faint-heartedness. The crew of the "Yankee," made up of men whose
previous lives had been those of absolute peace, who had never heard a
shot fired in anger before their arrival at Santiago, who had left home
and business in defence of the flag--these men went about their
preparations for attacking the fortifications with as little apparent
concern as if it were simply a yachting trip.

There was no holding back, no hesitancy, no looks of concern or anxiety,
but when the signal to advance inshore appeared on the "New York," at
six bells (seven o'clock), there was a feeling of relief that the time
of waiting was over.

We were to be in it at last.

The flagship's signal to advance in formation was obeyed at once. Moving
in double column, the fleet stood in toward the batteries. The first
line, as we saw from the after port, was composed of the "Brooklyn,"
"Texas," "Massachusetts," and "Marblehead." The line to which the
"Yankee" was attached, included, besides that vessel, the "New York,"
"Oregon," "Iowa," and "New Orleans." When within three thousand yards
from shore, the first line turned toward the west, leaving us to steam
in the opposite direction.

The batteries ashore could now be plainly distinguished. Morro Castle,
grim and defiant, seemed to ignore our coming, if the absence of life
was any proof. Lower down on the other side of the entrance where the
Estrella and Catalena batteries were located, there seemed to be more
activity. Men could also be seen running about in some new batteries a
little to the eastward of Morro Castle. It was evident to us at once
that the enemy had not anticipated an attack on such a rainy, windy day.