four Gatlings, with six torpedo tubes, and eight automobile tor- pedoes. The U. S. S. Baltimore, protected cruiser, 4,600 tons, speed, 20.09 knots. Battery : four 8-inch, six 6-ineh rifles, four 6-pounder, two 3-pounder rapid-fire "See Appendix B for types of war-ships and methods of signalling while in action. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 87 guns, two I -pounder rapid-fire cannon, four 37-milli- metre Hotchkiss cannon, and two Gatlings. The U. S. S. Boston, protected cruiser, 3,189 tons, speed, 15.6 knots. Battery: two 8-inch, six 6-inch rifles, two 6-pounder, two 3-pounder rapid-fire guns, two 1 -pounder rapid-fire cannon, two 47-millimetre Hotchkiss cannon, and two Gatlings. The U. S. S. Raleigh, protected cruiser, 3,213 tons, speed, nineteen knots. Battery : one 6-inch, ten 5 -inch rapid-fire guns, eight 6-pounder rapid-fire guns, four i-pounder rapid-fire cannon, and two Gatlings. The U. S. S. Concord, gunboat, 1,710 tons, speed, 16.8 knots. Battery: six 6-inch rifles, two 6-pounder, two 3-pounder rapid-fire guns, two 37-millimetre Hotch- kiss cannon, and two Gatlings. The U. S. S. Petrel, gunboat, 892 tons, speed, 11.7 knots. Battery : four 6-inch rifles, one 1 -pounder rapid- fire gun, two 37-millimetre Hotchkiss cannon, and two Gatlings. The U. S. S. McCulloch, revenue cutter, 1,500 tons, speed, fourteen knots. Battery : four 4-inch guns. The Nanshan and Zafiro, supply ships. SPANISH FLEET. The Reina Maria Christina, 3,520 tons, speed, seven- teen knots. Battery : six 6.2-inch hontoria guns, two 2.7-inch and three 2.2-inch rapid-fire rifles, six 1.4-inch, and two machine guns. 88 THE BOYS OF '98. The Castilla, 3,342 tons. Battery : four 5. 9-inch Krupp rifles, two 4.7-inch, two 3.3-inch, four 2.5-inch rapid-fire, and two machine guns. The Velasco, 1,152 tons. Battery: three 5.9-inch Armstrong rifles, two 2.7'inch hontorias, and two machine guns. The Don Antonio de Ulloa and Don Juan de Austria, each 1,130 tons, speed, fourteen knots. Battery : four 4.7-inch hontorias, three 3.2-inch rapid-fire, two 1.5- inch, and two machine guns. The General Lezo, and El Correo, gun vessels, 524 tons, speed, 11.5 knots. The General Lezo had two hontoria rifles of 4.7-inch calibre, one 3.5-inch, two small rapid-fire, and one machine gun ; the El Correo had three 4.7-inch guns, two small rapid-fire, and two machine guns. The Marques del Duero, despatch -boat, 500 tons. Battery : one smooth bore, six 6.2-inch calibre, two 4.7-inch and one machine gun. The Is la de Cuba and the Isla de Luzon were both small gunboats, 1,030 tons. Battery: four 4.7- inch hontorias, two small guns, and two maehine guns. The Isla de MindanaOi auxiliary cruiser, 4,195 tons, speed, 13.5 knots. Two torpedo-boats and two transports. Officers of the U. S. Asiatic Squadron : Acting Rear- Admiral George Dewey, commander-in-chief ; Com- mander B. P. Lamberton, chief of staff; Lieut. T. M. THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 89 Brumby, flag lieutenant; Ensign H. H. Caldwell, secretary. U. S. S. Olympia, flagship : Captain, Charles V. Grid- ley ; Lieutenant-Commander, S. C. Paine ; Lieutenants, C. G. Calkins, V. S. Nelson, G. S. Morgan, W. C. Miller, S. M. S. Strite ; Ensigns, M. M. Taylor, F. B. Upham, W. P. Scott, A. G. Kavagnah ; Medical Inspector, A. S. Price ; Passed Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Page ; Assistant Surgeon, ' C. P. Kindleberger ; Pay Inspector, D. A. Smith ; Chief Engineer, J. Entwistle ; Assistant Engi- neers, E. H. Delaney, J. F. Marshall, Jr. ; Chaplain, J. B. Frasier ; Captain of Marines, W. P. Biddle ; Gun- ner, L. J. G. Kuhlwein ; Carpenter, W. McDonald ; Acting Boatswain, E. J. Norcott. U. S. S. Raleigh: Captain, J. B. Coghlan ; Lieuten- ant-Commander, F. Singer ; Lieutenants, W. Winder, B. Tappan, H. Rodman, C. B. Morgan ; Ensigns, F. L. Chidwick, P. Babbit ; Surgeon, E. H. Marsteller ; Assistant Surgeon, D. N. Carpenter ; Passed Assistant Paymaster, S. R, Heap ; Chief Engineer, F. H. Bailey ; Passed Assistant Engineer, A. S. Halstead ; Assistant Engineer, J. R. Brady ; First Lieutenant of Marines, T. C. Treadwell ; Acting Gunner, ■ G. D. Johnstone ; Acting Carpenter, T. E. Kiley. U. S. S. Boston : Captain, F. Wildes ; Lieutenant- Commander, J. A. Norris ; Lieutenants, J. Gibson, W. L. Howard ; Ensigns, S. S. Robinson, L. H. Everhart, J. S. Doddridge ; Surgeon, M. H. Crawford ; Assistant Surgeon, R. S. Balkeman ; Paymaster, J. R. Martin ; 90 THE BOYS OF '98. Chief Engineer, G. B. Ransom ; Assistant .Engineer, L. K. James ; First Lieutenant of Marines, R. McM. Dutton ; Gunner, J.' C. Evans ; Carpenter, I. H. Hilton. U. S. S. Baltimore : Captain, N. M. Dyer ; Lieutenant- Commander, G. Blocklinger ; Lieutenants, W. Brau- nersreuther, A. G. Winterhalter, F. W. Kellogg, J. M. Ellicott, C. S. Stanworth ; Ensigns, J. H. Hayward, M. D. McCormick ; Naval Cadets, D. W. Wurtsburgh, I. Z. Wettenzoll, C. M. Tozer, T. A. Karney ; Passed Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Heiseler ; Assistant Surgeon, R. K. Smith ; Pay Inspector, R. E. Bellows ; Chief Engineer, A. Kirby ; Assistant Engineers, H. B. Price, H. I. Cone ; Naval Cadet, C. P. Burt ; Chaplain, T. S. K. Freeman ; First Lieutenant of Marines, D. Williams ; Acting Boatswain, H. R. Brayton ; Acting Gunner, L. J. Waller; Carpenter, O. Bath. U. S. S. Concord: Commander, A. S. Walker ; Lieu- tenant-Commander, G. P. Colvocoresses ; Lieutenants, T. B. Howard, P. W. Horrigan ; Ensigns, L. A. Kiser, .W. C. Davidson, O. S. Knepper ; Passed Assistant Sur- geon, R. G. Broderick ; Passed Assistant Paymaster, E. D. Ryan ; Chief Engineer, Richard Inch ; Passed Assistant Engineer, H. W. Jones ; Assistant Engineer, E. H. Dunn. , U. S. S. Petrel: Commander, E. P. Wood; Lieuten- ants, E. M. Hughes, B. A. Fiske, A. N. Wood, C. P. Plunkett ; Ensigns, G. L. Fermier, W. S. Montgomery ; Passed Assistant Surgeon, C. D. Brownell ; Assistant THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. 