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

THE U. S. S. "YOSEMITE"

"Captain Taylor, who has been assigned as senior officer, to convoy the
fleet of thirty-six Army transports for the capture of Santiago, came aboard
and we had a long consultation. I helped him in preparing the details and
got on shore in the afternoon. When I arrived there I received additional
orders to cruise off Havana and capture or destroy the auxiliary cruisers of
which there are two like ourselves and about the same battery and personnel. The names of these two Spanish cruisers are the Montera and the
Aviles. If the Lord is good He will give me this chance, for I will give either
one of them the best whipping or get it myself, that the world ever heard of.
I am to remain only two days off Havana and then to go to the rendezvous
at Tortugas on the 9th, and then to Santiago with the convoys. Taylor has
given me the best position after himself, the position next the Cuban coast."
"AT SEA OFF THE CUBAN COAST, June 7, 1898.
"Coaled all night and got underway at 10 o'clock. After passing the reef
saluted the Indiana, and then headed for Havana, sighting land at half past
two o'clock, and at three o'clock were about five miles from Morro Castle,
and the lighthouse and batteries all in plain view. Then headed for senior
ship which proved to be the Amphritrite, Captain Barclay commanding.
Although the sea was smooth and a moderate breeze blowing, the Amphritrite was rolling her free-board under, while at the same time the Yosemite
had no motion.
"On leaving Key West my orders from Commodore Remey were to remain
forty-eight hours off Havana, and then to leave in time to arrive at the
rendezvous designated off the Island of Dry Tortugas, where the Fleet was
to assemble on the 9th of June, to convoy the army corps from Tampa to
its destination."
"AT SEA, June 8, 1898.
"About 3:30 A. M., just before daylight, made our secret lights to an approaching vessel. The signal was made by the Ardois lanterns. The vessel
proved to be the Panther, Commander Reiter, commanding, having on
board eight hundred and fifty marines commanded by Colonel Huntington.
"Captain McCauley is the Quartermaster of this regiment. Captain
Reiter had orders for me to convoy his ship to Admiral Sampson at Santiago
de Cuba. We started at once.
"On the voyage there were several incidents. Off Port Baracoa sighted a
boat under sail standing for the ship. Thinking she might have important
information communicated with her. The boat contained five men. As the
leader of the party had no credentials or letters patent to show his authority,
I was not certain whether he belonged to the insurgents as he claimed, or
whether he was a Spanish spy. The crowd being so filthy I put them back
in their boat and started on.
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