Second Battle of San Juan (1898)

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Second Battle of San Juan

Part of the Spanish-American War

Spanish vessel Terror undergoing repairs after the battle with USS St. Paul

Date	June 22, 1898
Location	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Result	American victory blockade maintained

Belligerents

Kingdom of Spain

United States

Commanders

Unknown

Charles Dwight Sigsbee

Strength

1 cruiser and 1 destroyer

1 auxiliary cruiser

Casualties and losses

1 destroyer severely damaged
5 killed
several wounded

none

v • d • e Puerto Rican Campaign

San Juan - Second San Juan – Third San Juan - Yauco – Guayama – Guamani – Coamo – Silva Heights – Aibonito Pass

The Second Battle of San Juan occurred on the 22nd of June 1898 when two Spanish vessels tried to break the American blockade off San Juan.

[edit] Background

San Juan had been under blockade by American forces since April of 1898. Most of the time the blockade consisted of a single auxiliary cruiser which patrolled and pursued blockade runners that were attempting to reach San Juan. By June the task of blockading San Juan was delegated to the auxiliary cruiser USS Saint Paul, a former ocean liner commanded by Captain Charles Sigsbee who had formally commanded the USS Maine. The Spanish destroyer Terror, originally part of Admiral Cervera's squadron, had mechanical trouble and left the main Spanish fleet eventually reaching San Juan. With Terror and several other naval vessels at their disposal the Spanish decided to make an attempt at breaking the blockade. Terror and an old cruiser named Isabel II set off from San Juan to engage the St. Paul while a crowd of jubilant locals at the harbor cheered them on.

[edit] Battle

Almost as soon as the Spanish ships engaged the American vessel did they realize that the Isabel II would be forced to retire as she was much slower than the American ship. The Terror attempted to cover the cruiser's escape with a torpedo attack but was thwarted when her rudder was placed out of action by the St. Paul. The ship then turned allowing the St. Paul to score direct hits near the Terror's waterline disabling one of her engines and causing her to list. The Terror then fled the engagement and beached herself on a nearby bank to keep from sinking. The Spanish sortie had failed with the Americans maintaining the blockade while inflicting several casualties on the Spanish as well as putting the Terror out of action for the rest of the war.