On June 20, 1898, the protected cruiser commanded by Captain Henry Glass, and three transports carrying troops to the Philippines, entered Guam's Apia Harbor. Captain Glass had opened sealed orders instructing him to proceed to Guam and capture it while enroute to the Philippines. "Charleston" fired a few rounds at the abandoned Fort Santa Cruz without receiving return fire. Two local officials, not knowing that war had been declared and believing the firing had been a salute, came out to "Charleston" to apologize for their inability to return the salute as they were out of gunpowder. Glass informed them that the U.S. and Spain were at war. No Spanish warships had visited the island in a year and a half.