Very interesting and extremely historical lot of (3) 1898 Spanish-American War sailor's letters (9 pp. of text) from "Frank," a sailor on board USS IOWA, to his sister, Mrs. George A. Allen, Norwich, Connecticut, with first hand accounts of the siege on San Juan, Puerto Rico and the initial blockade of Santiago de Cuba. One battered envelope addressed to Mrs. Allen is included for reference. The content reads, in part, as follows" [off San Domingo, May 15 1898] "I will try and give you some account of our doings since I wrote you last. As I expected, we went gunning for the Spanish Fleet, which we expected to find in Porto Rico [Puerto Rico], but were disappointed, as they had sailed for Cadiz, Spain. In consequence we gave the forts at San Juan a few shell[s] just for practice. We left Key West [Florida] May 3 for Havana, and the next day the [USS] NEW YORK steamed in with orders to proceed Eastward. The MONTGOMERY, DETROIT, Torpedo Boat PORTER and tug WAMPENTUCK going with us. That evening we met the monitors recruiting from the NIAGARA off Matanzas [Cuba], taking them in tow. We continued on our course until Sunday, when we stopped off Hayti [Haiti] to give the small ships a chance to coal up. There were three newspaper boats [carrying reporters] with us, and they ran in for coal. On their return Monday night, we were informed that a fleet of 17 Spanish ships were in San Juan. We immediately proceeded for said place. Wed. evening the Admiral [actually Commodore William S. Schley] transferred his Flag to us, making us the Flagship. We were first in line of attack; the INDIANA following, then the NEW YORK, AMPHITRITE and TERROR. The gunboats steaming directly underneath the forts with the PORTER and guarding the entrance to the Harbor. If the Spanish fleet had been in there, they would never have got out, as the entrance is very narrow. We made three attacks on the Fort, starting at about five o'clock and ending about eight. Thursday evening one of our sixteen pounders started the ball and was almost immediately answered from the fort. When they first started to fire, the fort seemed on sheet of flame and smoke, the shells falling all around us, but we soon stopped that business, one of our 12 in. [guns] exploding their magazines. I tell you it was a great exhibition of fireworks, another ripping a hole through Moro Castle large enough to drive a cart through. Then came the lighthouse and the town, which lies in back of the fort started to blaze. There were seven distinct fires at one time. Their loss must have been great. We were struck twice, one shell hitting our forward starboard 8" [gun] turret, without doing damage, and the other striking a skid beam that holds our boats, cutting it in two and exploding the shell. The fragments of the shell scattered in all directions, smashing three boats, ventilators, hatches and cutting a post in two. Three men were wounded: one had his elbow shot away, and the other two were hit glancing wounds across the back. One man was killed on the NEW YORK and one in the DETROIT. A gunners mate was overcome by the heat while in the magazine in the AMPHITRITE. There were several others injured. The crew on the IOWA behaved as becomes Yankees: every man at his post and working away for dear life, without a word of command. It was great. The Admiral [Commodore Schley] & Captain [Robert 'Fighting Bob' Evens] were delighted. If we could only get at the Spanish Fleet, we would sink their ships quicker than Admiral [George] Dewey did out in China. I do not know what our next move will be, but hope it is to go over to Spain and hunt them in their hole ... [signed] Fred." [Off Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 23 1898] "We are here awaiting the Spanish Fleet. With us are the BROOKLYN, MASSACHUSETTS, TEXAS, DUPONT, SCORPION and a couple of colliers. Commodore Schley is in command & wish they would come. We are getting sick of waiting for them here. We have sailed nearly 5,000 miles looking for them, only to be disappointed. We could stand the warm weather all right, if we could only have a shot at them, at least once a week, but to be sweltering down here and not accomplishing anything is disappointing to say the least. Only let us get at them, say we wouldn't do a thing, and I guess they know it, and for hat reason are keeping away. We are coaling ship and I think we will be making a move by tomorrow ... you can still send letters to Key West direct ... we will probably make it our base for supplies for some time ... [signed] Fred." [Off Santiago de Cuba, May 29 1898] "We have located the Spanish Fleet and are blockading them in this harbor. We have everything cleared for action and expect anything. The boys are delighted at the prospect of a scrap and feel confident of victory ... [signed] Fred." USS IOWA BB-4 (11,346 tons) was brand, spanking new at this time, having the distinction of being the first modern American battleship. After the May 29 1898 letter we are selling was written, the Commander in Chief of the U.S. North Atlantic Station, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, insisted that the blockade mentioned in that letter be tight, writing that, "the escape of the Spanish vessels at this juncture would be a serious blow to our prestige, and to a speedy end of the war." Sampson wasn't concerned about fire from shore batteries, but was worried about a possible attack from a surface-going torpedo boat, and urged his captains to look for telltale signs of attacking boats, such as smoke and water. The initial plan was for the blockade to stand about six miles from Santiago Harbor during daylight, but this was tightened to four miles. At night, and in inclement weather, the ships came in closer to prevent escape. One American squadron blocked the east side, another the west. Picket launches were ordered one mile off shore each night. Searchlights from the capital ships scanned the water at night. On Jul 3 1898, six Spanish warships brazenly steamed out of Santiago harbor. The crew of IOWA were first to spot them, lending chase with INDIANA, TEXAS, OREGON and BROOKLYN. The two opposing fleets then engaged in a brief, but intense naval battle off the Cuban shores. IOWA, incidentally, had fired the first shot in the fray. In short order, the ships of the Spanish fleet were left either wrecked and burning, or run ashore. Survivors were taken prisoner aboard several of the American ships, including IOWA. The letters are all in excellent condition, envelope, as mentioned above is damaged. *** We have been in the paper Americana business since 1953 and are members of both the Manuscript and Ephemera Societies as well as numerous other collector organizations.
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