9 1 Paymaster, G. G. Seibles ; Passed Assistant Engineer, R. T. Hall. Revenue Cutter McCulloch : Captain, D. B. Hodgdon. American loss : Two officers and six men wounded. Spanish loss : About three hundred killed, and six hundred wounded. CHAPTER V, NEWS OF THE DAY. Jl/TAY 2. In Manila Bay, on Monday, the second -*■ '-*■ of May, there was much to be done in order to complete the work so thoroughly begun the day previous. Early in the morning an officer came from Corregi- dor, under flag of truce, to Commodore Dewey, with a proposal of surrender from the commandant of the for- tifications. The Baltimore was sent to attend to the business ; but when she arrived at the island no one save the commanding officer was found. All his men had deserted him after overthrowing the guns.' The Baltimore had but just steamed away, when Commander Lamberton was ordered to go on board the Petrel and run over to Cavite arsenal in order that he might take possession, for on the previous day a white flag had been hoisted there as a signal of surrender. To the surprise of Lamberton he found, on landing, that the troops were under arms, and Captain Sostoa, of the Spanish navy, was in anything rather than a sur- rendering mood. On being asked as to the meaning of affairs, Sostoa replied that the flag had been hoisted for a truce, not as a token of capitulation. He was 92 NEWS OF THE DAY. 93 given until noon to decide as to his course of action, and the Americans withdrew. At 10.45 tne white flag was again hoisted, and when Lamberton went on shore once more he found that the Spaniard had marched his men away, taking with them all their arms. This was the moment when the insurgents, who had gathered near the town, believed their opportunity had come, and, rushing into Cavite, they began an indiscriminate plunder which was not brought to an end until the American marines were landed. The navy yard was seized ; six batteries near about the entrance of Manila Bay were destroyed ; the cable from Manila to Hongkong was cut, and Commodore Dewey began a blockade of the port. Congress appropriated $35,720,945 for the emergency war appropriation bill. *■ Eleven regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and ten light batteries of artillery were concentrated at Tampa and Port Tampa. General Shafter assumed command on this date. The Newport captured the Spanish schooner Pace. By cablegram from London, under date of May 2d, news regarding the condition of affairs in Madrid was received. The Spanish public was greatly excited by information from the Philippines, and the authorities found it necessary to proclaim martial law, the docu- ment being couched in warlike language beginning : " Whereas, as Spain finds herself at war with the 94 THE BOYS OF '98. United States, the power of civil authorities in Spain is suspended. " Whereas, it is necessary to prevent an impairment of the patriotic efforts which are being made by the nation with manly energy and veritable enthusiasm ; " Article 1. A state of siege in Madrid is hereby proclaimed. "Article 2. As a consequence of article one, all offences against public order, those of the press included, will be tried by the military tribunals. "Article 3. In article two are included offences committed by those who, without special authorisa- tion, shall publish news relative to any operations of war whatsoever." Then follow the articles which prohibit meetings and public demonstrations. Commenting upon the defeat, the El Nacional, of Madrid, published the following article : " Yesterday, when the first intelligence arrived, nothing better occurred to Admiral Bermejo (Minister of Marine) than to send to all newspapers comparative statistics of the contending squadrons. By this com- parison he sought to direct public attention to the im- mense superiority over a squadron of wooden vessels dried up by the heat in those latitudes. " But in this document Spain can see nothing kind. ,Spain undoubtedly sees therein the heroism of out marines ; but she sees also and above all the nefarious crime of the government. NEWS OF THE DAY. 95 " It is unfair to blame the enemy for possessing forces superior to ours ; but what is worthy of being blamed with all possible vehemence is this infamous government, which allowed our inferiority without neutralising it by means of preparations. This is the truth. Our sailors have been basely delivered over to the grape-shot of the Yankees, a fate nobler and more worthy of respect than those baneful minis- ters, who brought about the first victory and its victims." El Heraldo de Madrid said : " It was no caprice of the fortunes of war. From the very first cannon-shot our fragile ships were at the mercy of the formidable hostile squadron. They were condemned to fall one after another under the fire of the American batteries, powerless to strike, and were defended only by the valour in the breasts of their sailors. " What has been gained by the illusion that Manila was fortified ? What has been gained by the intima- tion that the broad and beautiful bay on whose bosom the Spanish fleet perished yesterday had been rendered inaccessible ? What use was made of the famous island of Corregidor ? What was done with its guns ? Where were the torpedoes ? Where were those defen- sive preparations concerning which we were requested to keep silence ? " , May 2. Late in the afternoon the Wilmington destroyed a Spanish fort on the island of Cuba, near Cojimar. The government tug Leyden left Key West, towing 96 THE BOYS OF '98. a Cuban expedition under government auspices to establish communication with the Cuban forces in Havana province. The expedition was accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Acosta. Under him were five other Cubans. Colonel Acosta formerly commanded a cavalry troop in Havana province. May 4. A telegram from Key West gave the follow- ing information : " Acting Rear-Admiral Sampson sailed this morning with all the big vessels of his blockading squadron on some mysterious mission. " In the fleet were the flag-ship New York, the battle- ships Iowa and Indiana, the cruisers Detroit, Marble- head, and Cincinnati, the monitor Puritan, and the torpedo-gunboat Mayflower. "The war-ships are coaled to the full capacity,of their bunkers, and all available places on the decks are piled high with coal." On the same day the Norwegian steamer Condor arrived with twelve American refugees and their imme- diate relatives from Cienfuegos, Cuba. Dr. Herman Mazarredo, a dentist, who had been practising his profession in Cienfuegos for eight months, after six years' study in the United States, was one of the passengers. He gave the following account of himself : " Because the Spaniards hated me as intensely as if I had been born in America, I was obliged to flee for my life. I left my mother, six sisters, and five brothers NEWS OF THE DAY. 97 in Cienfuegos. I consider that their lives are in danger. May heaven protect them ! What was I to do ? "There are now about two hundred Americans at Cienfuegos clamouring to get away. They are sending to Boston and New York for steamers, but without avail. Owen