Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet to Captain Theodore F. Jewell, Captain Charles J. Barclay, and Captain Nicoll Ludlow
U.S. Flagship New York, 1st Rate,
Key West, Florida,
May 3, 1898.
S I R :--
I have established the following rendezvous for the vessels detailed for the Squadron to operate East of Cuba,1 seven miles North of Cruz del padre Light-House, Lattitude 23° 25’ N., Longitude 80° 55’ W.
2.Immediately, upon receiving these instructions, you will proceed with the vessel under your command to the rendezvous at a speed of ten knots.2
3. The flagship, Iowa, Indiana, Detroit, Wompatuck, and Collier Niagara will be at the rendezvous not later than fourteen and one-half hours after the departure of the Porter from Key West.3
Very respectfully,
W.T. Sampson
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy,
Commander in Chief, U.S.Naval Force
North Atlantic Station.
Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 48. Addressed below close: “The Commanding Officer/U. S. S. Montgomery---No. 4./U. S. S. Amphitrite---No. 4./U. S. S. Terror,------No. 4.” Note: “No. 4,” was a document reference number.
Footnote 1: “Squadron to operate East of Cuba...” is a division Sampson temporarily created from the North Atlantic Squadron to hunt for Adm. Pasqual Cervera y Topete’s Spanish squadron on its way to the Caribbean from the Cape Verde Islands.
Footnote 2: Capt. Theodore F. Jewell of Montgomery, Capt. Charles J. Barclay of Amphitrite, and Capt. Nicoll Ludlow of Terror.
Footnote 3: At the time this message was written, the Montgomery was at Havana, Amphitrite at Matanzas, and Terror at Cardenas. Sampson ordered the commanding officer of the Porter, Lieut. John C. Fremont, to inform each ship so all three ships would know when to make the rendezvous. Fremont was also ordered to bring Porter to the rendezvous point. See, Sampson to Lt. John C. Fremont, 3 May 1898, TDS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 49.
