An hour or more after the bombardment ceased the _Marblehead's_ steam launch began dragging the harbour near the fort for mines. One was found and taken up, and while it was being towed to the war-ship a party of Spaniards on shore opened fire. The launch headed toward shore and began banging away, but the bow gun finally kicked overboard, carrying the gunner with it. At this moment the enemy beat a prompt retreat; the gunner was pulled inboard, and the bluejackets continued their interrupted work.
_June 17._ Next day the batteries on Hicacal Point and Hospital Cay were shelled, the _Marblehead_ and the _St. Paul_ attending to the first, and the _Suwanee_ caring for the latter, while the _Dolphin_ and even the collier _Scindia_ fired a few shots for diversion. The task was concluded in less than half an hour, and had no more than come to an end when a small sloop was sighted off the entrance to the bay.
The _Marblehead's_ steam launch was sent in pursuit, and an hour later returned with the prize, which proved to be the _Chato_. Her crew of five were taken on board the _Marblehead_ as prisoners.
_June 18._ The active little steam launch made another capture next day while cruising outside the bay; a nameless sloop, on which were four men who claimed to have been sent from the lighthouse at Cape Maysi to Guantanamo City for oil. There were strong reasons for believing this party had come to spy out the position of the American ships, and all were transferred to the _Marblehead_.
The crew of the _Oregon_ had gun practice again on this day when they shelled and destroyed a blockhouse three miles up the bay, killing, so it was reported, no less than twenty of the enemy.
The first vessel of a long-expected fleet of transports, carrying the second detachment of General Shafter's army, hove in sight of Admiral Sampson's squadron on the evening of June 18th, and next morning at daylight the launches of the _New York_ and _Massachusetts_ reconnoitred the shore between Cabanas, two miles off the entrance to Santiago Harbour, and Guayaganaco, two miles farther west, in search of a landing-place.
Lieutenant Harlow, in command of the expedition, made the following report:
"The expedition consisted of a steam launch from the _Massachusetts_, in charge of Cadet Hart, and a launch from the _New York_, in charge of Cadet Powell. I took passage on the _Massachusetts'_ launch, leading the way. Soundings were taken on entering the bay close under the old fort, and we were preparing to circumnavigate the bay at full speed when fire was opened from the fort and rocks on the shore. The _Massachusetts'_ launch was some distance ahead and about forty yards off the fort. There was no room to turn, and our 1-pounder could not be brought to bear. We backed and turned under a heavy fire.