McGarr, the American consul, told me on his departure that the Spanish law would protect me. Other Americans would have come on the Condor, but Captain Miller would not take them. There was not room for them. The Spanish soldiers have not yet become personally insulting on the streets, but a mob of Spanish residents marched through the city four days before the Condor left, shouting, ' We want to kill all Americans.' " There are between four thousand and six thousand Spanish troops concentrating at Cienfuegos under com- mand of Major-General Aguirre. They have thrown up some very poor breastworks. Three ground-batteries look toward the open sea." Bread riots broke out in Spain. In Gijon, on the Bay of Biscay, the rioters made a stand and were fired upon by the troops. Fourteen were killed or wounded, yet the infuriated populace held their ground, nor were they driven back until the artillery was ordered out. Then a portion of the soldiers joined the mob ; a can- non with ammunition was seized, and directed against the fortification. A state of siege was declared, and an order issued that all the bread be baked in the gov- ernment bakeries, because the mob had looted the shops. 98 THE BOVS OF '98. At Talavera de la Reina, thirty-six miles from Toledo, a mob attacked the railroad station, entirely destroying it, setting fire to the cars, and starting the engines wild upon the track. They burned several houses owned by officials, and sacked a monastery, forcing the priests to flee for their lives. Procuring wine from the inns, they grew more bold, and made an attack upon the prison, hoping to release those confined there ; but at this point they were held in check by the guard. The miners of Oviedo inaugurated a strike, com- mencing by inciting riots. At Caceres several people were killed. At Malaga a mob rode down the guards and looted the shops. The British steam yacht Lady of Clonmel, owned by Mr. James Wilkinson, of London, was attacked as she lay at the pier. Stones smashed her skylights, and a bomb was thrown aboard, but did not explode. The yacht put hurriedly to sea, and from Gibraltar reported the outrage to London. May 5. The government tug Ley den, which on the second day of May left Key West with a Cuban expe- dition, returned to port, giving the following account of her voyage : She proceeded to a certain point near Mariel, and landed five men, with four boxes of ammunition and two horses. General Acosta penetrated to the interior, where he communicated with the forces of the insurgents. The Leyden lay to outside the harbour until five o'clock in the morning, when, observing a troop of O « US w NEWS OF THE DAY. 99 Spanish infantry approaching, she put to sea and got safely away. She proceeded to Matanzas, and on the afternoon of the third landed another small party near there. Fearing attack by the Spaniards, she looked for the monitors Terror and Amphitrite, which were on the blockade in that vicinity, but being unable to locate them the Leyden returned to the original landing- place, reaching there early on the morning of the fourth. There she was met by Acosta and about two hun- dred Cubans, half of whom were armed with rifles. They united with the men on the tug, and an attempt was made to land the remaining arms and men, when two hundred of the Villa Viscosa cavalry swooped down on them, and an engagement of a half hour's duration followed. The Cubans finally repulsed the enemy, driving them into the woods. The Spanish carried with them many wounded and left sixteen dead on the field. During the engagement the bullets went through the Leyderis smoke-stack, but no one was injured. The little tug then went in search of the flag-ship, found her lying near Havana, and reported the facts. Rear-Admiral Sampson sent the gunboat Wilming- ton back with the Leyden. The two vessels reached the scene of the landing 100 THE BOYS OF '98. on the afternoon of the fourth, and found the Span- ish cavalry in waiting to welcome another attempted invasion. The Wilmington promptly opened fire on a number of small houses marking the entrance to the place. The gunboat fired four shots, which drove back the Spaniards, and Captain Dorst, with the ammu- nition, landed safely, the Leyden returning to Key West. May 6. Orders were given from Washington to release the French mail steamer, Lafayette, and to send her to Havana under escort. The capture of the Frenchman by the gunboat Annapolis was an unfortunate incident, resulting from a mistake, but no protest was made by the representatives of the French government in the United States. It ap- peared that, before the Lafayette sailed for Havana, the French legation in Washington was instructed to communicate with the State Department. This was done and permission was granted to the steamer to enter and discharge her passengers and cargo, with the understanding that she would take on noth- ing there. Instructions for the fulfilment of such agreement were sent from Washington to Admiral Sampson's squadron, and it was only learned after the capture was made that they were never delivered. The War Department issued an order organising the regular and volunteer forces into seven army corps. The following letter needs no explanation : news of the day. ioi "597 Fifth Avenue, New York. "Treasurer of the United States, Washington, D. C. " Dear Sir: — Some days ago I wrote President McKinley offering the government the sum of $100,000 for use in the present difficulty with Spain. He writes me that he has no official au- thority to receive moneys in behalf of the United States, and he suggests that my purpose can best be served by making a deposit with the assistant treas- urer at New York to the credit of the treasurer of fhe United States, or by remitting my check direct to you at Washington. I, therefore, enclose my check for the above amount, drawn payable to your order on the Lincoln National Bank. Will you kindly acknowledge the receipt of the same ? " Very truly, "Helen Miller Gould. " May 6, 1898." It was replied to twenty-four hours later : "Treasury Department of the United States. " Office of the Treasury. " Washington, D. C, May 7, 1 898. "Miss Helen Miller Gould, 597 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. "Madam: — It gives me especial pleasure to ac- knowledge the receipt of your letter under date of May 102 THE BOYS OF 98. 