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Capture of Guam
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Capture of Guam
The capture of Guam from Spain by the United States took place in a bloodless engagement during the Spanish–American War. The U.S. Navy sent a single cruiser, USS Charleston, and three vessels of marines to capture the island of Guam, which was a Spanish possession. The Spanish garrison on the island had no knowledge of the war and no real ability to resist the American forces. They surrendered without resistance, and the island passed into American control. The event was the only conflict of the Spanish–American War on Guam.
Guam had been under Spanish control since 1668. By the time of the war, Guam had been neglected and there was only a small Spanish military presence. The last message the authorities on Guam had received from Spain was dated 14 April 1898, a month before war was declared.[citation needed]
U.S. Navy Captain Henry Glass, captain of the cruiser Charleston, set sail from San Francisco to Manila on May 21, 1898. According to the ship's muster roll on May 5, most of the 233 sailors on board for the coming voyage were fresh recruits who had joined the Navy after the USS Maine blew up in February that same year. There was also a 30-person U.S. Marine contingent on the ship along with three journalists. The Marine contingent was commanded by Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers. The Charleston had originally set sail on May 18, but on the morning of May 19 the ship had to return to port for condenser tube repairs. After completing repairs, the ship left port again on May 21. The ship then stopped in Honolulu to meet up with three transport ships: City of Peking, City of Sydney, and Australia. The transports carried the following military units:
On June 4th Glass and his convoy left Honolulu with sealed orders. On June 5th Glass called everyone to the quarterdeck and opened his orders. They read:
Upon the receipt of this order, which is forwarded by the steamship 'City of Pekin' to you at Honolulu, you will proceed, with the 'Charleston' and the 'City of Pekin' in company, to Manila, Philippine Islands. On your way, you are hereby directed to stop at the Spanish Island of Guam. You will use such force as may be necessary to capture the port of Guam, making prisoners of the governor and other officials and any armed force that may be there. You will also destroy any fortifications on said island and any Spanish naval vessels that may be there, or in the immediate vicinity. These operations at the Island of Guam should be very brief, and should not occupy more than one or two days. Should you find any coal at the Island of Guam, you will make such use of it as you consider desirable. It is left to your discretion whether or not you destroy it. From the Island of Guam, proceed to Manila and report to Rear-Admiral George Dewey, U.S.N., for duty in the squadron under his command.
The message created intense excitement and enthusiasm amongst the American sailors. Many of them immediately went to the ship's library and eagerly scrutinized charts, geographies, histories, and encyclopaedias for information. While the sailors were in the ship's library learning about Guam, Glass altered the direction of the cruiser towards the new destination. The sailors on the transports were stirred when they noticed the change in direction, and rumors were spread. Some thought the expedition was to hoist the American flag over the Caroline Islands and remain there until reinforcements arrived for a stronger descent upon Manila. Others guessed that the Charleston was sailing to some mysterious Spanish island, complete with impregnable fortifications, a formidable force of Spanish soldiers, and vast quantities of coal. The rumors stopped the next day, when the expedition's objectives were wigwagged to the transports.
Along with the sealed orders were warnings of possible Spanish men-o-war in San Luis d'Apra, the main port of Guam, and notification of it being protected by a heavy battery of guns. The existence of the powerful coastal defences was verified by reputable travelers who had visited the island in 1895 or 1896. Definite information of the size of the Spanish garrison was not given. In the absence of direct knowledge, Glass had to assume that there might be more than a thousand fighting men on the island who were thoroughly familiar with the terrain. Glass held a conference on the Australia and invited General Anderson, Commander William C. Gibson, naval officer in charge of the transports, and the captains of the three troop carriers were invited to participate in the discussions. Also present at the meeting was Captain T. A. Hallet, third officer of Australia and a former whaling captain, who had been to the Mariana Islands many times. Hallet told the group that on his last visit to Guam, San Luis d'Apra was strongly fortified. Fort Santa Cruz and the battery on Point Orote, he stated, were efficiently manned and equipped. After a complete appraisal of all the known and unknown factors in the impending battle, the officers completed the arrangements for the attack on Guam.
It was soon noticed by the troops that Charleston expected a fight, since the cruiser began firing sub-caliber ammunition at boxes tossed from the City of Peking. This mild training continued until the afternoon of 15 June when Charleston started circling and firing service charges at pyramidal cloth targets set adrift from the cruiser. The range was about 2 mi (1.7 nmi; 3.2 km), and the gun crews (which were composed largely of recruits who had not seen combat, under the command of Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers) were shooting accurately enough to cause Glass to smile pleasantly. By the time the convoy crossed the 180th meridian, the officers and men felt they were ready for the enemy.
