Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet, to Commodore Winfield S. Schley, Commander, Flying Squadron
U. S. Flagship New York, 1st Rate.
St. Nicholas Channel,
May 27, 1898.
S I R :--
Every report, and particularly daily confidential reports received at Key West from Havana state Spanish Squadron has been in Santiago de Cuba from the 10th to the 25th instant inclusive, the 25th being the date of the last report received.
2. You will please proceed, with all possible dispatch, to Santiago to blockade that port.If, on arrival there, you receive positive information of the Spanish ships having left, you will follow them in pursuit.
Very respectfully,
WT Sampson
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Force
North Atlantic Squadron.
Source Note: TLS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 52. Addressed below close: “Commodore W. Schley,/Commanding Flying Squadron,/South Coast, Cuba.” Document reference: “No. 10.”
