We felt more like a party watching a fireworks display than the crew of a warship engaged in bombarding a number of forts.
The two lines were steaming back and forth in front of the batteries, firing as the guns would bear.

At first, Morro Castle and the smaller forts maintained a spirited fire, but finally their response to our fusillade slackened considerably, and it became evident that they had been driven from their guns.
The difference in aim between the Spanish gunners and ours was very perceptible.

Their shells invariably passed over the ships or landed short, and at no time during the engagement were any of the American vessels in imminent danger.

This was not due to length of range either, as the lines were maintained at from two to four thousand yards.

As Bill put it, "Any Dago that can't hit a flock of barn doors like this fleet, had better go back home and hoe onions." The ships of our fleet also made better targets than did the batteries ashore.