Description:

BATTLE OF GUANTANAMO BAY USS DOLPHIN ARCHIVE
HENRY W. LYON, Captain of the USS DOLPHIN who had previously distinguished himself during the Civil War and in the Samoan Crisis. Commander of the USS DOLPHIN which provided crucial naval gunfire making it possible for a Marine landing force to capture a Spanish blockhouse above Guantanamo Harbor (at Cuzco Well) on June 10, 1898. That action finally secured the harbor to establish an American naval base...which remains there to this day. Offered here is a grouping of approx. eleven historic letters and documents, as well as a hand-drawn map, all from Lyon's personal files and directly relating to the Marine landings and the DOLPHIN's actions, particularly in combat. Most important is a hand-drawn map addressed to Lyon by Commander BOWMAN H. MCCALLA (1844-1910), captain of the USS MARBLEHEAD and overall commander of the assault on the Spanish fortifications. McCalla draws a pencil map on an octavo sheet showing the shoreline, pickets, Camp McCalla, artillery ranges, and what may be the location of a key Spanish block house. He writes: "Dear Lyon This will give you a general idea of our pickets and if attack takes place of necessity of holding fire except in case of extremity...". Also present is an order for the DOLPHIN to proceed from Brooklyn Navy Yard to Key West, Apr. 9, 1898, a 4pp. 4to. retained copy of a Aug. 15, 1898 report sent to the Secretary of the Navy detailing how the effective shelling by the DOLPHIN won the battle; three after-action reports, each 3pp. 4to., Aug. 15, 1898 and addressed to the Secretary of the Navy with nearly identical content carefully detailing the Marine attack on the block house and a "lucky" DOLPHIN shell striking the structure and sending the defenders fleeing; day-by-day chronology of the DOLPHIN's actions (retained copy), sent to President Roosevelt, 8pp. 4to., July 1, 1898; an 8pp.4to. copy of a narrative "A Busy Day Off Santiago", written by Lyon with holograph corrections again detailing the action; retained copy of a report on a collision between the DOLPHIN and the USS NEWARK, June 28, 1898; list of non-Navy personnel, prisoners and prize crewmen carried over the past quarter, July 12, 1898, and a pre-battle May 2, 1898 T.L.S. setting forth news to date. An excellent first-person historical grouping.

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February 10, 2015 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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