Forts Silenced.
June 11, 1898
Summary
Another United States victory against the Spanish in Cuba leaves multiple Spanish compounds destroyed.
Transcription
Admiral Sampson riddles the defense of Santiago.
Great damage inflicted.
A torrent of Shells fell upon the Spanish works.
Marine may have been landed.
Previous to the bombardment orders were issued to avoid firing on Morro Castle, as Lieutenant Hobson and his brave companions are there confined—the Brooklyn approached to within eight hundred yards of a Spanish battery—the Spanish fire failed to strike our ships.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 8—The American fleet Monday morning engaged the Spanish batteries defending the entrance of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, and after a three hours’ bombardment silenced nearly all the forts, destroyed several earthworks and rendered the Estrella and Cave batteries, the two principal fortifications, useless.
The fleet formed in double column six miles off Morro Castle, at 6 o’clock in the morning, and steamed slowly 3,000 yards off shore, the Brooklyn leading, followed by the Marblehead, Texas and Massachusetts, and turned westward. The second line, the New York leading, with the New Orleans, Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following, turned eastward.
The Vixen and Suwanee were far out on the left flank watching the riflemen on shore. The Dolphin and Porter did similar duty on the right flank. The line headed by the New York attacked the new earthworks near Morro Castle. The Brooklyn column took up a station opposite the Estrella and Catalina batteries and the new earthworks along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained silent. It is doubtful whether the Spanish were able to determine the character of the movement, owing to the dense fog and heavy rain. Suddenly the Iowa fired a 12-inch shell, which struck the base of the Estrella battery and tore up the works.
Instantly firing began from both columns, and a torrent of shells from the ships fell upon the Spanish works. The Spaniards replied promptly, but their shots went wide. Smoke settled around the ships in dense clouds, rendering accurate aiming difficult. There was no maneuvering of the fleet the ships remaining at their original stations and firing steadily. The squadrons were so close in the shore that is was difficult for the American gunners to reach the batteries on the hill tops, but their firing was excellent.
Previous to the bombardment orders were issued to prevent firing on Morro Castle, as the American admiral had been informed that Lieutenant Hobson and the other prisoners of the Merrimac are confined there. IN spite of this, however, several stray shots damaged Morro Castle somewhat.
Commodore Schley’s line moved closer in shore, firing at shorter range. The Brooklyn and Texas caused a wild havoc among the Spanish shore batteries, quickly silencing them. While the larger ships were engaging the heavy batteries the Suwanee and the Vixen closed with the small in-shore battery opposite them, raining rapid fire shots upon it and quickly placing the battery out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 300 yards, and then the destruction caused by her guns and those of the Marblehead and Texas was really awful. In a few minutes, the woodwork of the Estrella fort was burning and battery was silenced. Firing no more during the engagement.
Eastward the New York and New Orleans silenced the Cave battery in quick order, and then shelled the earthworks located higher up.
Later the practice was not so accurate, owing to the elevation of the guns. Many fo the shells struck, however, and the Spanish gunners retired.
Shortly after 9 o’clock the firing ceased, the warships turning in order to permit the use of their port batteries. The firing was then resumed and became a long, reverberating crash of thunder, and the shells raked the Spanish batteries with terrible effect. Fire broke out in the Catalina fort and silenced the Spanish guns there.
The firing of the fleet continued until 10 o’clock, when the Spanish fire ceased entirely and Rear Admiral Sampson hoisted the “cease firing” signal.
Generally, the fire of the fleet was very destructive. Many of the earthworks were knocked to pieces and the Estrella and Catalina fortifications were so damaged that is is question whether they will ever be able to renew any effective work during the war.
After the fleet had retired the Spaniards returned to some of their guns and sent 12 shells after the fleet, but no one was injured. One large shell fell close to the collier Justin.
Throughout the engagement no American ship was hit and no American was injured.