6, 1898, enclosing your check for $100,000, according to your previous offer to President McKinley, for the government. This sum has been placed in the gen- eral fund of the treasury of the United States as a donation from you, for use in the present difficulty with Spain. Permit me to recognise the superb patriotism which prompts you to make this magnificent gift to the government. Certificates of deposit will follow in due course. Respectfully yours, " Ellis H. Roberts, " Treasurer of the United States." May 6. The torpedo-boats Dupont and Hornet shelled the blockhouse near the lighthouse at Point Maya, at the mouth of the harbour of Matanzas, and Fort Garcia, which is an old hacienda used as a blockhouse, lying three and one-half miles to the east. As the Dtipont was leaving her position off the lighthouse point, a big shell was fired from the middle embrasure of a battery on the other side of the harbour, called Gorda. The line was perfect, but the elevation was bad, and the range too long. The shell fell a thousand yards short. The Hornet was ordered to use her 6-pounders on the blockhouse. The first shell failed of its purpose ; but the second hit the target fairly, and the Spanish ioldiers . hurriedly left it for shelter among the neighbouring trees. The Hornet fired twelve shells, six of which struck NEWS OF THE DAY. IO3 the mark. The Dupont, after ascertaining that Point Maya was being made too warm for Spanish occupa- tion, steamed down to a blockhouse opposite, called Garcia Red, and a prominent landmark to the eastward, and turned loose her 1 -pounders. Here, as in the other place, the infantry had urgent business behind the forest woods and hills. After making certain they had gone to stay, the Dupont resumed patrol duty. Cavalry afterward appeared at Fortina, but remained there only long enough to see the torpedo-boat's menacing attitude. May 6. The cruiser Montgomery, Captain Converse, was the first ship of the American squadron to acquire the distinction of capturing two prizes in one day, which she did on the sixth. The captives were the Frasquito and the Lorenzo, both small vessels of no great value as compared with the big steamers taken during the first days of the war. The Montgomery was cruising about fifty miles off Havana when the Frasquito, a two-master, came bowl- ing along toward the Cuban capital. When the yellow flag of the enemy was sighted the helm was swung in her direction, and a blank shot was put across her bow. The Spaniard hove to and the customary prize-crew was put on board. It was found that the Frasquito was bound from Montevideo to Havana with a cargo of jerked beef. She was of about 140 tons register and hailed from Barcelona. The prize- crew took her to Havana waters, and the Annapolis 104 THE BOYS OF '98. assigned the cutter Hamilton to carry her into Key West. A few minutes afterwards the Montgomery encoun- tered the Lorenzo, a Spanish bark, bound from Barce- lona to Havana with a cargo of dried beef. She was taken just as easily, and Ensign Osborn, with several " Jackies," sailed her into port. May y. Quite a sharp little affair occurred off Havana, in which the Vicksburg and the cutter Mor- rill were very nearly enticed to destruction. A small schooner was sent out from Havana harbour shortly before daylight to draw some of the Americans into an ambuscade. She ran off to the eastward, hugging the shore with the wind on her starboard quarter. About three miles east of the entrance of the harbour she came over on the port tack. A light haze fringed the horizon, and she was not discovered until three miles off shore, when the May- flower made her out and signalled the Vicksburg and Morrill. Captain Smith of the Vicksburg immediately .clapped on all steam and started in pursuit. The schooner instantly put about and ran for Morro Castle before the wind. On doing so, she would, according to the plot, lead the two American war- ships directly under the guns of the Santa Clara batteries. These works are a short mile west of Morro, and are a part of the defences of the harbour. There were two NEWS OF THE DAY. 105 batteries, one at the shore, which had been recently thrown up, of sand and mortar, with wide embrasures for 8-inch guns, and the other on the crest of the rocky eminence which juts out into the waters of the gulf at the point. The upper battery mounted modern 10 and 12-inch Krupp guns, behind a six- foot stone parapet, in front of which were twenty feet of earthwork and belting of railroad iron. The American vessels were about six miles from the schooner when the chase began. They steamed after her at full speed, the Morrill leading, until within a mile and a half of the Santa Clara batteries. Commander Smith of the Vicksburg was the first to realise the danger into which the reckless pursuit had led them. He concluded it was time to haul off, and sent a shot across the bow of the schooner. The Spanish skipper instantly brought his vessel about, but while she was still rolling in the trough of the sea with her sails flapping, an 8-inch shrapnel shell came hurtling through the air from the water- battery, a mile and a half away. It passed over the Morrill, between the pilot-house and the smoke-stack, and exploded less than fifty feet away on the port quarter. Two more shots followed in quick succession, both shrapnel. One burst close under the starboard quarter, filling the engine-room with the smoke of the exploding shell, and the other, like the first, passed over and exploded just beyond. 106 THE BOYS OF '98. The Spanish gunners had the range, and their time fuses were accurately set. The crews of both ships were at their guns. Lieu- tenant Craig, who was in charge of the bow 4-inch rapid-fire gun of the Morrill, asked for and obtained permission to return the fire. At the first shot the Vicksburg, which was in the wake of the Morrill, slightly inshore, sheered off and passed to windward under the Morrill's stern. In the meantime Captain Smith also put his helm to port, and was none too soon, for as the Morrill stood off a solid 8-inch shot grazed her starboard quarter and kicked up tons of water as it struck a wave one hundred yards beyond. All the guns of the water-battery were now at work. One of them cut the Jacob's-ladder of the Vicksburg adrift, and another carried away a portion of the rigging. As the vessels steamed away their aft guns were used, but only a few shots were fired. The .Morrill's 6-inch gun was elevated for four thousand yards, and struck the earthwork repeatedly. The Vicksburg discharged only three shots from her 6-pounder. The Spaniards continued to fire shot and shell for twenty minutes, but none of the latter shots came within one hundred yards. Later in the day