Naval History and Heritage Command

Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet, to Lieutenant Alexander Sharp, Jr.

U.S.Flagship New York, 1st Rate,            

Off Santiago de Cuba,            

June 6th,1898.         

Sir:-

     1. You will, at dark this evening, take position two miles to the westward of the Morro,1 and one mile from land, and will keep a vigilant lookout for torpedo boats. The Dolphin will occupy a similar position to the eastward of the port, the Suwanee to the southward, and there will be three picket launches lying inside your line; i.e. distributed on a circle drawn with a radius of one mile from the Morro as a centre.

     2. The alarm for the approach of the enemy’s vessels is two red Very signals,2 fired in quick succession. If a torpedo boat or boats, the two red should be at once followed by a green Very. This signal may be repeated if there is any doubt about its having been seen.

Very respectfully,

W.T.Sampson            

Rear Admiral,Comdr.-in-Chief,

U.S.Naval Force on North Atlantic Station.