Lower right
All Honor to Our Fighters
Mr. Editor:
When news of Dewey’s victory at Manila reached this country, the colored people vied with the white in doing him honor. Again, when news came of the heroic deeds of Lieut. Hobson and his seven comrades, in running the gauntlet of the Spanish guns and sinking the collier Merrimac in the mouth of the harbor of Santiago de Cube, the hearts of the colored citizens swelled as big as did those of our white citizens and their cheers were as vociferous as any. And when peace
Shall have been declared between the United States and Spain, and the natives of the islands of Cuba, Philippines and possible, the Canaries, who have been so cruelly outraged and oppressed by the Spaniard, shall be forever free, the colored citizens of this country will be as glad and will praise the United States and its troops in terms as lofty and heartfelt as any.
Seeing that we have but one country and that sectionalism is being done away with; that the gray is becoming blue and the blue is becoming gray—that the cry is becoming rife: “No North, no South, no East, no West, but My Country!”—I say, seeing all these things, why cannot we rise above petty color and race prejudice and cry— “no blacks, no whites, no race, but citizens of my Country!”
It is a downright shame that at a time when all elements of strength should be united for the common good of the country there should be found those who are willing to risk every evil consequence in order that they may hug their ugly god of race prejudice in their cry of “no shoulder strapped Negroes in our army.”
One of our morning dailies seems to be particularly solicitous on the subject of the colored officers for colored soldiers. Now, if we wanted colored officers for white soldiers, I could at once understand its opposition. But its being opposed to colored officers for our colored soldiers can only be solved on the score that it is opposed to the moral advancement of the colored race.
You deserve great praise, Mr. Editor, for the stand you have taken in this matter. Your motto: “No officers, no fight,” should be the motto of every colored man in the South. Any colored men who would volunteers as State military organizations whose colored officers had been replaced by white ones would be nothing more than so many poltroons who would desert in the face of the enemy. No white officer who cared a fig for his reputation as a soldier would risk it in assuming the command of such men.
Let us look at the matter philosophically. Every race and nationality, even the Spaniards, against whose country are we fighting would be permitted to enlist promiscuously in any company or regiment in which white men are enlisted. But the colored man is debarred. He is compelled to enlist in organizations which are solely of colored men. He is even given an armory off to himself as if belonged to another country, and yet when it comes to fighting for the honor, glory or preservation of our country his colored officers, who have had all the trouble of training him and in whom he as implicit confidence, must stand aside and let the infallible white officers take his place. I leave it to the judgement of all candid minded men if the colored soldier is not right in contending that having been separated by no faulty of his own from all the military organizations of the State in time of peace, he should remain separate in time of war?
As to the implied threat thrown out by those papers in their hint that the colored people are on trial, we do not care three straws. We know that we are on trial, but before a different tribunal form any they had in mind when they made the threat. God is the Judge and the nations of the earth are the jurors of the tribunal before whom the colored men of this country are arraigned and they need have no fear of the verdict.
I hope, sincerely, that Governor Tyler will not be influenced by the clamor of these newspapers. But that he will rise above prejudice in this matter and do justice instead. The colored battalion of this city was the first to respond to the call of the President for troops and volunteered to go anywhere they may have to be sent. Neverless, they were overlooked and white organizations given the preference. They are still willing to go and fight for their country, but they will only draw the line at going under white officers. The mouths of these colored officers and soldiers are sealed, Mr. Editor, and it is our duty to speak for them in no uncertain tones.
We know that every man of them is ready and willing to lay down his life in defense of this country but they will do this only under circumstances wherein their manhood is recognized, and the sooner our white friends take this in the better in will be for all concerned.
There is a class of people in this country who may seem to be incapable of treating colored men as though they were grown up people. They apparently regard us all as children. They love to patronize us; and expect us to cringe to them with much gratitude therefore; and if we do not they are greatly disappointed; their feelings are hurt and they prophesy dire consequences to us. They are prone to regard us as the same Old Negro of 35 years ago. But they make a great mistake in this. One of our honored military men laconically remarked the other day, that “this is not the same old Negro of 35 years ago. He has been shaved up and had his hair cut!” The Negro of to-day has great respect for the honorable white man but he has learned to have greater respect for himself than for anybody else on earth.
All we ask is that the Governor will treat out colored Battalion precisely as he did the white Battalion. That will be and will give entire satisfaction.
