Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-27
part in the conflict was under your I'm
mediate observation.
coNspIcuousLY BRAVE.

Vixen, acted with conspicuous courage.
Although unable to engage the heavier
ships OF the enemy with his light guns,
| nevertheless he was close In to the battle
line. under heavy fire. and many OF the
! enemy's shots passed beyond his vessel.
- beg 10 invite special attention to
| the conduct of my flag lieutenant, James
| II. Sears, and Ensign Edward McCauley,
| Jr.. aide. who were constantly at my side
during the engagement, and who ex-
| posed themselves fearlessly In dIscharging
| their duties, and also to the splendid be-
| havior of my secretary, Lieutenant u. w.
| Wells, Jr., who commanded and directed
| the fighting Of the fourth division with
| splendid effect.
10. / would commend the highly meri-
| torious conduct and courage I'm the en-
gagement of Lieutenant Commander N.
| T.. Mason, the executive officer, whose
presence everywhere over the ship during
its continuance did much to secure the
good result OF this ships part in the VIC
tory.
STEADILY COURAGEOUS.
I'll. The navigator. Lieutenant A. c.
Hodgson. and the division officers-Lieu-
tenant T.. ID. Griffin, Lieutenant w. r.
Rush, Lieutenant Edward Simpson, Lieu
tenant ]. d. Doyle, Ensign Charles Web
ster-and the junior divisional officers
were most steady and conspicuous in
every detail Of duty, contributing to the
accurate firing of the ship in her part OF
the great victory of your forces.
'12. The officers of the medical. pay, en-
gineer, and marine corps responded TO
every demand of the occasion, and were
fearless in exposing themselves. The war
rant officers-Boatswain William l.. Hill,
Carpenter G.. II. Rawford, and Gunner f.
T. Applegate-were everywhere exposed.
In watching for damage, reports of which
were promptly conveyed to me.
CREW NEVER FLAGGED.
'13. have never in my life served with
Drawer. better, or worthier crew than
that Of the Brooklyn. During the combat,
lasting from 9:35 until 10 p. NJ, much of
the time under fire, they never tagged for
moment, and were apparently undis-
tUrbed by the storm OF projectiles passing
ahead, astern, and over the ship.
IA. The result Of the engagement was
the destruction of the Spanish squadron,
and the capture of the admiral and some
thirteen to fifteen hundred prisoners. with
the loss of several hundred killed. esti-
mated by Admiral Cervera at eco men.
THE BROOKLYN'S LOSS.
'15. The casualties on board this ship
were: G. H.. Ellis. chief yeoman, killed;
j. Burns, fireman, first-class, severely
wounded.
1.-THE marks and scars show that the
ship was struck about twenty-five times,
and she bears in all forty-one scar. as
the result of her participation in the great
victory OF your force on July 8, 1898.
1.-THE speed-cone halliards were shot
away, and nearly all the signal halliards.
The ensign at the main was so shattered
that In hauling it down at the close of
the action it fell in pieces.
VICTORY BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL"
"16. / congratulate you most sincerely
upon this victory to the squadron under
your command, and 1 am glad that l had
an opportunity to contribute in the least
in victory that seems big enough for |
all of us.
'17. |
SPANISH PLAN AGAINST BROOKLYN. |
'1S. Since reaching this place and hold |
ing conversation with several OF the |
Spanish captains-viz., Captain Eulate, of |
the Nizcaya and the second in command |
of the Colon, Commander Contreras-I |
have learned that the Spanish Admiral's |
scheme was to concentrate all fire for
awhile on the Brooklyn, and that the !
Vizcaya should ram her, In the hope that
If they could destroy her the chances of |
posed she was the swiftest ship OF your
squadron. This explains the heavy fire and
The Vizcaya's action in the earlier mo-
nents of the engagement. The execution
IF this purpose was promptly defeated
by the fact that all the ships of the
squadron advanced into close range and
opened an irresistbly furious and terri
&c fire upon the enemy's squadron as II
was coming out of the harbor.
INJURY TO BROOKLYN.
"19. am glad to say that the injury
supposed to be below the water-line was
iue to water-valve being opened from
;ome unknown cause and flooding the
The injury to the belt Is
found to be only slight and the leak small.
40. beg to enclose list Of the officers
md crew who participated in the combat
If July g. 1898.
THE OREGON.
"21. / cannot close this report without
in high terms of praise the
splendid conduct and support Of Captain
= e. Clarke of the oregon. Her speed
vas wonderful and her accurate fire |
plendidly destructive
Every respectfully.
"W. S. SCHLEY,
Commodore United States Navy, Com
handing Second Squadron, North At
lantic Fleet.
The Commander-in-Chief United States
Naval Force, North Atlantic Station"