Commander Washburn Maynard to Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Squadron
U.S.S.Nashville,3rd rate,
Making passage from Cienfuegos to Havana;
April,30,I898.
Sir:-
I. I have the honor to report the condition of this ship as follows:
Hull out side below water line, somewhat foul,four months since being cleaned and painted,
Hull inside and Hull outside,above water line,-Good.
MachineryGood with few minor repairs,
2. Employment of ship:
Ist - 2I at,At anchor at Key West Florida,Occasional night picket duty,off Sand Key Light.
22nd,Started to Havana, When capture Spanish steamer” Buenaventura”1
22nd, Night of, Made passage to Havana,to join fleet,
23rd -25th ,Blockade off Mariel,
25th to 29th,-Making passage ,with 4th Division, to Cienfuegos.
, 29th ,captured Spanish steamer“Argonauta”,
29th,night of, and 30th making passage to Havana with Dispatches,
Very Respectfully,
W.Maynard.
Commander, U.S.N.,
Commanding.
Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 313, Entry 47. Addressed below close: “The Commander-in-Chief,/U.S.Naval Forces,/North Atlantic Station,” Bureau of Navigation stamp in right corner: “RECEIVED/FLAG-SHIP N. A. STATION/JUL 11 1898.” Docketed: “U.S.S.Nashville, 3rd rate,/At sea,April 30,I898./W. Maynard,/Commander, U.S.N,/Commanding./Report of Condition and/Employment of ship.”
Footnote 1: Nashville fired the first shot of the Spanish-American War when it captured the Buenaventura. See: Superintendent of the Library and Naval War Records Charles W. Stewart to Mr. C.Q. Chandler, 19 July 1909.