“_Day, State Department_:—Flag raised Friday, the twelfth, at noon. Ceremonies of transfer produced excellent impression. (Signed) “SEWALL.” CHAPTER XV. THE PORTO RICAN CAMPAIGN. _July 20._ With bands playing and thirty thousand people cheering, the first expedition to Porto Rico left Charleston, S. C., at seven o’clock in the evening, under command of Maj.-Gen. J. H. Wilson. The Second and Third Wisconsin and Sixteenth Pennsylvania regiments, and two companies of the Sixth Illinois, made up the list of troops. _July 21._ General Miles accompanied the expedition bound for Porto Rico, which left Guantanamo Bay, made up of eight transports convoyed by the _New Orleans_, _Annapolis_, _Cincinnati_, _Leyden_, and _Wasp_. _July 22._ An expedition under command of Brig.-Gen. Theo. Schwan left Tampa on five transports, bound for Porto Rico. _July 25._ The expedition under the command of Major-General Miles landed at Guanica de Porto Rico, the _Gloucester_, in charge of Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright, steaming into the harbour in order to reconnoitre the place. With the fleet waiting outside, the gallant little fighting yacht _Gloucester_ braved the mines which were supposed to be in this harbour, and, upon sounding, found that there were five fathoms of water close inshore. [Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL MILES.] The Spaniards were completely taken by surprise. Almost the first they knew of the approach of the army of invasion was the firing of a gun from the _Gloucester_, saucily demanding that the Spaniards haul down the flag of Spain, which was floating from the flagstaff in front of a blockhouse standing to the east of the village. The first 3-pounders were aimed at the hills right and left of the bay and in order to scare the enemy, the fighting yacht purposely avoiding firing into the town. The _Gloucester_ then hove to within about six hundred yards of the shore, and lowered a launch, having on board a colt rapid-fire gun and thirty men, under the command of Lieutenant Huse. She was sent ashore without encountering any opposition. Quartermaster Beck thereupon told Yeoman Lacey to haul down the Spanish flag, which was done, and then they raised the first United States flag to float over Porto Rican soil. Suddenly about thirty Spaniards opened fire with Mauser rifles upon the American party. Lieutenant Huse and his men responded with great gallantry, the Colt gun doing effective work. Norman, who received Admiral Cervera’s surrender, and Wood, a volunteer lieutenant, shared the honours with Lieutenant Huse.