Commander Bowman H. McCalla to Commander Washburn Maynard
(COPY.)
U. S. S. Marblehead, 3rd. Rate,
Off Cienfuegos, Cuba,
May 10th., 1898.
S i r :
1. Be pleased to be ready to send in the steam launch and working launch at six o’clock tomorrow morning, to co-operate with the steam launch and working launch of the Marblehead in an attempt to out the two or more cables leading to the East of the light house at Colorados Point.
The four boats will be armed, the steam launches of each carrying 1 pdr. guns in addition. The steam launches are to cover the men in the working launches.
The command of the expedition will be under Lieutenant Winslow1 of the Nashville who is charged with the execution of the details of the expedition.
Lieutenant Anderson2 of the Marblehead will be in command of the boats from the Marblehead.
An effort will be made after cutting the cables to drag then into deep water, cutting off as much as possible of the end. At the end before casting off the cable ends puncture the insulation at points 20 or 30 feet from the end with awls or sharp pointed instruments, so as to destroy the insulation.
The Nashville will take post off the light house point so as to open fire on the cable (white house East of the light-house) house and the bushes in the vicinity. Fire also on the soldiers’ hut to the Eastward of the light-house.
It is not intended to restrict your guns to these points; use them on any forts or boats in the harbor should our operations be interfered with.
The Marblehead will take post between the two points of the River Entrance, with the broadside facing the entrance.
Very respectfully,
BHMcCalla
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Commanding.
Source Note: TCyS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 229. Addressed below close: “Commander Maynard,/Commanding Nashville.” Document features a stamp: “RECEIVED/FLAG-SHIP OF N.A. STATION/MAY 19 1898.”
Footnote 1: Lt. Cameron McRea Winslow.
Footnote 2: Lt. Edwin A. Anderson.
