Capture of Guam

Guam had been under Spanish control since 1668. By the time of the war, Guam had been neglected and there was only a small Spanish military presence. The last message the authorities on Guam had received from Spain was dated 14 April 1898, a month before war was declared. U.S. Navy Captain Henry Glass, captain of the cruiser Charleston, set sail from San Francisco to Manila on May 21, 1898. According to the ship's muster roll on May 5, most of the 233 sailors on board for the coming voyage were fresh recruits that had joined the Navy after the USS Maine blew up in February that same year. There was also a 30-person U.S. Marine contingent on the ship along with three journalists. The transports carried the following military units: On June 4th Glass and his convoy left Honolulu with sealed orders. On June 5th Glass called everyone to the quarterdeck and opened his orders. They read Upon the receipt of this order, which is forwarded by the steamship 'City of Pekin' to you at Honolulu, you will proceed, with the 'Charleston' and the 'City of Pekin' in company, to Manila, Philippine Islands. On your way, you are hereby directed to stop at the Spanish Island of Guam. You will use such force as may be necessary to capture the port of Guam, making prisoners of the governor and other officials and any armed force that may be there. You will also destroy any fortifications on said island and any Spanish naval vessels that may be there, or in the immediate vicinity. These operations at the Island of Guam should be very brief, and should not occupy more than one or two days. Should you find any coal at the Island of Guam, you will make such use of it as you consider desirable. It is left to your discretion whether or not you destroy it. From the Island of Guam, proceed to Manila and report to Rear-Admiral George Dewey, U.S.N., for duty in the squadron under his command. The message created intense excitement and enthusiasm amongst the American sailors. Many of them immediately went to the ship's library and eagerly scrutinized charts, geographies, histories, and encyclopaedias for information. While the sailors were in the ship's library learning information about the island of Guam, Glass altered the direction of the cruiser towards the new destination. The sailors on the transports were stirred when they noticed the change in direction, and rumors were spread. Some thought the expedition was to hoist the American flag over the Caroline Islands and remain there until reinforcements arrived for a stronger descent upon Manila. Others guessed that the Charleston was sailing to some mysterious Spanish island, complete with impregnable fortifications, a formidable force of Spanish soldiers, and vast quantities of coal. The rumors stopped the next day, when the expedition's objectives were wigwagged to the transports. Along with the sealed orders were warnings of possible Spanish men-o-war in San Luis d'Apra, the main port of Guam, and notification of it being protected by a heavy battery of guns. The existence of the powerful coastal defences was verified by reputable travelers who had visited the island in 1895 or 1896. Definite information of the size of the Spanish garrison was not given, and in the absence of direct knowledge, Glass had to assume that there might be more than a thousand fighting men on the island who were thoroughly familiar with the terrain. Glass held a conference on the Australia and invited General Anderson, Commander William C. Gibson, naval officer in charge of the transports, and the captains of the three troop carriers were invited to participate in the discussions. Also present at the meeting was Captain T. A. Hallet, third officer of Australia and a former whaling captain, who had been to the Mariana Islands many times. Hallet told the group that on his last visit to Guam, San Luis d'Apra was strongly fortified. Fort Santa Cruz and the battery on Point Orote, he stated, were efficiently manned and equipped. After a complete appraisal of all the known and unknown factors in the impending battle, the officers completed the arrangements for the attack on Guam. On June 18th an Associated Press reporter on the ship reported that the crew had secured important items and started laying protective netting around parts of the ship to protect against flying debris during a battle. ==Capture==

On June 19th the convoy stopped and Captain Thomas A. Hallett from the Australia boarded the Charleston. Hallett had been to Guam before and they decided Hallett should be the pilot for the Charleston as she entered the waters near Guam. There was no return fire, and there was no apparent damage to the fort. Pedro Duarte turned to his companions and said that the ship must be saluting the fort, so he hurriedly dispatched a messenger to Agana, the capital, which was about away, requesting the governor to send artillery to Piti to return the salute. The captain of the port, the naval surgeon, and a native Chamorro named José Paloma got into a boat furnished by Francisco Portusach and went out to welcome the visitors. José Portusach went along with the party to act as interpreter. When they boarded Charleston, they apologized for not being able to return the salute due to a lack of ammunition. Francisco Portusach, an American citizen, agreed to provide the crew the use of two lighters and a boat to transfer coal from City of Peking to the bunkers of Charleston. Later that afternoon, Francisco Portusach returned to Charleston with the threatening note from Marina and showed it to Glass. They had conferred less than half an hour when the governor's secretary came back to the cruiser with a letter which said: Agana, June 20, 1898. Mr. Henry Glass, Captain of the North American Cruiser Charleston: By the captain of the port in which you have cast anchor I have been courteously requested, as a soldier, and, above all, as a gentleman, to hold a conference with you, adding that you have advised him that war has been declared between our respective nations, and that you have come for the purpose of occupying these Spanish islands. It would give me great pleasure to comply with his request and see you personally, but, as the military laws of my country prohibit me from going on board a foreign vessel, I regret to have to decline this honor and to ask that you will kindly come on shore, where I await you to accede to your wishes as far as possible, and to agree as to our mutual situations. Asking your pardon for the trouble I cause you, I guarantee your safe return to your ship. Very respectfully, JUAN MARINA The Governor The time was 10:15am and having called the governor's attention to the fact that only 30 minutes were allowed for a reply, Braunersreuther casually reminded him of the three transports loaded with troops and the formidable war vessel in the harbor. Marina and his advisers went into a nearby boatshed for consultation. They reappeared and handed Braunersreuther a sealed envelope. Braunersreuther, amid protest from the governor, broke the seal and read the message which contained a notification of the surrender of the island of Guam. He then said, "Gentlemen, you are now my prisoners; you will have to repair on board the Charleston with me." The governor protested, claiming that he had not expected such action. Braunersreuther replied that he had merely been instructed to deliver a letter and since he was now in possession of an offer of complete surrender, the Americans were permitted to make any demand they wished. The Spanish officials were allowed to write letters to their families. Afterward, Marina and his staff were taken to City of Sydney after sending an order to Agana for the Spanish soldiery and native militia to be at Piti landing no later than four o'clock that afternoon. Braunsreuther then returned to the ships, obtained the Marine guard, and returned to shore. There, according to agreement, the Spanish soldiers were lined up awaiting surrender. Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers, later known for his command during the Boxer Rebellion, marched the Marines through the boathouse and lined them up so that the Spanish and native troops were between the Americans and the ocean. The 54 Spanish regulars and two lieutenants were disarmed, placed in a sampan, and transported to City of Sydney. ==Aftermath==

Glass went ashore and at 2:45pm raised an American flag over the Santa Cruz Fort Guam was officially given to the U.S by Spain in the December 1898 Treaty of Paris and U.S Navy Commander E.R. Taussig took control of the island in February 1899. Naval Station Guam was founded August 7, 1899 ==Notes==