the brick fort and earthworks at Caimanera, at the
terminus of the railroad leading to the city of Guantanamo, demolishing
them entirely after an hour and a half of firing. When the Spaniards fled
from the fortifications, the _St. Paul_ shelled them until they were
hidden in the surrounding forest.

An hour or more after the bombardment ceased the _Marblehead's_ steam
launch began dragging the harbour near the fort for mines. One was found
and taken up, and while it was being towed to the war-ship a party of
Spaniards on shore opened fire. The launch headed toward shore and began
banging away, but the bow gun finally kicked overboard, carrying the
gunner with it. At this moment the enemy beat a prompt retreat; the gunner
was pulled inboard, and the bluejackets continued their interrupted work.

_June 17._ Next day the batteries on Hicacal Point and Hospital Cay were
shelled, the _Marblehead_ and the _St. Paul_ attending to the first, and
the _Suwanee_ caring for the latter, while the _Dolphin_ and even the
collier _Scindia_ fired a few shots for diversion. The task was concluded
in less than half an hour, and had no more than come to an end when a
small sloop was sighted off the entrance to the bay.

The _Marblehead's_ steam launch was sent in pursuit, and an hour later
returned with the prize, which proved to be the _Chato_. Her crew of five
were taken on board the _Marblehead_ as prisoners.

_June 18._ The active little steam launch made another capture next day
while cruising outside the bay; a nameless sloop, on which were four men
who claimed to have been sent from the lighthouse at Cape Maysi to
Guantanamo City for oil. There were strong reasons for believing this
party had come to spy out the position of the American ships, and all were
transferred to the _Marblehead_.

The crew of the _Oregon_ had gun practice again on this day when they
shelled and destroyed a blockhouse three miles up the bay, killing, so it
was reported, no less than twenty of the enemy.

The first vessel of a long-expected fleet of transports, carrying the
second detachment of General Shafter's army, hove in sight of Admiral
Sampson's squadron on the evening of June 18th, and next morning at
daylight the launches of the _New York_ and _Massachusetts_ reconnoitred
the shore between Cabanas, two miles off the entrance to Santiago Harbour,
and Guayaganaco, two miles farther west, in search of a landing-place.

Lieutenant Harlow, in comman