Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, commander, North Atlantic Fleet, to Major General William R. Shafter
U.S. Flagship New York, 1st Rate
Off Santiago de Cuba, Cuba,
June 25, 1898.
My Dear General:-
I congratulate you upon the favorable manner in which your disembarkation has proceeded.1 The two vessels – City of Washington and Saratogo – which were missing, have been sent in and they are now disembarking.2 I shall do all in my power to assist in landing your supplies and ammunition. It is not at all likely that any rough weather will interfere with your work during the present time.
One transport, laden with Garcia’s troops,3 has already gone in to Altares; the other should be here this afternoon, as I understand he has only two thousand men altogether.
I have been driving the Spaniards from the vicinity of the railroad trestles at Aquadores, where they were digging intrenchments.
It would be very easy for us to destroy this trestle, if you are sure that you will not need it. I have not fired upon it heretofore for this reason.
Very respectfully,
W.T. Sampson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Com’dr. in Chief U.S. Naval Force,
North Atlantic Station
Source Note: ALS, DLC-MSS, Papers of William R. Shafter, roll 3. Addressed below close: “Major General/W.R. Shafter,/U.S.V.” Document reference: “No. 7.”
Footnote 1: The disembarkation of the troops at Daiquiri began on 22 June.
Footnote 2: That is Saratoga, it is unclear what Sampson meant by “missing.”
Footnote 3: Gen. Calixto Ramón García Iñiguez.
