The herald., 1898-07-27


iantry and dashing courage, the prompt de-
cision and skiilful handling Of their respect
i've vessels Of Captain Philips. Captain
Evans, Captain Clark, and especially OF my
chief Of staff, Captain Cook, who was d.
rectly under my personal observation. and
whose GOODNESS, promptness and courage
were Of the highest order. The dense smoke
of the combat shut out from view the In
diana and Gloucester, but: asthese vessels
we're closer to your flagship no doubt their
part In the conflict was under your imme-
date observation.
acknowledgements Sharp, commander Of
the Vixen, acted with conspicuous courage;
although unable to engage the heavier
ships Of the enemy with his light guns. nev-
ertheless was close in to the battle line un-
der heavy fire, and many Of the enemy's
shots passed beyond his vessel.
Ninth-I beg to invite special attention to
the conduct of my flag lieutenant, James
H. Sears, and Ensign Edward McCauley,
junior aide, who were constantly at my side
during the engagement and who exposed
themselves fearlessly in the discharge OF
their duties; and also to the splendid beha-
vior of my secretary, Lieutenant B. Wells.
jr, who commanded and directed the fight
effect.
Tenth-I would commend the highly
maritorious conduct and courage in the
engagement of Lieutenant Commander N.
f. Mason, the executive officer, whose
presence everywhere over the ship during
its continuance did much to secure the
good results of this ships part in the VIC
tory.
TNA iotyt
Hodgeson and the division officers, Lieut..
T. d. Griffin, Lieut.. w. r. Rush. Lieut..
Edward Simpson, Lieut.. J. G. Doyle, En-
sign Charles Webster and the junior dNi-
sional officers, were most steady and con-
spicuous in every detail Of duty contribut-
ing to the accurate firing of this ship in
her part in the great victory of your forces.
Twelfth-The officers Of the medical pay
and engineer 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. H. Warford and Gunner +.
| T. Applegate. were everywhere exposed, in
watching for damage, reports of which
were promptly conveyed to me.
Thirteenth-I have never in my life
served with a drawer. better or worthier
the combat, lasting from 9:35 until 1:15
p. m, much Of the time under fire, they
| never tagged for a moment and were ar
parently undisturbed by the storm Of pro-
| jectiles passing ahead astern and over the
| ship.
Fourteenth-The result Of the engage
ment was the destruction of the Spanish
squadron and the capture of the admiral
oners. with the loss of several hundred
killed, estimated by Admiral Cervera at
| 600 men.
F'ifteenth-The casualties on board this
ship were: G. H. Ellis, chief yeoman. killed,
J. Burns, fireman, first class. severely
wounded.
The marks and scars show that the ship
was struck about twenty-five times and
she bears in all forty-one scars, as the re-
suit of her participation in the great VIC
tory of your forces on July 3, 1898. The
speed cone halyards were shot away and
nearly all the signal halyards. The ensign
at the main was so shattered that in haul
ing 1t down at the close OF the action it fell
in pieces.
Sixteenth-I congratulate you most sim
cerely upon this great victory to the squad
| ron under your command, and am glad
that had an opportunity to contribute in
the least to victory that seems enough
| for us all
Seventeenth-I have the honor to trans
init herewith the report of the command
ing officer and drawing in profile Of the
ship, showing the location of hits and scars;
also memorandum of ammunition ex-
pended and the amount to fill her allow
ance.
| Eghteenth-Since reaching this place and
| holding conversation with several OF the
captains, viz, Capt. Eulate Of the Vizcaya
and the second in command of the Colon,
Commander Contreras, ! have learned that
| the Spanish admirals scheme was to con-
centrate all fire for while on the Brook
| Ign, and the Vizcaya was to ram her, in
hopes that, IL they could destroy her, the
| chance of escaping would be increased as
| 1t was supposed she was the swiftest ship
of your squadron. This explains the
heavy fire mentioned and the Vizcaya's
action in the earlier moments of the en-
gagement. The execution OF this purpose
was promptly defeated by the fact that all
| the ships Of the squadron advanced to
close range and opened an irresistibly
| furious and terrific fire on the enemy's
squadron as 1t was coming out of the bar
| Dor.
Nineteenth-I am glad to say that the in
jury supposed to be below the water was
| due to the water valves being opened from
some unknown cause and flooding the com.
partment. The injury to the belt is found
to be only slight and the loss small.
| TWENTIETH beg TO inclose a ~ Of the
officers and crew who participated in the
combat Of July 8. 1885,
| Twenty-frst--I cannot close this report
without mentioning in high terms Of
praise the splendid conduct and support Of
Capt. c. E. Clarke Of the Oregon. Her
speed was wonderful and her accurate fire
splendidly destructive. Very respectfully,
| W. 8. SCHLEY,
| Commodore U. s. Navy.
| Commanding Second Squadron, North
Atlantic Fleet.
To the Hon. Commander-in-Chief,U U. S.
Naval Force, North Atlantic Station.
ON THE OREGON