Commodore Winfield S. Schley, Commander, Second Squadron, to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long
Spanish Squadron came out of Santiago harbor this morning July 3rd at 9:30 and were all captured or destroyed in a running fight to the westward of about three and one half hours. Very few casualties in our fleet; Ellis,1 chief yeoman killed and one man wounded on the BROOKLYN. Reports from other ships not in yet. The Commander-in-Chief2 now superintending transfer of prisoners from Cristobal Colon which surrendered to the BROOKLYN and OREGON a 1:10 p.m. About one thousand prisoners in all including Spanish Admiral.3 Victory complete; details later.
Schley.
Source Note: C, DNA, RG 313, Entry 70. Addressed before open: “Secnavy, Washington,D.C., United States of America.” Handwritten across text between parallel lines: “not sent.” Document also features a cipher code at the bottom.
Footnote 1: Chief Yeoman George W. Ellis.
Footnote 2: RAdm. William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet.
Footnote 3: That is, Christóbal Colón and RAdm. Pascual Cervera y Topete.
