Aboard TEXAS, at the end of the Battle of
Santiago
By M. T. Dieuaide, War Correspondent
General:
This is an account of events that took palce on the TEXAS
at the conclusion of the Battle of Santiago.
The Account:
The battle of Santiago was
over, the chase was ended; we had fought the good fight, and the victory
was ours. The TEXAS had been in the thick of it
all, and now, early in the afternoon of July 8, 1898, she lay, with engines
stopped, off Rio Tarquino, sharing with the OREGON
and BROOKLYN in the surrender of the COLON.
When the admiral signaled, “Report casualties,” the TEXAS
was able to reply that not a man aboard bore so much as a scratch to testify
to the seriousness of the combat. The other American ships had been almost
equally fortunate. They lay in a semicircle about the COLON.
Nearly every man aboard was on deck. The dominant feeling was the natural
one of exultation, and far up the mountains floated the echoes of the Saxon
cheers. The TEXAS cheered the BROOKLYN,
the BROOKLYN cheered the TEXAS,
and both cheered the OREGON. The American commanders
called felicitations to one another across the water. From the OREGON
came the jubilant strains of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” On the bridge
of the TEXAS a group of hilarious officers surrounded
their commander, Captain Philip, who seemed noticeably
reserved and thoughtful. Suddenly he turned to his executive officer, and
said quietly, “Call all hands aft.” The five hundred men of the ship trooped
to the quarter-deck, which was still snow-white with the saltpeter from
the guns, and listened reverently while Captain Philip
offered thanks to God for their preservation from the perils of battle.
“I want,” said the captain, as he stood with bared head, “to make public
acknowledgment here that I have complete faith in God, the Father Almighty.
I want all of you, officers and crew, unless there be those who have conscientious
scruples against so doing, to lift your hats and in your hearts to offer
silent thanks to God.” As the strong tones of the captain’s voice died
away, every man stood reverently, for a moment or two, with bared and bowed
head. Many of the men were much affected. In the eyes of more than one
brawny Jacky I saw the glimmer of a moisture that was hastily brushed away.
As the men were dispersing, one big fellow called, “Three cheers for our
captain!” and they were given with a heartiness that fairly shook the ship.
Dieuaide, T. M., "A Historic Scene on the "TEXAS", The
Century (New York: The Century Company, May, 1899), Vol. 58, No. 1
118-119.
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