s going over it the sixth
wagon would be on the axle tree, and in taking up some artillery I
had fourteen horses on one battery that was usually drawn by four,
and even with that number it went out of sight, and we had to leave
it and dig it out after the water had subsided."

Admiral Sampson's report, dated August 3d, was published October
23d, and covers the conduct of the fleet under his command, in
its operations in the West Indies, for about two months prior to
the destruction of Admiral Cervera's ships on July 3. It was made
up largely of official dispatches and the movements of the fleet,
with explanations and comment by the Admiral, and begins with a
statement of the determination reached by the Navy department to send
a squadron to the Windward Passage for the purpose of observation,
because of the information received of the sailing, on April 29,
of Admiral Cervera's squadron from the Cape Verde Islands.

On the voyage eastward from the naval base at Key West, which began
on May 4, Admiral Sampson reports there was experienced endless
trouble and delay because of the inefficiency of the two monitors
accompanying the other ships, and which had to be taken in tow. Their
coal supply was so small that it was at once evident that they must
either frequently coal or be towed. The Admiral says:

"Had the sea been rough, or had the enemy appeared at this juncture,
the squadron would have been in a much better position for an
engagement had the monitors been elsewhere. Subsequently, when engaging
the batteries of San Juan, it was evident that their shooting was bad.

"Owing to the quick rolling of these vessels, even in a moderate sea,
they were unable to fire with any degree of accuracy."

Among the telegrams received by the Admiral from the department at
Washington when off Cape Haytien was the following:

Washington, D.C., May 6.--Do not risk or cripple your vessels against
fortifications as to prevent from soon afterwards successfully
fighting Spanish fleet, composed of Pelayo, Carlos V., Oquendo,
Vizcaya, Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, four deep sea torpedo boats,
if they should appear on this side. _Long_.

It was determined to go to Porto Rico, and the squadron arrived off
San Juan on the morning of the 12th and the bombardment of that place
ensued. Regarding his action at this place the Admiral says:

"It was clear to my own mind that the squadron would not have any great
difficulty in forcing the surr