rtainty a complete loss.

"11. I regard this complete and important victory over the Spanish forces
as the successful finish of several weeks of arduous and close blockade,
so stringent and effective during the night that the enemy was deterred
from making the attempt to escape at night, and deliberately elected to
make the attempt in daylight. That this was the case I was informed by the
commanding officer of the _Cristobal Colon_.

"12. It seems proper to briefly describe here the manner in which this was
accomplished. The harbour of Santiago is naturally easy to blockade, there
being but one entrance and that a narrow one, and the deep water extending
close up to the shore line, presenting no difficulties of navigation
outside of the entrance. At the time of my arrival before the port, June
1st, the moon was at its full, and there was sufficient light during the
night to enable any movement outside of the entrance to be detected; but
with the waning of the moon and the coming of dark nights there was
opportunity for the enemy to escape, or for his torpedo-boats to make an
attack upon the blockading vessels.

"It was ascertained with fair conclusiveness that the _Merrimac_, so
gallantly taken into the channel on June 3d, did not obstruct it. I
therefore maintained the blockade as follows: To the battle-ships was
assigned the duty, in turn, of lighting the channel. Moving up to the
port, at a distance of from one to two miles from the Morro,--dependent
upon the condition of the atmosphere,--they threw a search-light beam
directly up the channel and held it steadily there.

"This lighted up the entire breadth of the channel for half a mile inside
of the entrance so brilliantly that the movement of small boats could be
detected.

"Why the batteries never opened fire upon the search-light-ship was always
a matter of surprise to me; but they never did. Stationed close to the
entrance of the port were three picket-launches, and, at a little distance
further out, three small picket-vessels--usually converted yachts--and, when
they were available, one or two of our torpedo-boats.

"With this arrangement there was at least a certainty that nothing could
get out of the harbour undetected.

"After the arrival of the army, when the situation forced upon the Spanish
admiral a decision, our vigilance increased. The night blockading distance
was reduced to two miles for all vessels, and a battle-ship was placed
alongside the