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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Commander Washburn Maynard to Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Squadron

U.S.S.Nashville,3rd rate, 

Making passage from Cienfuegos to Havana;

April,30,I898.

Sir:-

     I. I have the honor to report the condition of this ship as follows:

     Hull out side below water line, somewhat foul,four months since being cleaned and painted,

     Hull inside and Hull outside,above water line,-Good.

     MachineryGood with few minor repairs,

     2. Employment of ship:

Ist - 2I at,At anchor at Key West Florida,Occasional night picket duty,off Sand Key Light.

22nd,Started to Havana, When capture Spanish steamer” Buenaventura1

22nd, Night of, Made passage to Havana,to join fleet,

23rd -25th  ,Blockade off Mariel,

25th to 29th,-Making passage  ,with 4th Division, to Cienfuegos.

,  29th ,captured Spanish steamer“Argonauta”,

29th,night of, and 30th making passage to Havana with Dispatches,

Very Respectfully,     

W.Maynard.        

Commander, U.S.N.,

Commanding.  

Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 47. Addressed below close: “The Commander-in-Chief,/U.S.Naval Forces,/North Atlantic Station,” Bureau of Navigation stamp in right corner: “RECEIVED/FLAG-SHIP N. A. STATION/JUL 11 1898.” Docketed: “U.S.S.Nashville, 3rd rate,/At sea,April 30,I898./W. Maynard,/Commander, U.S.N,/Commanding./Report of Condition and/Employment of ship.”

Footnote 1: Nashville fired the first shot of the Spanish-American War when it captured the Buenaventura. See: Superintendent of the Library and Naval War Records Charles W. Stewart to Mr. C.Q. Chandler, 19 July 1909.

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