Through the open port we could catch a glimpse of the other vessels of the fleet, and the spectacle formed by the low-lying battleships, the massive cruisers, and the smaller, but equally defiant gunboats, was one long to be remembered.
Every ship was cleared for business.

On the vessels of the "Oregon" class nothing could be seen but the gray steel of turrets and superstructure.

The "New York" and the "Brooklyn" were similarly cleared.

On the bridges could be seen groups of officers, but the decks were empty.

Every man was at his gun.
The ships steamed in to within a short distance of the beach and then formed a semicircle, the heavier vessels taking the centre where they could directly face the forts.