The Capture of the Island of Guam [pp. 225-233]

Overland Monthly
versions of the capture of Guam were at
least well enough informed to have made
no such mistakes.
There were in fact but two civilians
present at every incident off the capture.
These are Mr. Sol. N. Sheridan, the San
Francisco journalist, and myself. A
I have already mentioned the total
absence of any information as to the size
of the Spanish garrison at Agafia. Therefore, when the Governor failed to come as
promised, and instead sent a message that
his Government did not allow him to visit
foreign war-ships, but that he would meet
Lieut. Wm. Braunersreuther, Navigator of the U. S. S. Charleston
third journalist, Mr. E. Langley Jones,
was present at the raising of the flag and
the surrender of the garrison. The other
journalists who accompanied the fleet were
in their quarters aboard ship when most
of the events occurred.
During the visit of these Spanish
officials they promised that if allowed
their parole they would agree to have
Governor-General Morena, a colonel in
the Spanish army and Governor of the
Ladrones, aboard the ship for a conference
with Captain Glass at some time during
the afternoon. This they failed to do.
Captain Glass on shore at 9 A.M. the
following day, some Spanish trick was
suspected. Captain Glass consulted with
General Anderson who was in command
of the troops aboard the transports. They
decided to send a strong landing-party to
the place appointed. This landing-party
was to consist of the marine guards from
the Charleston and Peleing with a battalion of the Second Oregon'Volunteers.
The marines and infantrymen never
reached the shore of San Luis Bay, for
owing to the delay in getting the boats
under way, Lieutenant Braunersreuther
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