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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Caspar F. Goodrich to the Officer Commanding Cuban Forces in Vicinity of Manzanillo

C O P Y.

U.S.S.NEWARK,          

Off Manzanillo, Cuba, 

August 13th, 1898.

Sir:-

     The protocol of peace between the United States and Spain was signed yesterday in Washington and an armistice proclaimed by the President.1 Pending the receipt of the complete articles, I must beg that you at once desist from all demonstration and cease hostilities against the Spanish forces.

     I beg you, therefore, to withdraw your troops from the neighborhood of Manzanillo in order that they may not serve as an excuse for disturbances. As soon as definite information is received from Washington either I or my successor, should I not be here, will immediately communicate them to you for guidance.

     I must further request you to remove any restrictions which you have felt yourself obliged to impose upon the free coming and going of residents of Manzanillo. War being at an end free entrance and exit on the part of all so wishing is, as you will perceive, rendered necessary. In particular I allude to any persons formerly residents of Manzanillo who have taken refuge in the country and whom you have thought fit to forbid to return.

     If in any way I can be helpful to you and the men whom you command, I beg you let me know without delay.

              I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Signed C.F.Goodrich,        

Captain U.S.Navy            

Commanding U.S.Naval and         

Military Forces Present.         

Source Note: TCy, DNA, AFNRC, M625, Roll 238. Addressed below close: “TO/THE OFFICER IN COMMAND OF THE CUBAN FORCES IN THE/VICINITY OF MANZANILLO, CUBA.” There were two Cuban Insurgent generals operating in the vicinity of Manzanillo: Jesús Sablón y Moreno, who used the nom de guerre Jesús Rabi, and Salvador Hernández y Rios. See: Lt. Lucien Young to Goodrich, 13 August 1898.

Footnote 1: President William McKinley. For the text of the “protocol of peace,” see: Peace Protocol, 12 August 1898.

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