The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-26
CAPTAIN TAYLOR
ASKS FOR JUSTICE
He Claims That Admiral Sampson
Sighted the Indiana.
SIMPSONS EXPLANATION OF IL.
He Says IL is a Difficult Matter 10 Make
Report of the Kind Without
Apparently BcstowinS
Praise Unjustly.

WASHINGTON. Aug 25-Admiral
Sampson has forwarded TO the Navy De
partment the following letters, whlch
have passed between himself and Captain
Taylor Of the battieship Indiana
L. :. ;. Indiana,
Guantanamo Bay. cuba. August Q, 1898.
Admiral: The report Of Commodore
schley on the battle of July 3D.. as pub
lished. gives credit in the seventh para
graph to four ships and mentions BY
name their captains. Philips, Evans
Clarke and Cook and adds;
The dense smoke of the combat smut out
from my view the Indiana and gloucester
but as these vessels were closer % your
flagship no doubt their part I'm the con-
fict was under your immediate observa-
ton. ....,,,.-
In your report as published YOU MAKE
bat slight mention Of the Indiana, stating
that the Iowa and Indiana having done
good work. and not having the speed or
the other ships were directed by me. elc.'
Q The result Of these reports is that
the captains Of all the vessels OF me or
battle. except the Indiana have receive"
personal mention In the official report De
fore the Department. while the TWO
smaller vessels have also distinctive men
ton either by the commanter-in-cieL OF
by the second in command.
l. N the official records be referred 10
I'm future II will appear from It's general
tone that the Indiana was less deserving
than all her cOnsOrts. Leaving out NY
personal interest I'm the matter n is rishi
that 7 should consider the ofhcers anu
crey Of the shin and speak for them as
we'll as for myself when l submit % YOU.
Admiral that the above combination ot
roports will place the ship IN the opinion
OF the Department and the country marx
f.f. ali o. af
souadron. 7 respectfully submit sir, tntl
this Is Injustice TO the Indiana and her
officers and crew
THE TNDTANAS PART.
I can saw without disparagement or
any other vessel that during the hrst
hour OF the fight the lndiana's gun nre
contributed 10 the destruction OF lne
OauendO and the Teresa more tnan tntt
~ any single vessel or our 50 u.n. ~ t,,,,
cent ono and equals hers. do not hhp"
WHY the second IN command failed 20 on
serve the Indiana during this perloI ~.
our hottest action. 1 saw the Brooklyn
quite plainly. .-.,
with reference 10 the Indiana Will ! pc
iiave. convince you. sir. tnat tney uo
produce the effect OF putting me lndlana
below all the other vessels or me 1luer
ror II n be YOUR opinion. sir. that thls
ie The case and that all the vessels from
the R-oOkivn 10 the Vixen rendered ati-
vices much more valuable tAan inc IT
diana as the published report or ln'
COMMONWEALTH. chief and the second COM
m9njor. taken together. would indicate
then must accent ~ for myself aud ih'
shin. N. on the contrary that be NOT your
opiniOn I urge respectfully tnat SUCH
steps be taken 10 remedy this lnlusll'e
as may seem wise TO YOU.
Very respectfully.
IT, Y. TAYLOR.
Commanding T.. S. :. Indiana
SIMPSONS LETTER
To the Commander-in-ChicG Command
ing the North Atlantic station;
L. $. 5. New York
Guantanamo Bay, Aug. \, ISIS
Sir-I am greatly obliged that you nave
called my attention 90 what appears TO
have been am injustice tO your ship, oiil-
GERS and crew for the part which they
took in the action OF July 5d, ana also
for The very proper manner iu which you
have presented Do. j think however, tnat
YOU will agree with me that in submitting
such report 10 the Secretary of the
Navy. where so many officers are Nlia.ly
Interested and justly proud OF ther SNIP
10 is no easy task 90 do $50 without appa-
rently bestowing praise unJustly
a DIFFICULT NATTER.
It requires very careful consideration
of the report from every point of view
Go avoid MISUNDERSTANDING.
D. The position OF the ships OF me
ships Of the squadron must bee carefully
considered 10 fully appreciate what Dc
was possible for each vessel 10 accom-
plish under the circumstances I'm which
She was placed. Those that were Go the
westward Of the escaping enemy Wrro
certainly better placed for stopping the
enemy and also better placed for deliF-
erng their fire than the vessels 90 t.e
eastward which was the blockading sta-
tl0n Of the Indiana.
B. 80 distribution of the fleet could
completely predict and provide against
every variation Of such a. sortie, nor do
] consider that amy commanding officer
b
the ship under his command was faster
or slower thar another shin or carried
heavier or lighter battery. but rather
that the commanding officer was biawn-
worthy. when he failed 90 put his shin
I'm the proper place for destroying tho
enemy. ust IN proportion 90 the sdrquf-
age which he possessed IN speed, battery
or position oyer his neivhhorr.
WAS UNINTENTIONAL.
Each commanding officer IN my
opinion. was personally responsible for
the good use which he made of the tools
with which he had 10 work J certainly
did not intend 20 criticise you nor 20 be-
stow less praise upon the Indiana than
was bestowed upon any other ship OF the
squadron.
3. The fact that the commanding Off
Ger Of the Indiana was signalled 90 return
~ blockade the mouth OF the harbor ar
ter she had so CALAMITY contributed 90
the destruction OF the Spanish ships was
only "a necessary precauti0n which the
commandcr-in-chlef felt Obliged 10 take
10 prevent disaster 10 the large number
Of transports which were left I'm that
vicinity when the feet started I'm pursir
OF the enemy. There were still some
armed vessels remaining in me harhor Of
Santiago-at least two. and we did not
know then how many mOre-which could
have come Ort in the absence ~ tho
neet and produced great havoc among
the troop ships which were defenseless.
g. This explanation together with your
letter will be sent 10 the department with
the request that II may be attached 10
and form a part Of the original report
Very respectfully.
W. r. SAMPSON.
Rear-Admiral. T. s. y. Commandments
chief. L. &. Naval Force. North At
lantic Station.
The commanding officer r. s. In
diana. Guantanamo Bav Cuba.