LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The naval reserves leaving new York—­going off in the tugboat to
man the “Yankee”
      Frontispiece

“That fat man in the cellar wants me to sleep in A bag—­”

“The gig was lowered”

“The men on the stages”

“Stand by, men.  Be ready fob instant action”

“The ‘Yankee’ dropped her anchor off Tompkinsville”

“With A frightful roar the defective cartridge exploded”

“The six-pounders on the ‘Yankee’s’ forecastle joined in the chorus”

“Clear ship for action!”

THE BOMBARDMENT OF MORRO CASTLE, SANTIAGO

ON THE GUN DECK DURING THE BOMBARDMENT

The searchlight “Sweeping back and forth across the black of the horizon”

“There was temporary confusion”

“The fusillade was lively”

“The spar deck was covered with red shellac”

“The marines aired their hammocks on the forecastle deck”

“He got his orders from the bridge”

“All you men who want to go in swimming may do so”

MARCHING THROUGH CITY HALL PARK, NEW YORK CITY

PREFACE.

When the important events of the first part of April, 1898, were shaping themselves toward an inevitable conflict between Spain and the United States of America, the authorities at Washington began to perfect their plans for an immediate increase of the navy.  The Naval Militia of the country, of whom Assistant Secretary Theodore Roosevelt had a very high opinion, came in for early attention, and word was sent to the different States to prepare for service.  Several days previous to the actual outbreak of war, messages were forwarded from the Naval Reserve receiving ship “New Hampshire,” lying at a dock in the East River, to a number of young men, members of the Naval Militia, residing in New York City.  These summons contained simply a request to report at once on board the ship, but they resulted in a most curious and interesting transformation—­in