The shore batteries at this time
began a rapid fire on the _Massachusetts_, but she was soon beyond their
range. The fire was then turned on the _New Orleans_; the shells from
this vessel struck the large battery on the hill above Morro Castle, and
a great cloud of dust and debris rose in the air as the shells burst.
They must have done considerable damage; the shells which followed sent
portions of the wall of Morro Castle tumbling down, a mass of ruins.
Almost every shot found a mark in either the batteries or vessels. It
was the _Iowa's_ turn next; her shells made things lively for the
Spanish fleet in the harbor, although it is believed she was not
successful in hitting any of the Spanish vessels. The little _Vixen_
swept along after her predecessors, and banged away with her one
6-pounder with as great an air of importance as if it had been a
13-inch rifle; then she steamed away in a triumphant manner, as much as
to say: "I have done my share." The commodore promptly ordered her to
keep out of danger. The ironclads turned, and a second time bore down on
the harbor, and when within five miles the shells began again to fall
thick and fast around the Spanish vessels, although accurate firing was
almost out of the question, as the vessels were behind the hill out in
sight, and range could not be ascertained. The Spaniards kept up a brisk
cannonade long after our vessels had stopped firing; a tremendous amount
of damage was done--to the Caribbean Sea; their shells did not come
within a mile of our vessels.
Pages:
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39