“The fire from the rapid-fire batteries of the battle-ships appears to have been remarkably destructive. An examination of the stranded vessels shows that the _Almirante Oquendo_ especially had suffered terribly from this fire. Her sides are everywhere pierced, and her decks were strewn with the charred remains of those who had fallen. “15. The reports of Commodore W. S. Schley and the commanding officers are enclosed. “16. A board, appointed by me several days ago, has made a critical examination of the stranded vessels, both with a view of reporting upon the result of our fire and the military features involved, and of reporting upon the chance of saving any of them, and of wrecking the remainder. The report of the board will be speedily forwarded. Very respectfully, “W. T. SAMPSON, “_Rear-Admiral U. S. Navy, Commander-in-Chief_ _U. S. Naval Force, North Atlantic Station._ “_The Secretary of the Navy, Navy Department, Washington, D. C._” A letter from Captain Chadwick of the flag-ship _New York_, to his wife, is an entertaining addition to the story of this most marvellous sea fight: “FLAGSHIP NEW YORK, July 4, 1898. “Yesterday was a wonderful day, as you will know in a few hours after my writing this. “We were in a rather disgruntled frame of mind on account of a little note from Shafter. He wanted to know why the navy could not go under a destructive fire as well as the army. It was decided to go and have a consultation with him, explain the situation, and lay our plans before him, which were to countermine the harbour, going in at the same time, and also trying to carry the Morro by assault with one thousand marines landed in Estrella cove. “It was arranged we were to go to Siboney about 9.30, so Sampson, Staunton, and I put on our leggings, got some sandwiches, filled a flask, and the ship started to go the seven miles to Siboney, where we were to find horses and a cavalry escort. “We were within a mile or so of the place when a message came to me that a ship was coming out, and by the time I was on deck I found the _New York_ turned around, and headed back, and there they were, coming out one after the other, and putting west as hard as they could go.