Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/240

ccxviii was lost on the American ships, the wounded numbered only 7, and not a vessel was materially injured. Information of this victory was received on the 7th day of May, and troops were forwarded to support the navy, sailing May 25, and arriving off Manila June 30. Other expeditions were despatched to the Philippines, the total force consisting of 641 officers and 15,058 enlisted men.

May 11 the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat Winslow were unsuccessful in an attempt to silence the batteries at Cardenas. In this action Worth Bagley, an ensign, and 4 seamen were killed.

Meanwhile a powerful Spanish squadron under Admiral Cervera, which had assembled at the Cape Verde Islands before the outbreak of hostilities, crossed the ocean, and took refuge in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba about May 19.

May 13 the North Atlantic Squadron shelled San Juan, Porto Rico. On May 30 Commodore Schley's squadron bombarded the fort guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor. These attacks had no material results. The next decisive act in the war was the exploit of Lieutenant Hobson, who, on the 3d of June, with the assistance of seven volunteers, attempted to block the narrow outlet from Santiago harbor by sinking the collier Merrimac in the channel.

On June 10, under a heavy protecting fire, the landing of 600 marines from the Oregon, Marblehead, and Yankee was effected in Guantanamo Bay. Additional forces were landed and strongly intrenched by June 16, and on the 22d the advance army under Major-General Shafter landed at Daiquiri, about 15 miles east of Santiago, and the movement against Santiago began on the 23d. On the 24th the first serious engagement took place, in which the First and Tenth Cavalry and the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, General Young's brigade of General Wheeler's division, participated, losing heavily. By nightfall, however, they were within five miles of Santiago. July 1 a severe battle took place, and the American forces gained the outworks of Santiago. On the 2d El Caney and San Juan were taken after a desperate charge, thus completing the investment of the city. The navy coöperated with the army by shelling the town and the coast forts.

On the following day, July 3, the decisive naval combat of the war occurred. The Spanish fleet attempted to leave the harbor of Santiago, but was met by the American squadron, which, in less than three hours, destroyed all the Spanish ships and sank three torpedo boats, driving the Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya, and Cristobal Colon ashore. The