USS Gloucester (1891) (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Gloucester was a gunboat in the United States Navy. Formerly J. P. Morgan's yacht Corsair, Gloucester was built in 1891 by Neafie & Levy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and acquired by the Navy on 23 April 1898. Gloucester was commissioned 16 May 1898, with Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright in command. Gloucester served in Cuban waters in 1898 with the North Atlantic Fleet, Blockading Station. She participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba 3 July 1898 against Cervera's fleet. The victory came with no casualties, which was attributed to "The accuracy and rapidity of her fire, making the proper service of the guns on the Spanish ships impossible." On 25 July 1898, she entered the harbor before the fleet at Gunica, Puerto Rico, and captured the place for the US Army in what is known as the Puerto Rican Campaign. The handling and fighting of Gloucester merited the commendation of the Navy Department.