Tours for the success of the arms of the United States,
EVA.
Great damage inflicted.
A torrent of Shells fell upon the Spanish works.
Marine may have been landed.
Previous to the bombardment orders were issued to avoid firing on Morro Castle, as Lieutenant Hobson and his brave companions are there confined—the Brooklyn approached to within eight hundred yards of a Spanish battery—the Spanish fire failed to strike our ships.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 8—The American fleet Monday morning engaged the Spanish batteries defending the entrance of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, and after a three hours’ bombardment silenced nearly all the forts, destroyed several earthworks and rendered the Estrella and Cave batteries, the two principal fortifications, useless.
The fleet formed in double column six miles off Morro Castle, at 6 o’clock in the morning, and steamed slowly 3,000 yards off shore, the Brooklyn leading, followed by the Marblehead, Texas and Massachusetts, and turned westward. The second line, the New York leading, with the New Orleans, Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following, turned eastward.
The Vixen and Suwanee were far out on the left flank watching the riflemen on shore. The Dolphin and Porter did similar duty on the right flank. The line headed by the New York attacked the new earthworks near Morro Castle. The Brooklyn column took up a station opposite the Estrella and Catalina batteries and the new earthworks along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained silent. It is doubtful whether the Spanish were able to determine the character of the movement, owing to the dense fog and heavy rain. Suddenly the Iowa fired a 12-inch shell, which struck the base of the Estrella battery and tore up the works.
Instantly firing began from both columns, and a torrent of shells from the ships fell upon the Spanish works. The Spaniards replied promptly, but their shots went wide. Smoke settled around the ships in dense clouds, rendering accurate aiming difficult. There was no maneuvering of the fleet the ships remaining at their original stations and firing steadily. The squadrons were so close in the shore that is was difficult for the American gunners to reach the batteries on the hill tops, but their firing was excellent.
Previous to the bombardment orders were issued to prevent firing on Morro Castle, as the American admiral had been informed that Lieutenant Hobson and the other prisoners of the Merrimac are confined there. IN spite of this, however, several stray shots damaged Morro Castle somewhat.
Commodore Schley’s line moved closer in shore, firing at shorter range. The Brooklyn and Texas caused a wild havoc among the Spanish shore batteries, quickly silencing them. While the larger ships were engaging the heavy batteries the Suwanee and the Vixen closed with the small in-shore battery opposite them, raining rapid fire shots upon it and quickly placing the battery out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 300 yards, and then the destruction caused by her guns and those of the Marblehead and Texas was really awful. In a few minutes, the woodwork of the Estrella fort was burning and battery was silenced. Firing no more during the engagement.
Eastward the New York and New Orleans silenced the Cave battery in quick order, and then shelled the earthworks located higher up.
Later the practice was not so accurate, owing to the elevation of the guns. Many fo the shells struck, however, and the Spanish gunners retired.
Shortly after 9 o’clock the firing ceased, the warships turning in order to permit the use of their port batteries. The firing was then resumed and became a long, reverberating crash of thunder, and the shells raked the Spanish batteries with terrible effect. Fire broke out in the Catalina fort and silenced the Spanish guns there.
The firing of the fleet continued until 10 o’clock, when the Spanish fire ceased entirely and Rear Admiral Sampson hoisted the “cease firing” signal.
Generally, the fire of the fleet was very destructive. Many of the earthworks were knocked to pieces and the Estrella and Catalina fortifications were so damaged that is is question whether they will ever be able to renew any effective work during the war.
After the fleet had retired the Spaniards returned to some of their guns and sent 12 shells after the fleet, but no one was injured. One large shell fell close to the collier Justin.
Throughout the engagement no American ship was hit and no American was injured.