the Morrill captured the Spanish schooner Espana, bound for Havana, and towed the prize to Key West. JOHN D. LONG, SECRETARY OF NAVY. NEWS OF THE DAY. IC>7 The Newport added to the list of captures by bring- ing in the Spanish schooner Padre de Dios. May 7. The United States despatch-boat McCulloch arrived at Hongkong from Manila, with details of Commodore Dewey's victory. Secretary Long, after the cablegram forwarded from Hongkong had been received, sent the following despatch : " The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming victory. In recognition he has appointed you acting admiral, and will rec- ommend a vote of thanks to you by Congress as a foundation for further promotion." May 8. A brilliant, although unimportant, affair was that in which the torpedo-boat Winslow engaged off Cardenas Bay. The Winslow and gunboat Machias were on the blockade off Cardenas. In the harbour, defended by thickly strewn mines and torpedoes, three small gunboats had been bottled up since the beginning of the war. Occasionally they stole out toward the sea, but never venturing beyond the inner harbour, running like rabbits at sight of the American torpedo boats. Finally a buoy was moored by Spaniards inside the entrance of the bay to mark the position for the entrance of the gunboats. The signal-station on the shore opposite was instructed to notify the gun- 108 THE BOYS OF 98. boats inside when the torpedo-boats were within the limit distance marked by the buoy. The scheme was that the gunboats could run out, open fire at a one-mile range thus marked off for them, and retreat without the chance of being cut off. The men of the Winslow- eyed this buoy and guessed its purpose, but did not attempt to remove it. On the afternoon of the eighth the Machias stood away to the eastward for a jaunt, and the Winslow was left alone to maintain the blockade. In a short time she steamed toward Cardenas Harbour. There was great excitement at the signal- station, and flags fluttered hysterically. The three gunboats slipped their cables and went bravely out to their safety limit. Three bow 6-pounders were trained at two thousand yards. In a few minutes the shore signals told them tnat the torpedo-boat was just in range. Every Span- iard aboard prepared to see the Americans blown out of the water. Three 6-pounders crackled, and three shells threw waterspouts around the Winslow,. but she was not struck. Instead of running away, she upset calcula- tions by driving straight ahead, attacking the boats, and Lieutenant Bernado no sooner saw the first white smoke puffs from the Spanish guns than he gave the word to the men already stationed at the two forward 1 -pounders, which barked viciously and dropped shot in the middle of the flotilla, NEWS OF THE DAY. 109 On plunged the Winslow to within fifteen hundred yards of the gunboats, while the row raised by the rapid-fire 1 -pounders was like a rattling tattoo. The Spaniards were apparently staggered at this fierce onslaught, single-handed, and fired wildly. The Winslow swung around broadside to, to bring her two after guns to bear as the Spanish boats scattered and lost formation. The Winslow soon manoeuvred so that she was peppering at all three gunboats at once. The sea was very heavy, and the knife-like torpedo-boat rolled so wildly that it was impossible to do good gun practice, but despite this big handicap, the rapidity of her fire and the remarkable effectiveness of her guns demoral- ised all three opponents, which, after the Winslow had fired about fifty shells, began to gradually work back toward the shelter of the harbour. They were still hammering away with their 6- pounders, but were wild. Several shells passed over the Winslow. One exploded a hundred feet astern, but the others fell short. At last a 1 -pounder from the Winslow went fair and true, and struck the hull of the Lopes a little aft of amidships, apparently exploding on the inside. The Winslow men yelled. The Lopes stopped, evi- dently disabled, while one of her comrades went to her assistance. By this time the Spanish boats had re- treated nearly inside, where they could not be followed because of the mines. The Lopes got under way I IO THE BOYS OF '98. slowly and limped homeward with the help of a towline from her consort. During this episode the Machias had returned, and when within a two-mile range let fly two 4-inch shells from her starboard battery, which accelerated the Spanish flight. But the flotilla managed to creep back into Cardenas Harbour in safety, and under the guns of the shore-battery. The Spanish gunboats that lured the Winslow into the death-trap were the Antonio Lopez, Lealtad, and Ligera. During the fight the two former retreated behind the wharves, and the Ligera behind the key. It was the Antonio Lopez that opened fire on the Winslow and decoyed her into the channel. The Spanish troops formed on the public square, not daring to go to the wharves. All the Spanish flags were lowered, as they furnished targets, and the women and children fled to Jovellanos. Off Havana during the afternoon the fishing-smack Santiago Apostal was captured by the U. S. S. New- port. The U. S. S. Yale captured the Spanish steamer Rita on the eighth, but did not succeed in getting the prize into port until the thirteenth. The Rita was loaded with coal, from Liverpool to Porto Rico. The bread riots in Spain continued throughout the day. At Linates a crowd of women stormed the town hall and the* civil guard fired upon them, killing twelve. El Pais, the popular republican newspaper in Madrid, NEWS OF THE DAY. I I I was suppressed ; martial law was declared at Badajos and Alicante. May g. Congress passed a joint resolution of thanks to Commodore Dewey ; the House passed a bill increasing the number of rear-admirals from six to seven, and the Senate passed a bill to give Dewey a sword, and a bronze memorative medal to each officer and man of his command. The record of the navy for the day was summed up in the capture of the fishing-smack Fernandito by the U. S. S. Vicksburg, and the capture of the Spanish schooner Severito by the U. S. S. Dolphin. The rioting in Spain was not abated ; martial law was proclaimed in Catalonia. May 10. The steamer Gussie sailed from Tampa, Florida, with two companies of the First Infantry, and munitions and supplies for Cuban insurgents. Rioting in Spain was the report by cable ; in Alicante the mob sacked and burned a bonded warehouse. May ii. Running from Cienfuegos, Cuba, at day- break on the morning of May nth, were three tele- graph cables. The fleet in the neighbourhood consisted of the cruiser Marblehead, which had been on the station three weeks, the gunboat Nashville, which had been there two weeks, and the converted revenue cutter Windom, which had arrived two days before. The sta- tion had been a quiet one, except for a few brushes with some Spanish gunboats, which occasionally ven- tured a very little way out of Cienfuegos Harbour. 