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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Rear Admiral Joseph N. Miller, Commander, Pacific Station, to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long

SEC.NAV.

U.S. Flagship Baltimore,

Honolulu, H.I., March 24, 1898.

Sir:-

     1.   I have the honor to confirm my telegram of this date, sent to the Navy Pay Office in San Francisco for transmission via:

Mohican HONOLULU NINETEENTH. Baltimore WILL PROBABLY SAIL HONG KONG TWENTY FOURTH. ENSIGN SMITH1 TO BENNINGTON”.

     2.   The Baltimore returned to harbor on the 19th instant at 9 A.M. from her target practice, having left on the 17th instant.

     3.   The Department’s cipher telegram of Feb. 26 to keep full of coal was received by the steamer Zealandia at 3:30 P.M., on the 19th instant, and coal was immediately ordered, working on Sunday loading the lighters.

     4.   The Mohican arrived at 4 P.M., on the 19th instant, after an excellent passage of less than nine days from San Francisco, with ammunition and 26 men to be transferred to the Baltimore. By the Mohican was received the Department’s No. 95476 of the 4th instant, relative to the transfer of ammunition and men to the Baltimore, and ordering her to proceed to Hong Kong;2 also directing the detachment of the Baltimore from the Pacific Station, and ordering me to hoist my flag on the BENNINGTON.3

     5.   In obedience to these orders, the Baltimore is coaled and provisioned, the ammunition has been transferred, and I expect her to sail for Hong Kong this afternoon.4

     6    In obedience to the Department’s telegram of the 11th instant, to transfer Ensign Smith to either the Mohican or BENNINGTON, I have to report that I have ordered him to the BENNINGTON.

Very respectfully,

J.N. Miller

Rear Admiral, U.S.Navy,

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

Pacific Station.

Source Note: CyS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 319. Addressed below close: “The Secretary of the Navy,/Navy Department, Washington, D.C.” Document reference: “25.”

Footnote 1: En. Harry E. Smith of gunboat Bennington.

Footnote 2: See, Long to Cmdr. George M. Book, 4 March 1898, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 319.

Footnote 3: A copy of this order to Miller has not been found.

Footnote 4: The Baltimore was ordered to carry ammunition to Commo. George Dewey’s Asiatic Squadron for use in the event of war with Spain. See: Long to Rear Admiral William A. Kirkland, 4 March 1898. 

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