Lower right
All Honor to Our Fighters
Mr. Editor:
When news of Dewey’s victory at Manila reached this country, the colored people vied with the white in doing him honor. Again, when news came of the heroic deeds of Lieut. Hobson and his seven comrades, in running the gauntlet of the Spanish guns and sinking the collier Merrimac in the mouth of the harbor of Santiago de Cube, the hearts of the colored citizens swelled as big as did those of our white citizens and their cheers were as vociferous as any. And when peace
Shall have been declared between the United States and Spain, and the natives of the islands of Cuba, Philippines and possible, the Canaries, who have been so cruelly outraged and oppressed by the Spaniard, shall be forever free, the colored citizens of this country will be as glad and will praise the United States and its troops in terms as lofty and heartfelt as any.
Seeing that we have but one country and that sectionalism is being done away with; that the gray is becoming blue and the blue is becoming gray—that the cry is becoming rife: “No North, no South, no East, no West, but My Country!”—I say, seeing all these things, why cannot we rise above petty color and race prejudice and cry— “no blacks, no whites, no race, but citizens of my Country!”
It is a downright shame that at a time when all elements of strength should be united for the common good of the country there should be found those who are willing to risk every evil consequence in order that they may hug their ugly god of race prejudice in their cry of “no shoulder strapped Negroes in our army.”
One of our morning dailies seems to be particularly solicitous on the subject of the colored officers for colored soldiers. Now, if we wanted colored officers for white soldiers, I could at once understand its opposition. But its being opposed to colored officers for our colored soldiers can only be solved on the score that it is opposed to the moral advancement of the colored race.
You deserve great praise, Mr. Editor, for the stand you have taken in this matter. Your motto: “No officers, no fight,” should be the motto of every colored man in the South. Any colored men who would volunteers as State military organizations whose colored officers had been replaced by white ones would be nothing more than so many poltroons who would desert in the face of the enemy. No white officer who cared a fig for his reputation as a soldier would risk it in assuming the command of such men.
Let us look at the matter philosophically. Every race and nationality, even the Spaniards, against whose country are we fighting would be permitted to enlist promiscuously in any company or regiment in which white men are enlisted. But the colored man is debarred. He is compelled to enlist in organizations which are solely of colored men. He is even given an armory off to himself as if belonged to another country, and yet when it comes to fighting for the honor, glory or preservation of our country his colored officers, who have had all the trouble of training him and in whom he as implicit confidence, must stand aside and let the infallible white officers take his place. I leave it to the judgement of all candid minded men if the colored soldier is not right in contending that having been separated by no faulty of his own from all the military organizations of the State in time of peace, he should remain separate in time of war?
As to the implied threat thrown out by those papers in their hint that the colored people are on trial, we do not care three straws. We know that we are on trial, but before a different tribunal form any they had in mind when they made the threat. God is the Judge and the nations of the earth are the jurors of the tribunal before whom the colored men of this country are arraigned and they need have no fear of the verdict.
I hope, sincerely, that Governor Tyler will not be influenced by the clamor of these newspapers. But that he will rise above prejudice in this matter and do justice instead. The colored battalion of this city was the first to respond to the call of the President for troops and volunteered to go anywhere they may have to be sent. Neverless, they were overlooked and white organizations given the preference. They are still willing to go and fight for their country, but they will only draw the line at going under white officers. The mouths of these colored officers and soldiers are sealed, Mr. Editor, and it is our duty to speak for them in no uncertain tones.
We know that every man of them is ready and willing to lay down his life in defense of this country but they will do this only under circumstances wherein their manhood is recognized, and the sooner our white friends take this in the better in will be for all concerned.
There is a class of people in this country who may seem to be incapable of treating colored men as though they were grown up people. They apparently regard us all as children. They love to patronize us; and expect us to cringe to them with much gratitude therefore; and if we do not they are greatly disappointed; their feelings are hurt and they prophesy dire consequences to us. They are prone to regard us as the same Old Negro of 35 years ago. But they make a great mistake in this. One of our honored military men laconically remarked the other day, that “this is not the same old Negro of 35 years ago. He has been shaved up and had his hair cut!” The Negro of to-day has great respect for the honorable white man but he has learned to have greater respect for himself than for anybody else on earth.
All we ask is that the Governor will treat out colored Battalion precisely as he did the white Battalion. That will be and will give entire satisfaction.
Tours for the success of the arms of the United States,
EVA.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Forts Silenced.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed February 19, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1401.