112 THE BOYS OF '98. They had last appeared on the tenth, but had retreated, as usual, when fired on. Commander McCalla of the Marblehead, ranking officer, instructed Lieutenant Anderson to call for volunteers to cut the cable early on the morning of the eleventh. Anderson issued the call on both the cruiser and the gunboat, and three times the desired number of men offered to serve. No one relented, even after repeated warnings that the service was especially dangerous. " I want you men to understand," Anderson said, "that you are not ordered to do this work, and are not obliged to." The men nearly tumbled over one another in their eagerness to be selected. In the end, the officer had simply the choice of the entire crew of the two ships. A cutter containing twelve men, and a steam launch containing six, were manned from each ship, and a guard of marines and men to man the 1 -pounder guns of the launches, were put on board. In the meantime the Marblehead had taken a position one thousand yards offshore opposite the Colorado Point lighthouse, which is on the east side of the narrow entrance to Cienfuegos Harbour, just east of the cable landing, and, with the Nashville a little farther to the west, had begun shelling the beach. The shore there is low, and covered with a dense growth of high grass and reeds. The lighthouse stood on an elevation, behind which, as well as hidden in the NEWS OF THE DAY. II 3 long grass, were known to be a large number of rifle- pits, some masked machine guns, and i -pounders. These the Spaniards deserted as fast as the ships' fire reached them. As the enemy's fire slackened and died out, the boats were ordered inshore. They advanced in double column. The launches, under Lieutenant Anderson and Ensign McGruder of the Nashville, went ahead with their sharpshooters and gunners, looking eagerly for targets, while the cutters were behind with the grappling-irons out, and the men peering into the green water for a sight of the cables. At a distance of two hundred feet from shore the launches stopped, and the cutters were sent ahead. The first cable was picked up about ninety feet off- shore. No sooner had the work of cutting it been begun than the Spanish fire recommenced, the soldiers skulking back to their deserted rifle-pits and rapid-fire guns through the high grass. The launches replied and the fire from the ships quickened, but although the Spanish volleys slackened momentarily, every now and then they grew stronger. The men in the boats cut a long piece out of the first cable, stowed it away for safety, and then grappled for the next. Meantime the Spaniards were firing low in an evident endeavour to sink the cutters, but many of their shots fell short. The second cable was finally found, and the men with the pipe-cutters went to work on it. I 14 THE BOYS OF '98. Several sailors were kept at the oars to hold the cutters in position, and the first man wounded was one of these. No one else in the boat knew it, however, till he fainted in his seat from loss of blood. Others took the cue from this, and there was not a groan or a complaint from the two boats, as the bullets, that were coming thicker and faster every minute, began to bite flesh. The men simply possessed themselves with heroic patience, and went on with the work. They did not even have the satisfaction of returning the Spanish fire, but the marines in the stern of the boat shot hard enough for all. The second cable was finally cut, and the third, a smaller one, was grappled and hoisted to the surface. The fire of the Spanish had reached its maximum. It was estimated that one thousand rifles and guns were speaking, and the men who handled them grew incau- tious, and exposed themselves in groups here and there. " Use shrapnel," came the signal, and can after can exploded over the Spaniards, causing them to break and run to cover. This cover was a sort of fortification behind the lighthouse, and to this place they dragged a number of their machine guns, and again opened fire on the cutter. The shots from behind the lighthouse could not be answered so well from the launches, and the encouraged Spaniards fired all the oftener. NEWS OF THE DAY. II 5 Man after man in the boats was hit, but none let a sound escape him. Like silent machines they worked, grimly hacking and tearing at the third cable. Dur- ing half an hour they laboured, but the fire from behind the lighthouse was too deadly, and, reluctantly, at Lieu- tenant Anderson's signal, the cable was dropped and the boats retreated. The work had lasted two hours and a half. The Windom, which had laid out of range with a collier, was now ordered in, and the surgeon called to attend the wounded. The Windom was signalled to shell the lighthouse, which had not been fired on before, according to the usages of international law. It had been used as a shelter by the Spaniards. The revenue cutter's rapid-fire guns riddled the structure in short order, and soon a shell from the 4-inch gun, which was in charge of Lieut. R. O. Crisp, struck it fair, exploded, and toppled it over. With the collapse of their protection the Spaniards broke and ran again, the screaming shrapnel bursting all around them. At the fall of the lighthouse the Marblehead sig- nalled, "Well' done," and then a moment later, "Cease firing." The only man killed instantly was a marine named Eagan. A sailor from one of the boats died of his wounds on the same day. Commander Maynard of the Nashville was grazed across the chest, and Lieu- tenant Winslow was wounded in the hand. Il6 THE BOYS OF *9&. The list of casualties resulting from this display of heroism was two killed, two fatally and four badly wounded. The Spanish loss could not be ascertained, but it must necessarily have been heavy. lilii : CHAPTER VI. CARDENAS AND SAN JUAN. T\/fAY ii. The Spanish batteries in Cardenas Har- ■* *•*■ bour were silenced on May nth, and at the same time there was a display of heroism, oh the part of American sailors, such as has never been surpassed. A plan of action having been decided upon, the Wilmington arrived at the blockading station from Key West on the morning of