The vessels which are
reported to have taken part in the engagement were the _Brooklyn_,
_Marblehead_, _Texas_, and _Massachusetts_ forming the first division;
the _New York_, _New Orleans_, _Yankee_, _Iowa_, and _Oregon_ the second
division. Very early on the morning of the 6th, they steamed in toward
the entrance of the harbor in double column, the first division to the
left, the second to the right, the vessels being in the order named
above. When about three thousand yards off shore the first division
turned toward the west and the second division toward the east; the
little vessels _Vixen_ and _Swanee_ remaining far out on the left of the
first division to watch the riflemen on shore, and the _Dolphin_ and
_Porter_ occupying similar positions on the right for the same purpose.
The fight was started by a 12-inch shell from the _Iowa_, which struck
the base of the Estrella battery and tore up the works. This was a
signal for all of the vessels to begin firing, and from that time until
the firing ceased the bombardment was terrific. The vessels had run up
in the beginning at the point where the range of the forts and batteries
was known, and, in consequence, although the smoke hung so thickly
about the ships that the forts could not be seen, the shots were very
effective. The vessels of the first division had been instructed to
concentrate their fire at the fortifications at the left or west side of
the entrance to the harbor; those of the second division attacking Morro
Castle and fortifications to the right, and the Spanish vessels in the
harbor which were within range.
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