Cont.
Not soon after the regiments had arrived at Norfolk, did the ships start arriving as well. Among the ships amassing at Norfolk were the USS Vermont, USS Cumberland, USS Enterprise, USS Delaware, USS Columbus, USS Independence, and the USS Pennsylvania, the largest ship in the United States Navy. The operation that the soldiers of the Regular Army knew was inevitable, was on its way to fruition. Citizens of Norfolk flocked to the beaches to gaze in awe of the might of the US Navy they themselves had assumed but not seen.
David Conner, health on the decline, re-entered service with the US Navy, to advise the current Commodore of the Home Squadron, John T. Newton. Winfield Scott chafed in New York, as time was seemingly against him. The traditional mobilization that plagued the US Army was hampering operations, as he wished to invade Spanish holdings quickly and prepare to defend them. He knew better than to assume Cuba would be sparsely defended, though the tension with the Cubans was not a secret. Spain would keep its occupying force garrisoned in multiple forts throughout the Island, moving from the forts when his forces landed on Cuban shores.
The problem he faced was manpower. The US Regular Army had barely twenty-thousand men when war was declared on Spain. Volunteer regiments would eventually turn the war on the side of the United States in purely numerical advantage, though it would take time. Time Lt. Gen. Scott didn't want to waste. His hope was in the Regular Army and the men who brought them victory in the Mexican War. On April 23rd, his regiments boarded the combined fleet of the US Navy. Scott trusted the man whom he worked with to secure Veracruz in the final campaign of the Mexican War, though like Scott, he wasn't young. This would likely be, god willing, his last war, and it would certainly be Commodore Conner's last blockade of an enemy city.
USS Pennsylvania en route to Cuba, 1854
The US Army's ride to Cuba was filled with apprehension. Though many of the officers had fought in the war with Mexico, many of the men they commanded knew little combat aside from skirmishes on the American plains. The 6th Infantry Regiment had been having a hard time with the Seminole tribes of Florida, and would most likely have perused open conflict with them had the war with Spain not become the most primary of concerns.
The high ranking officers of the multiple infantry regiments met with the man who was given de-facto leadership of military operations in Cuba, Bvt Brig. Gen. Newman S. Clarke of the 6th Infantry. Though in command due to rank, he had explicit orders from Winfield Scott, and it was up to him to take Havana. He had faith in his fellow officers. The commander of the 8th Infantry, Lt Col. John Garland was a competent man, and Maj. James Longstreet of the same regiment was by all regards a fine officer. Captain George Picket was a charismatic fellow, but other more brilliant military minds overshadowed the dashing infantry captain.
Clarke's own 6th had Lt. Col William Walker, who was commanding the regiment with Clarke's new leadership of the Regular Army. and 1st Lt. Winfield Scott Hancock. Others under his command included Cpt. William Hoffman, and 1st Lt. Lewis Armistead.
Brevet Brigadier General Newman S. Clarke - De-facto Commander of the Regular Army
Lt. Col William H.T. Walker, Commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment
Lt. Col John Garland, Commander of the 8th Infantry Regiment
Lr. Col Gabriel R. Paul, Commander of the 7th Infantry Regiment
In a weeks time, the Regular Army was in sight of Cuba, and encountered the Cuban Armada patrolling the coast. The two navies met in an incredible clash on the coast of Mantanzas. The combined naval power of the Home Squadron and ships-of-the-line Pennsylvania and Ohio, were devastating to the unassuming Spanish forces. The Pennsylvania managed to escape the battle unscathed, and the Ohio, and North Carolina took only minimal damage. The first battle of the Spanish-American War had been fought, as American sailors and infantry felt they had luck on their side.
Not soon after the regiments had arrived at Norfolk, did the ships start arriving as well. Among the ships amassing at Norfolk were the USS Vermont, USS Cumberland, USS Enterprise, USS Delaware, USS Columbus, USS Independence, and the USS Pennsylvania, the largest ship in the United States Navy. The operation that the soldiers of the Regular Army knew was inevitable, was on its way to fruition. Citizens of Norfolk flocked to the beaches to gaze in awe of the might of the US Navy they themselves had assumed but not seen.
David Conner, health on the decline, re-entered service with the US Navy, to advise the current Commodore of the Home Squadron, John T. Newton. Winfield Scott chafed in New York, as time was seemingly against him. The traditional mobilization that plagued the US Army was hampering operations, as he wished to invade Spanish holdings quickly and prepare to defend them. He knew better than to assume Cuba would be sparsely defended, though the tension with the Cubans was not a secret. Spain would keep its occupying force garrisoned in multiple forts throughout the Island, moving from the forts when his forces landed on Cuban shores.
The problem he faced was manpower. The US Regular Army had barely twenty-thousand men when war was declared on Spain. Volunteer regiments would eventually turn the war on the side of the United States in purely numerical advantage, though it would take time. Time Lt. Gen. Scott didn't want to waste. His hope was in the Regular Army and the men who brought them victory in the Mexican War. On April 23rd, his regiments boarded the combined fleet of the US Navy. Scott trusted the man whom he worked with to secure Veracruz in the final campaign of the Mexican War, though like Scott, he wasn't young. This would likely be, god willing, his last war, and it would certainly be Commodore Conner's last blockade of an enemy city.
USS Pennsylvania en route to Cuba, 1854
The high ranking officers of the multiple infantry regiments met with the man who was given de-facto leadership of military operations in Cuba, Bvt Brig. Gen. Newman S. Clarke of the 6th Infantry. Though in command due to rank, he had explicit orders from Winfield Scott, and it was up to him to take Havana. He had faith in his fellow officers. The commander of the 8th Infantry, Lt Col. John Garland was a competent man, and Maj. James Longstreet of the same regiment was by all regards a fine officer. Captain George Picket was a charismatic fellow, but other more brilliant military minds overshadowed the dashing infantry captain.
Clarke's own 6th had Lt. Col William Walker, who was commanding the regiment with Clarke's new leadership of the Regular Army. and 1st Lt. Winfield Scott Hancock. Others under his command included Cpt. William Hoffman, and 1st Lt. Lewis Armistead.
Brevet Brigadier General Newman S. Clarke - De-facto Commander of the Regular Army
Lt. Col William H.T. Walker, Commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment
Lt. Col John Garland, Commander of the 8th Infantry Regiment
Lr. Col Gabriel R. Paul, Commander of the 7th Infantry Regiment
In a weeks time, the Regular Army was in sight of Cuba, and encountered the Cuban Armada patrolling the coast. The two navies met in an incredible clash on the coast of Mantanzas. The combined naval power of the Home Squadron and ships-of-the-line Pennsylvania and Ohio, were devastating to the unassuming Spanish forces. The Pennsylvania managed to escape the battle unscathed, and the Ohio, and North Carolina took only minimal damage. The first battle of the Spanish-American War had been fought, as American sailors and infantry felt they had luck on their side.