the eleventh. She found there, off Piedras Bay, the cruiser Machias t the torpedo-boat Winslow, and the revenue cutter Hudson, which last carried two 6-pounders. Shortly after noon the Wil- mington) Window^ and Hudson moved into the inner harbour of Cardenas, and prepared to draw the fire of the Spanish batteries on the water-front. The Wil- mington took a range of about twenty-five hundred yards. The Cardenas land defences consisted of a battery in a Stone fortification on the mole or quay, a battery of field-pieces, and of infantry armed with long-range rifles. The gunboats were equipped with rapid-fire gun 8. Firing Commenced at one o'clock, and when the Cardenas batteries were silenced at two in the afternoon, 117 Il8 THE BOYS OF '98. the Wilmington had sent 376 shells into them and the town. Her 4-inch guns had been fired 144 times. She had aimed 122 shots from her 6-pounders, and no from her 1 -pounders, over six shots a minute. When the Wilmington ceased firing she had moved up to within one thousand yards range of the Spanish guns, and there were only six inches of water under her keel. The Wilmington draws nine feet of water for- ward and ten and a half feet aft. When the sound- ings showed that she was almost touching, her guns were in full play, and the Spaniards had missed a beautiful opportunity. The Spanish gunners must have miscalculated her distance and misjudged her draught, else they would have done more effective work at a range of two thousand yards. During the engagement, when the commander of the Winslow found that he could not approach close enough to the Spanish gunboats to use his torpedo-tubes to any advantage, he remained under fire. At that time he could have got out of harm's way by taking shelter to the leeward of the Wilmington. Captain Todd, from his post of duty in the conning- tower of the Wilmington, saw a Spanish shell, aimed foi the torpedo-boat, do its deadly work. The shell struck the water, took an up-shoot, and exploded on the deck of the Winslow. There is little room for men any- where on a torpedo boat, and if a shot strikes at all it is almost sure to hit a group. Such was the case in the Winslow. The exploding shell cost the lives of THE TRAGEDY OF THE WINSLOW. CARDENAS AND SAN JUAN. 119 Ensign Bagley and four seamen ; it also crippled the craft by wrecking her steam-steering gear. Later her captain and one of his crew were wounded by separate shots. Ensign Bagley was killed outright, two of the group of five died on the deck of the disabled torpedo-boat, and the other two died while being removed to the Wilmington. The signal, " Many wounded," went up from the staff of the Winslow, and Passed Assistant Surgeon Cook of the Wilmington boarded the torpedo-boat. The Hudson tied up to the Winslow and towed her out of danger, escaping unscathed. The wounded men were tenderly cared for on the cruiser, and that night the revenue cutter steamed out of Cardenas Bay, bearing the dead and wounded to Key West. William O'Hearn, of Brooklyn, N. Y., one of the Winslow 's crew, thus tells his story of the battle to a newspaper correspondent : " From the very beginning,," he said, " I think every man on the boat believed that we could not escape being sunk, and that is what would have happened had it not been for the bravery of the boys on the Hudson, who worked for over an hour under the most terrific fire to get us out of range." " Were you ordered to go in there ? " he was asked. " Yes ; just before we were fired upon the order was given from the Wilmington." " Was it a signal order ? " 120 THE BOYS OF '98. " No ; we were near enough to the Wilmington so that they shouted it to us from the deck, through the megaphone." " Do you remember the words of the commander who gave them ? " " I don't know who shouted the order ; but the words as I remember them were, 'Mr. Bagley, go in and see what gunboats there are.' We started at once towards the Cardenas dock, and the firing began soon after. "The first thing I saw," continued O'Hearn, "was a shot fired from a window or door in the second story of the storehouse just back of the dock where the Span- ish gunboats were lying. A shell then went hissing over our heads. Then the firing began from the gun- boat at the wharf, and from the shore. The effect of shell and heavy shot the first time a man is under fire is something terrible. " First you hear that awful buzzing or whizzing, and then something seems to strike you in the face and head. I noticed that at first the boys threw their hands to their heads every time a shell went over ; but they soon came so fast and so close that it was a roaring, shrieking, crashing hell. " I am the water-tender, and my place is below, but everybody went on deck when the battle began. John Varvares, the oiler, John Denif and John Meek, the firemen, were on watch with me, and had they remained below they would not have been killed. CARDENAS AND SAN JUAN. 121 "After the firing began I went below again to at- tend to the boiler, and a few minutes later a solid shot came crashing through the side of the boat and into the boiler, where it exploded and destroyed seventy of the tubes. "At first it stunned me. When the shell burst in the boiler it threw both the furnace doors open, and the fuse from the shell struck my feet. It was a ter- rible crash, and the boiler-room was filled with dust and Steam. For several seconds I was partially stunned, and my ears rang so I could hear nothing. I went up on the deck to report to Captain Bernadou. " I saw him near the forecastle gun, limping about with a towel wound around his left leg. He was shouting, and the noise of all the guns was like con- tinuous thunder. ' Captain,' I cried, ' the forward boiler is disabled. A shell has gone through it.' " ' Get out the hose,' he said, and turned to the gun again. I made my way to the boiler-room, in a few minutes went up on the deck again, and the fighting had grown hotter than ever. Several of the men were missing, and I looked around. "Lying all in a heap on the after-deck in the starboard quarter, near the after conning-tower, I saw five of our men where they had wilted down after the shell struck them. In other places were men lying groaning, or dragging themselves about, wounded and covered with blood. There were big red spots on the deck, which was strewn with fragments and splinters. 122 THE BOYS OF '98. " I went to where the five men were lying, and saw that all were not dead. John Meek could speak and move one hand slightly. I put my face down close to his. " ' Can I do anything for you, John ? ' I asked, and he replied, ' No, Jack, I am dying ; good-bye,' and he asked me to grasp his hand. 