Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Auxiliary Cruisers in the Spanish-American War

Navy Department,

Library and Naval War Records,

Washington, D. C.,

November 27, 1907.     

     Services performed by Auxiliary Converted Yachts during the Spanish American War, in 1898.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AILEEN,    Auxiliary Naval Force.

Buccaneer, Commissioned June 13; Out of commission Sept. 12, 1898.

Cruised on Atlantic coast to Florida.

DOROTHEA, Commissioned June 1; Out of commission Sept. 20, 1898.

Cruised on Atlantic coast and to Havana, Cuba.

EAGLE,    Commissioned April 5, 1898.

Participated in prize steamer ARGONAUTA captured by U.S.S. NASHVILLE, April 29.

Engagement with Spanish torpedo boat GALICA, Cienfuegos, Cuba, (the first naval combat of the war) Apr. 29.

Destroyed light-ship off Diego Perez Island and searched for submarine cable connecting Batabano with Cienfuegos, May 11.

Engagement with cavalry, Rio Hondo (Point Muno), Cuba, June 29.

Captured schooner GALLITO, July 5.

Chased ashore and destroyed gunboat SAN DOMINGO, estimated value $900,000, July 12.1

Captured Spanish schooner Dolores, July 24,

ELFRIDA,   Commissioned June 30; Out of commission Sept. 14, 1898.

Cruised between New York and New London.

ENQUIRER

FREE LANCE, Auxiliary Naval Force.

FROLIC,    Commissioned July 5; Out of commission Sept. 27, 1898.

North Atlantic Station from June 2, to close of hostilities.

GLOUCESTER, Battle of Santiago de Cuba with Cervera’s2 fleet, July 3.

Capture of Guanica, Porto Rico, July 25.

HAWK.     North Atlantic Station from beginning of war till close of hostilities.

HAWK      Destroyed blockade-runner Mariel, Cuba, July 5, 1898.

Commissioned April 5; Out of commission Sep. 14, 1898.

HIST,      Commissioned May 13, 1898.

North Atlantic Station from June 24 to close of hostilities.

Engagement at Manzanillo, Cuba, June 30,

Captured schooner NICKERSON, July ---

Cutting cable, Manzanillo to Santa Cruz del Sur, July 10.

Operations around Cape Cruz.

Bombardment of Manzanillo, August 12.

Served July 3, rescuing crew of VIZCAYA, etc.

HORNET    Commissioned April 12, 1898.

Engagement, Manzanillo, Cuba, June 30.

HUNTRESS,  Auxiliary Naval Force.

KANAWHA,  Commissioned July 26, 1898.

Auxiliary Naval Force.

INCA,      Auxiliary Naval Force.

MAYFLOWER, North Atlantic Training Station from beginning of war to close of hostilities.

Commissioned May 1; Out of commission Sept.19,1898.

ONEIDA,   North Atlantic Station from June 2 to close of hostilities.

RESTLESS,   Cruised between ports in New York and Connecticut.

SCORPION,  Commission April 11, 1898, and reported for duty as one of the Flying Squadron.

Blockade duty off Santiago, June 10--29.

Engagement, Manzanillo, Cuba, July 1,

Commended by Admiral Sampson.3

Blockade duty at Cape Cruz, Cuba, July 30-July 5.

Blockade, Manzanillo, July 10-15.

Engagement, Manzanillo, July 18.

SHEARWATER, No service found.

SIREN,          Commissioned June 24; Out of commission Sept.24,1898.

Blockade duty off Havana, Cuba, July 31 to August 8.

STRANGER,  Commissioned June 30; Out of commission Sept. 24,1898.

Cruising between Key West and Cuba, August.

SYLPH,     Commissioned August 18, 1898.

Cruising in waters of Maryland and Virginia.

SYLVIA      Commissioned June 29; Out of commission Sep. 16, 1898.

North Atlantic Station from August 2, to close of hostilities. Cruising between New York, Key West and Havana.

VIKING,    Commissioned May 11; out of commission Sep. 22, 1898.

North Atlantic Station July 22 to close of hostilities.

Cruising on Atlantic Coast.

VIXEN,     No[r]th Atlantic Station, May 12 to close of hostilities.

Battle of Santiago with Cervera’s fleet, July 3.

WASP,     Commissioned April 11; Out of commission Sept. 27, 1898.

Engagement Nipe Bay, Cuba, July 21.

Assisting landing of troops, Cabanas, Cuba, May 12.

YANKTON,  Commissioned May 16.

Chase of steamer off Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Engagement at Point Muno, Cuba, June 29.

Source Note: TD, RG 45 Entry 464. Handwritten at the top of the first page: “W #4501. Trans. from Corres. files.”

Footnote 1: In an after-action report of 12 July, the commander of EAGLE, William H.H. Southerland, called this the steamer Santo Domingo. See: Southerland to George C. Remey, 12 July 1898.

Footnote 2: Adm. Pascual Cervera y Topete.

Footnote 3: RAdm. William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet. 

Related Content