“The consignee at Curacoa was a Spanish officer. He said there had been another change of base, and that the coal was wanted at Santiago de Cuba. I tried to cable my owners for instructions, but found that the cables had been cut. Under the circumstances there was nothing for me to do but to go to Santiago. By this time I was pretty well convinced that the cargo was for Cervera. I suspected that coal had been made a contraband of war, so I wasn’t a bit surprised when the _St. Paul_ brought us to, with a shot, three and a half miles from shore.” In the prize court it was decided to confiscate the coal, and release the steamer. The President issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand men. Three troop-ships, laden with soldiers, sailed from San Francisco for Manila. _May 26._ The battle-ship _Oregon_, which left San Francisco March 19th, arrived at Key West. _May 27._ The Spanish torpedo-boat destroyer arrived at San Juan de Porto Rico. _May 28._ From Commodore Dewey the following cablegram was received: “CAVITE, May 25th, via Hongkong, May 27th. “_Secretary Navy, Washington_:—No change in the situation of the blockade. Is effective. It is impossible for the people of Manila to buy provisions, except rice. “The captain of the _Olympia_, Gridley, condemned by medical survey. Is ordered home. Leaves by Occidental and Oriental steamship from Hongkong the twenty-eighth. Commander Lamberton appointed commander of the _Olympia_.” _May 29._ Maj.-Gen. Wesley Merritt issued an order formally announcing that he had taken command of the Philippine forces and expeditions. _May 31._ United States troops board transports for Cuba. The beginning of June saw the opening of the first regular campaign of the war, and it is eminently proper the operations around and about Santiago de Cuba be told in a continuous narrative, rather than with any further attempt at giving the news from the various parts of the world in chronological order. Therefore such events, aside from the Santiago campaign, as are worthy a place in history, will be set down in regular sequence after certain deeds of the boys of ’98 have been related in such detail as is warranted by the heroism displayed. CHAPTER VIII. HOBSON AND THE MERRIMAC. _May 29._ The blockading fleet, under command of Commodore Schley, off Santiago de Cuba, was composed of the _Brooklyn_, _Iowa_, _Massachusetts_, _Texas_, _New Orleans_, _Marblehead_, and _Vixen_. At about midnight on May 29th the officer of the deck on board the _Texas_ saw, by aid of his night-glass, two low-lying, swiftly-running steamers stealing out of Santiago Harbour, and keeping well within the shadows of the land. As soon as might be thereafter the war-vessel’s search-lights were turned full on, and at the same moment the sleeping crew were awakened.