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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Station, Squadron General Order No. 1

North Atlantic Station

u. s. flagship New York (1st Rate)

Key West, Florida,

March 26, 1898.

Squadron General Order No. 1.

     (1) - By direction of the Honorable Secretary of the Navy1 I have assumed Command of the U.S. Naval Force on the North Atlantic Station and hoisted my pennant on board of the Armored Cruiser New York at 3.10 p.m. to-day.

     (2) - All regulations, orders, etc., of my predecessor, Rear-Admiral Montgomery Sicard, will be complied with until further directions.2

     (3) - Orders to the Fleet will be issued from time to time by numbered series of General Orders, Circular Letters and Memoranda.

     (4) - The Staffs of the Commander-in-Chief will be composed of the following officers:

Personal Staff.

Captain F. E. Chadwick,3...............Chief of Staff,

Lieutenant Sydney A. Staunton, Asst. Chief of Staff,

Lieutenant Charles C. Marsh,..........Flag Secretary,

Ensign E. L. Bennett,4.................Flag Lieutenant,

Fleet Staff.

Chief Engineer Chas J. McConnell, Engineer of the Fleet,

Pay Inspector Arthur Burtis,....Paymaster of the Fleet,

Med. Inspector Michael C. Drennan, Surgeon of the Fleet.

     (5) - This Order will be read at General Muster on board all vessels of the Station upon its receipt.

William T. Sampson

Captain,

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force,

North Atlantic Station

Source Note: Cy, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 227.

Footnote 1: Secretary of the Navy John D. Long.

Footnote 2: RAdm. Sicard suffered from ill health during March so he was deemed medically unfit to command the North Atlantic Station. See: John D. Long to Sicard, 26 March 1898.

Footnote 3: Capt. French E. Chadwick

Footnote 4: Ens. Ernest L. Bennett

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