At the outbreak of the
Spanish–American War,
New York was chartered as an auxiliary cruiser with a civilian crew, commissioning on 26 April 1898 at New York, Captain
C. S. Cotton in command and renamed
Harvard. Assigned as a scout,
Harvard departed New York on 30 April to cruise West Indian waters in search of the Spanish fleet. After sending back several reports on the location of Spanish units in the Caribbean,
Harvard was blockaded by a larger force at
Saint-Pierre, Martinique from 11 to 17 May, after which she proceeded to
Santiago de Cuba and
St. Nicholas Mole,
Haiti, with dispatches from
Commodore Winfield Scott Schley. Interrupting her scouting duties,
Harvard returned to
Newport News, Virginia, 7–26 June during which time her crew was officially taken into the Naval Service.
Harvard returned to the Caribbean with troops and supplies, arriving at
Altares, Cuba, about 1 July. The morning of 3 July, she received the electrifying news that the Spanish fleet had sortied. After Rear Admiral
William T. Sampson's smashing
victory off Santiago, she rescued survivors. Despite the high surf and ammunition explosions from the stricken Spanish ships,
Harvard succeeded in recovering over 600 officers and men. On 4 July 1898, the 9th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry were guarding the
prisoners of war inside
Harvard. A guard ordered a prisoner, who was attempting to cross the line, to return. The prisoner did not understand English and the guard fired a shot causing other prisoners to stand up. Fearing the prisoners were about to attack, the guards opened fire killing six prisoners and wounding thirteen more. After the investigation, it was concluded that it was a mistake. The tragedy was known as
Harvard Incident. No longer needed as a scout in the Caribbean,
Harvard was sent back to the United States 10 July 1898. She was temporarily turned over to the
War Department, and returned to Santiago de Cuba to transport troops back to the United States.
Harvard arrived at New York on 27 August and decommissioned 2 September 1898 at
New York Navy Yard. ==World War I and demise==