'Go help the rest,' he whispered, gazing with fixed eyes toward where Captain Bernadou was still firing the forward gun. The next minute he was dead. " Ensign Bagley was lying on the deck nearly torn to pieces, and the bodies of the other three were on top of him. The coloured cook was a little apart from the others, mangled, and in a cramped position. We supposed he was dead, and covered him up the same as the others.- Nearly half an hour after that we heard him calling, and saw that he was making a slight movement under the clothes. I went up to him, and he said : " ' Oh, boys, for God's sake move me. I am lying over the boiler and burning up.' "The deck was very hot, and his flesh had been almost roasted. He complained that his neck was cramped, but did not seem to feel his terrible wound. We moved him into an easier position, and gave him some water. " ' Thank you, sir,' he said, and in five seconds he was dead." Ensign Bagley had been fearfully wounded by a w 2 CARDENAS AND SAN JUAN. I 23 shot, which practically tore through his body. He sank over the rail, and was grasped by one of the enlisted men, named Reagan, who lifted him up and placed him on the deck. The young officer, realising that the wound was fatal, and that he had only a short time to live, allowed no murmur of complaint or cry of pain to escape him, but opened his eyes, stared at the sailor, and simply said : " Thank you, Reagan." These were the last words he spoke. May 12. The forts of San Juan, the capital of Porto Rico, were bombarded by a portion of Rear- Admiral Sampson's fleet on Thursday morning, May 1 2th. The vessels taking part in the action were the battle-ships New York, Iowa, Indiana, the cruisers Detroit and Montgomery, and the monitors Terror and Amphitrite. The engagement began at 5.15 and ended at 8.15 a. m., resulting in a loss to the Americans of one killed and seven wounded, and the death of one from prostration by heat. The Spanish loss, as reported by cable to Madrid, was five killed and forty-three wounded. Admiral Sampson's orders were to refrain from making any land attack so long as the batteries on shore did not attempt to molest his ships ; but in case the Spaniards fired on his vessels, to destroy the offending fortifications. 124 THE B0YS 0F '98. These orders were not issued until the Spanish fire at different Cuban ports became so irritating to the American bluejackets that discipline was, in a measure, threatened ; but as soon as the men learned that they were no longer to remain passive targets for the Spaniards, but were to return any shots against them, all grumbling against inaction ceased. It was not Admiral Sampson's original intention to attack San Juan. He was looking for bigger game than the poorly defended Porto Rican capital. His orders from the Navy Department were to find and capture or destroy the Spanish squadron that was en route from the Cape Verde Islands, and it Was this business that took him into the neighbourhood of San Juan, he being desirous of learning if the Spanish squadron were there. The fleet arrived off San Juan before daybreak on Thursday. The tug Wampatuck was ordered to take soundings in the channel, and at once proceeded to do so. She was fully half a mile ahead of the fleet when she entered the channel, and those aboard of her kept the lead going at a lively rate. It is supposed that Admiral Sampson had no inten- tion at that time of entering the harbour itself, his object, when he found that the Spanish squadron Was not at San Juan, being to learn for future use exactly how much water there was in the channel, and if any attempt had been made to block the Way. At all events, while the Wampatuck Was engaged in CARDENAS AND SAN JUAN. 12^ this work she was seen by the sentries at the Morro, and a few minutes later was fired on. Then, and not until then, did Admiral Sampson determine to teach the Spaniards a lesson regarding the danger of firing on the American flag. " Quarters ! " rang out aboard the war-ships almost before the report of the Morro gun had died away, the flag-ship having signalled for action. The Iowa opened the bombardment with her big 1 2-inch gun, the missile striking Morro Castle squarely, and knocking a great hole in the masonry. Then the Indiana sent a 13-inch projectile from the forward turret, and one after the other, with but little loss of time, the remaining vessels of the fleet aided in the work of destruction. The French war-ship Admiral Rigault de Genoailly was at anchor in the harbour, and a shell exploded within a few hundred feet of where she lay, but worked no injury. The French officers thus reported the action : " The American gunners were generally accurate in their firing, while the marksmanship of the Spaniards was inferior. Some of the American shells, however, passed over the fortifications into the city, where they did terrible damage, crashing straight through rows of buildings before exploding, and there killing many citizens. " The fortifications were irreparably injured. Re- peatedly masses of masonry were blown skyward by 126 THE BOYS OF '98. the shells from the American guns. Fragments from one shell struck the commandante's residence, which was situated near the fortifications, damaging it terrifically." Morro Castle was speedily silenced, and then the guns of the fleet were turned on the land-batteries and the fortifications near the government buildings. The inhabitants fled in terror from the city ; the volunteers, panic-stricken, ran frantically in every direction, discharging their weapons at random, until they were a menace to all within possible range. The crashing of the falling buildings, the roar of the heavy guns, the shrieks of the terrified and groans of the wounded, formed a horrible accompaniment to the work of destruction. Three times the line of American ships passed from the entrance of the harbour to the extreme eastward battery, sending shot and shell into the crumbling forts. Clouds of dust showed where the missiles struck, but the smoke hung over everything. The shells screeching overhead and dropping around were the only signs that the Spaniards still stuck to their guns. At 7.45 a. m. Admiral Sampson signalled, " Cease firing.'' " Retire " was sounded on the Iowa, and she headed from the shore. The Terror was the last ship in the line, and, failing to see the signal, banged away alone for about half an o o o H H o O H 2 W S o<