yards of the shore Battry and did knock down the Spanish flag
with an 8 inch shell and knocked over one of there Big Guns. I belive
if the flag ship had not called us off Capt Clark would have went in
along side of old Morro and give him a tutching up.

_June_ 28. I am geting tired of trying to keep cases on this thing,
there is nothing doing but laying around hear like a lot of sharks
watching for a fish.

_July_ 4. The fish has come out to see us. On the 3rd the Spanish fleet
came out of the Harbor to fight and get a way if posable. (I would have
put this down on the 3rd But I dident have time and was too tired that
night so I put it off for today.) Well the Fleet came out and went to
Davy Joneses locker. it was Just 9.25 A.M., first call had sounded on
our ship for Quarters and we all had our best dudds on; we wer going to
listen to the Articles of War this morning and to have chirch right
affter, But we never did. all of a suden the Ordly on watch made a dive
for the Cabin head first, and told the old man the Fleet was coming out
of the Harbor. the old man jumpt up a standing. as soon as some of the
men seen the ships there, they went to there Quarters with out any
further delay. I was standing on the Quarter Deck waiting for the last
call to go. I heard the news and looking around the affter Terets seen
the first one. I thought she looked Biger than a Mountain. But then I
thought affterwards we could cut her down to her natchral size. of
corse it takes longer to tell about it than it taken us to get ready,
for we wer allways ready, and all we had to do was to sound the Bells
and stand By our Guns, they wer allways loaded so all we had to do was
to turn on the fors draught and pull the triger.

By 9.27 the Oregon fired the first shot of the Battle of July 3rd. 1898
at the first ship that come out of the Harbor. I dont remember the
ships as they come out, But we went in to meet them and passed them som
good shots as they cep coming. about 7 or 9 minuts after they got
started good, one of our 6 inch guns blew up one of the Torpedo Boats,
struck her squar amidships, she sunk like a rock with all on board. and
right hear is where I had to stop for a moment to admire one of there
Guners. I do think he was one of the bravest men I ever had the
pleasure to look upon. That man must have known he was going to a shure
Deth, he stud on Deck and cep firing at us all the time, and the last
time I seen him he was Just going up