Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles H. Allen to Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, June 6th 1898.
Sir:-
Five small vessels, viz: the “Dorothea”, “Hist”, “Aileen”, “Fish Hawk”,1 and one other not yet determined, have been ordered to join you for duty as picket boats. If, after their arrival, you can possibly spare the “St. Paul”,2 send her back to New York, as she is needed to guard the northern coasts against Spanish cruisers of the Normannia class,3 now ready at Cadiz.
Respectfully,
Chas H. Allen
Acting Secretary.
Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 47, Box 2. Addressed below close: “Rear Admiral Sampson, U. S. N.,/Comdg. N. A. Station.” Stamp: “RECEIVED/FLAG-SHIP N.A. STATION/JUN 13 1898.” Document is on Navy Department stationery.
Footnote 1: Dorothea was purchased for use as a gun boat; Hist was at the battle of Santiago de Cuba and served with distinction; Aileen was not serviceable; and the screw steamer Fish Hawk served on blockade duty off Havana. DANFS
Footnote 2: St. Paul served as a troop transport and warship in the Caribbean. DANFS
Footnote 3: Normannia was a German steamer purchased by the Spanish government and converted into an auxiliary cruiser renamed Patriota. Allen is using the words “Normannia class” as a generalization for converted auxiliary cruisers. Nick Mutiukov, “Auxiliary Cruiser PATRIOTA,” The Spanish American War Centennial Website, accessed February 12, 2015, http://www.spanamwar.com/Patriota.htm.
