Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-08
MONDAY EVENING, AUG 5, 1855

Can't. Mahan on the subject OF the
parts played by Admiral Sampson and
Commodore Schley in the destruction
of Ceryera's fleet, has revived the dis
cussion of the famous dispatch OF Samp-
son OF July 3rd, in which he offered the
victory over Cervera as q fourth o.
July present to the country, with Com
modore Schley's name carefully oolit-
Grated. The facts soon came to light,
and it appeared that Schley was in the
fight after all AMI the ranking officer OF
the squadron. though he did not figure
in the official dispatch, and that samp'
son was some eight or ten miles away.
Two defenses have been set up for
Sampson-one that be wouldn't have
gone away if ne had even suspected
Cervera was coming out that bright
morning. and the other, now argued
with much ingenuity, that the distln-
onished absentee had so carefully ar
ranged matters that it did not make
bit of difference whether ne was pres
ent or not, Cervera was bound to be
whipped and go ashore anyhow. d.
vine Providence itself could not have
foreordsiued matters with more prec;-
sion than did Sampson in this particular
business. 1t WAS e perfectly set mp
lob. One is tempted to wonder why, II
everything had been 50 we'll fixed up
in advance, Admiral Sampson should
not have trusted the feet to attend to
it, and why he should have rushed MS
own boat with such hot haste to the
scene of battle, and finally succeeded
in arriving just as the JOB was finished.
Comparing Sampson and Schley We
fad. without departing from truth and
straining facts, that each seems TO nave
had certain run OF luck. At the out
break of the Spanish war Schley seem
ed to have the best luck. He out
ranked Sampson on the DavAl list and
was thus entitled to command
the principal squadron in the
West Indies. Admiral Sampson
was only bureau officer. bu.in one re
spect ne had great luck--far better tssA
Schleg. Sampson had what is tetsA'-
caIly termed "a pull Oh the Ny Dt-
partment. How he secured !: may or
NAV not matter, but he hsf it clearly
So he was given Command OF the
Kew West feet, and 10 prevent any
possibility of thi. aice little arrange
ment being dis,sr0ed, he was brevetted
bv the Nav department. an acting rear
admiral truly it was good thing to
have pail. Commodore Schley was
MIN command OF the flying squad.
-o2s stationed at Hampton Rosds. he
vas not expected to "fy," orindeed to
do much of anything but submit grace
fully 10 have another man, the man with
the pull, put over his head; but as
things turned out the Cape Verde fleet
sailed across the Atlantic and the Navy
Department could not, with ali its wis
dom, locate it, nor could Sampson To-
cate it with all his powers OF pre-ar-
ranging matters. So Commodore Schley
was sent down to join in the quest. Ad-
miral Sampson had been INDUCING him
self in a number of loud commandments
which had afforded him great pleasure
and wrought no harm to any boy except
the American tax payers. Now, here
again Commodore Schley had piece
OF luck. He located Cervera's fleet al
Santiago. First he guessed it was there
by the fact OF Spanish coal transport
going in there, then leaving couple Of
ships of Cienfregos to mislead the
Spaniards as to his destination, he ran
down to Santiago and when Cervera
tried to go out (Msy 29:b) he found
Schley blocking his way. Sampson had
nothing to do with this strategy,
but he had fastened to the
place and took command By
virtue of his pull already mentioned.
Sampson watched carefully for Cervera
10 come out, but Ceryera wouldn't
come. Time passed. Finally Cervera,
under orders from Captain. General
Blanco, come out on July 3rd. As ali
the Spanish officers, say they feared
most the speed of the Brooklyn, and
they endeavored to destroy her. The
tale of that day has been told by many
fortunately there are many witnesses
besides Sampson. l. was hard piece
of luck for him truly. He had lost his
chance, never to regain it. History was
made by other actors. He can think
about it as he pleases, but he cannot
suppress it. Still, he has his pull
No fate can rob him of that. Schley is
considered too much in evidence. 1t
is useless precaution to lock stable
after horse is stolen, but Schley's ship.
The Brooklyn. is to be taken away from
him. Possibly he may be allowed to
command a tug or q transport. But
there must be no more such accidents
:, h, haor;ro off bou0rc D,aort Eo, ~.