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Capture of Guam
The capture of Guam from Spain by the United States took place in a bloodless engagement during the Spanish–American War. The U.S. Navy sent a single cruiser, USS Charleston, and three vessels of marines to capture the island of Guam, which was a Spanish possession. The Spanish garrison on the island had no knowledge of the war and no real ability to resist the American forces. They surrendered without resistance, and the island passed into American control. The event was the only conflict of the Spanish–American War on Guam.
Guam had been under Spanish control since 1668. By the time of the war, Guam had been neglected and there was only a small Spanish military presence. The last message the authorities on Guam had received from Spain was dated 14 April 1898, a month before war was declared.[citation needed]
U.S. Navy Captain Henry Glass, captain of the cruiser Charleston, set sail from San Francisco to Manila on May 21, 1898. According to the ship's muster roll on May 5, most of the 233 sailors on board for the coming voyage were fresh recruits who had joined the Navy after the USS Maine blew up in February that same year. There was also a 30-person U.S. Marine contingent on the ship along with three journalists. The Marine contingent was commanded by Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers. The Charleston had originally set sail on May 18, but on the morning of May 19 the ship had to return to port for condenser tube repairs. After completing repairs, the ship left port again on May 21. The ship then stopped in Honolulu to meet up with three transport ships: City of Peking, City of Sydney, and Australia. The transports carried the following military units:
On June 4th Glass and his convoy left Honolulu with sealed orders. On June 5th Glass called everyone to the quarterdeck and opened his orders. They read:
Upon the receipt of this order, which is forwarded by the steamship 'City of Pekin' to you at Honolulu, you will proceed, with the 'Charleston' and the 'City of Pekin' in company, to Manila, Philippine Islands. On your way, you are hereby directed to stop at the Spanish Island of Guam. You will use such force as may be necessary to capture the port of Guam, making prisoners of the governor and other officials and any armed force that may be there. You will also destroy any fortifications on said island and any Spanish naval vessels that may be there, or in the immediate vicinity. These operations at the Island of Guam should be very brief, and should not occupy more than one or two days. Should you find any coal at the Island of Guam, you will make such use of it as you consider desirable. It is left to your discretion whether or not you destroy it. From the Island of Guam, proceed to Manila and report to Rear-Admiral George Dewey, U.S.N., for duty in the squadron under his command.
The message created intense excitement and enthusiasm amongst the American sailors. Many of them immediately went to the ship's library and eagerly scrutinized charts, geographies, histories, and encyclopaedias for information. While the sailors were in the ship's library learning about Guam, Glass altered the direction of the cruiser towards the new destination. The sailors on the transports were stirred when they noticed the change in direction, and rumors were spread. Some thought the expedition was to hoist the American flag over the Caroline Islands and remain there until reinforcements arrived for a stronger descent upon Manila. Others guessed that the Charleston was sailing to some mysterious Spanish island, complete with impregnable fortifications, a formidable force of Spanish soldiers, and vast quantities of coal. The rumors stopped the next day, when the expedition's objectives were wigwagged to the transports.
Along with the sealed orders were warnings of possible Spanish men-o-war in San Luis d'Apra, the main port of Guam, and notification of it being protected by a heavy battery of guns. The existence of the powerful coastal defences was verified by reputable travelers who had visited the island in 1895 or 1896. Definite information of the size of the Spanish garrison was not given. In the absence of direct knowledge, Glass had to assume that there might be more than a thousand fighting men on the island who were thoroughly familiar with the terrain. Glass held a conference on the Australia and invited General Anderson, Commander William C. Gibson, naval officer in charge of the transports, and the captains of the three troop carriers were invited to participate in the discussions. Also present at the meeting was Captain T. A. Hallet, third officer of Australia and a former whaling captain, who had been to the Mariana Islands many times. Hallet told the group that on his last visit to Guam, San Luis d'Apra was strongly fortified. Fort Santa Cruz and the battery on Point Orote, he stated, were efficiently manned and equipped. After a complete appraisal of all the known and unknown factors in the impending battle, the officers completed the arrangements for the attack on Guam.
It was soon noticed by the troops that Charleston expected a fight, since the cruiser began firing sub-caliber ammunition at boxes tossed from the City of Peking. This mild training continued until the afternoon of 15 June when Charleston started circling and firing service charges at pyramidal cloth targets set adrift from the cruiser. The range was about 2 mi (1.7 nmi; 3.2 km), and the gun crews (which were composed largely of recruits who had not seen combat, under the command of Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers) were shooting accurately enough to cause Glass to smile pleasantly. By the time the convoy crossed the 180th meridian, the officers and men felt they were ready for the enemy.
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