The spectacle of such a mighty fleet bearing our beloved colors was indeed inspiring.
We found the "Iowa," "Massachusetts," "Indiana," "Oregon," "Texas," "New York," "Marblehead," "Detroit," "Newark," "Porter," "Terror," "Gloucester," the repair ship "Vulcan," several despatch boats and colliers in the bay.

Two gunboats and several steamers captured at Santiago also bore the American colors.
Such a fleet many an important port has never seen, and in New York harbor would draw immense crowds.

Here the spectacle was wasted on unappreciative Cubans.
The bay presented a lively appearance with the innumerable little launches and despatch boats darting about from ship to ship.

Vessels went alongside sailing colliers to have their bunkers replenished; other ships entered or left at all hours; signals were continually flying from the flagship; occasionally a Spanish launch bearing a flag of truce would come down from the town, and in the midst of it all the crews of the different men-of-war worked on in the accustomed routine, as if peace and war, drills and fighting, were all a part of man's ordinary existence.
Over a month ago we had sailed into this harbor with the "Marblehead"; the ship cleared for action, the crews at their loaded guns, and the battle ensigns flying from fore and mainmast, as well as from taffrail.
This time we entered the bay with a feeling that we were to take part in a great naval spectacle.
As soon as we joined the fleet we became amenable to fleet discipline.
All orders for routine work came from the flagship.

"Quarters" were held but twice a day instead of three times, and then they were short and, therefore, sweet.
Each morning at eight o'clock, when a war vessel is in port, the bugler plays "colors," while the drummer beats three rolls; those of the crew who are under the open sky stand at attention, silent, facing aft, where the flag is being hauled slowly to its place.