even mines had been removed.

[Illustration: U. S. S. TEXAS.]

The battle-ship _Texas_ was assigned to duty off Matamoras, the works of
which were to be bombarded as a portion of the general programme for this
day while the troops were being landed. The men of the _Texas_ performed
their part well; the Socapa battery was quickly silenced; but not quite
soon enough to save the life of one brave bluejacket. The last shell fired
by the retreating Spaniards struck the battle-ship twenty feet abaft the
stem on the port side. It passed through the hull about three feet below
the main-deck line, and failed to explode until striking an iron stanchion
at the centre line of the berth-deck. Here were two guns' crews, and among
them the fragments of the shell flew in a deadly shower, killing one and
wounding eight. Later in the day the _Texas_ steamed out to sea to bury
the dead, and, this sad duty performed, returned before nightfall to her
station on the blockade.

_June 23._ General Shafter thus reported to the War Department:

"Daiquiri, June 23.--Had very fine voyage; lost less than fifty animals,
six or eight to-day; lost more putting them through the surf to land, than
on transports.

"Command as healthy as when we left; eighty men sick; only deaths, two men
drowned in landing; landings difficult; coast quite similar to that in
vicinity of San Francisco, and covered with dense growth of bushes.
Landing at Daiquiri unopposed; all points occupied by Spanish troops
heavily bombarded by navy to clear them out.

"Sent troops toward Santiago, and occupied Juragua, a naturally strong
place, this morning. Spanish troops retreating as soon as our advance was
known. Had no mounted troops, or could have captured them, about six
hundred all told.

"Railroad from there in. Have cars and engine in possession.

"With assistance of navy disembarked six thousand men yesterday, and as
many more to-day.

"Will get all troops off to-morrow, including light artillery and greater
portion of pack-train, probably all of it, with some of the wagons;
animals have to be jumped to the water and towed ashore.

"Had consultation with Generals Garcia, Rader and Castillo, on afternoon
of twentieth, twenty miles west of Santiago. These officers were
unanimously of the opinion that the landing should be made east of
Santiago. I had come to the same conclusion.

"General Garcia promises to join me at Juragua to-morrow with between
thr