The story of the U.S.S. "Yosemite" in 1898, compiled from available records by Joseph S. Stringham.

THE U. S. S. "YOSEMITE"

chagrin, for had it been possible for us to have any knowledge of their
existence, the Yosemite would have arrived off Santiago in time to have
taken part in that glorious day, the 3rd of July, when Cervera's Fleet was
defeated. The Yosemite has the speed, and it is my belief that with our
powerful quick firing battery that she would have had one of the Spanish
belted cruisers as her prize.
"Had the New Orleans not arrived I should not have left the blockade
until July 25th, and in fact would have stayed longer than that date were
I not aware that that was the hurricane season, and that it would not be
safe to keep the ship at sea any longer without having a sufficient supply
of coal.
"On the second day of our stay at St. Thomas, and while expecting orders
to join the Eastern Squadron at Mole St. Nicholas, and from there to sail
for Manila via Suez Canal, a telegram came from the Secretary of the
Navy directing the Yosemite to tow the American schooner Ida C. Southard,
then at anchor at St. Thomas, to Playa del Este if the Danish Government
would permit. The Governor objected as the schooner had a cargo of coal
taken aboard at St. Thomas in violation of the neutrality laws. This was
quite within the Danish Government's rights, so I did not interfere in the
matter. It was quite in concert with every one's feelings as had we been
obliged to tow the schooner to Playa del Este we might have missed being
a component part of the Eastern Squadron.
"At ten o'clock on the night of July 17th a telegram was received from
Commodore Watson, the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Squadron,
dated Playa del Este same day, directing the Yosemite to proceed immediately to Hampton Roads. In obedience thereto the Yosemite sailed next
day and is now en route, this being written on Thursday about 11 A. M.,
July 21st. We have come so far at a speed averaging thirteen and a half
knots, and expect to arrive at Hampton Roads, Virginia, before dark tomorrow afternoon.
"The Yosemite is ready to sail at once for the East Indies upon her arrival
if so ordered, but if she remains some days waiting for the battleships to
dock there can be much done to increase her efficiency. Thus ends the
cruise with Admiral Sampson's West Indies Fleet. The next log will commence with the cruise of the Eastern Squadron."
The war ended on the 12th of August, and the Eastern Squadron was of
course demobilised.
Page sixty-five