by John Allison

The Auxiliary Cruiser U.S.S. BADGER in June, 1898

GENERAL:

BACKGROUND:

Known as the YUMURI when she was launched in 1889 by John Roach and Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania, the vessel began running the circuit between New York, Havana, and Vera Cruz as a passenger and mail steamer. As the Spanish American War approached, the vessel was purchased for the war effort on April 19, 1898 from the New York and Cuba Mail and Transportation Co., better known as the ‘Ward Line’.  She was altered into an auxiliary cruiser by the Morgan Iron Works at the New York Naval Yard.  

On July 5th U.S.S. BADGER saw her first action when a strange vessel was sighted at daybreak and was later run ashore off Mariel by the U.S.S. HAWK.  U.S.S. BADGER and U.S.S. PRAIRIE went the aid of the U.S.S. HAWK, and the vessel, the Spanish vessel ALPHONSO XII, was shelled and set on fire.

On July 8th, a vessel was reportedly making for Havana, and a chase began.  The stranger, a warship displaying no colors, was overhauled in about an hour at which point she hoisted the French flag and reported herself as the Frigate D’ESTAING. As she was passing through a blockade, she was ordered to report to the flagship, the U.S.S. NEW YORK.

On July 10th at about ten in the morning, firing was again heard Mariel, and the U.S.S. BADGER headed toward the sound of the guns. However, she arrived only in time to see the end of an engagement between U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO and the sand batteries.

On 11 July the U.S.S. BADGER was ordered to proceed to Nuevitas, and made the 300 mile run without incident.

On July 13th, the U.S.S. BADGER chased a steamer which proved to be an Austrian warship decorated with colors and bright lights, no doubt having been stopped many times by American vessels in the area.

On July 17th, after communicating with the U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO, she chased and found the vessel to be a schooner flying the British flag, but with a Spanish crew on board. She was warned of the blockade and sent on her way.  Later in the day a light steamer was picked up who proved to be the NEWFOUNDLAND, a British ship, which was boarded and warned of the blockade.

On 18 July, the U.S.S. BADGER had a long chase after a small steamer, which hove-to after the BADGER fired five 5-inch shells at her at a range of five miles. She turned out to be the THREE FRIENDS, of filibustering fame, and was let go after being warned about the blockade.  On the 21st U.S.S. BADGER picked up a small sloop with four refugees. Two days later she again picked up a small sloop with 22 refugees, who reported that Jibara, Cuba had surrendered to U.S.S. PRAIRIE.

On July 24th, seven Spanish soldiers surrendered to U.S.S. BADGER along with their arms and ammunition – exactly how this occurred has not been recorded.  That same day, a large schooner came out of Nuevitas with about 70 refugees on board bound for Nassau N.P. and was allowed to proceed.  The next day U.S.S. BADGER boarded a schooner, the BELENCITA, of Nassau, N.P. with defaced papers, however, she was let go with a warning. On the same day U.S.S. BADGER had another Spanish soldier surrender to her. Also U.S.S. BADGER reported that Nuevitas was being evacuated, with 4,000 Spanish soldiers being ordered to Holguin.

On July 26th, a steamer towing two sailing vessels came out of Nuevitas, and the ship was cleared for action as the Spanish flag was sighted on the vessels. It was surmised that Spanish gun boats had come out to fight, but the vessels were found to be carrying a Red Cross flag, so they were stopped and boarded.  When the ships were discovered to be without papers, and were carrying nearly 400 Spanish soldiers, they were declared prizes and a prize crew was put aboard. On of the vessels was the steamer HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ. The U.S.S. BADGER left the blockade and proceeded with its convoy of prizes toward Havana, which they reached on the 29th.  U.S.S. BADGER was ordered to take her prizes to Dry Tortugas, arriving there on the 30th and awaited the action of the Navy Department.  The crew of the U.S.S. BADGER engaged themselves in painting the ship and coaling the prize HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ until August 3, when orders came to deliver the soldiers in the two sailing ships to General Blanco at Havana, then send the HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ to New York as a prize.  The U.S.S. BADGER was then ordered to proceed to Key West and await further orders.

On August 4 U.S.S. BADGER arrived in Key West and proceeded to coal and provision the ship.  On August 7 she started for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, stopping at Jibara on the way, and arriving on the 9th. On her arrival she found twenty-six American naval vessels and auxiliaries at anchor, with Sampson, Schley, and Watson on their flagships.  U.S.S. BADGER was then attached to Watson’s squadron for the presumed invasion of Spain. 

The U.S.S. BADGER spent August 10 to 12 replenishing her coal, then on the evening of the 12th, a general signal to the fleet was received that an armistice had been reached between the United States and Spain. With that all fighting ceased and the blockade of Cuba and Puerto Rico lifted.  On August 13, Commodore Watson transferred his Flag from U.S.S. OREGON to U.S.S. BADGER. On the 16th Commodore Watson transferred his Flag from U.S.S. BADGER to U.S.S. NEWARK.  On August 18 U.S.S. BADGER embarked seven officers and 182 men of the 34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and started for home, arriving at Montauk Point on August 23, and then arriving in Boston on August 27th.

Just before arriving in Boston on August 27, Coxswain Nellinger fell from the main mast head to the deck, dying soon after. This was the only fatality the crew suffered during the entire cruise.  The U.S.S. BADGER lay in Boston until September 27, participating in the naval demonstration on September 15, and taking on 600 tons of coal.  On September 27 the U.S.S. BADGER went to the League Island Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Her ammunition and stores were removed and her secondary battery dismounted.  On October 6th the Reserves were paid off and left Philadelphia in a special train, stopping at Newark where they paraded, and then were welcomed home in Jersey City by Governor Voorhees. The crew was again paraded in Hoboken before being mustered out aboard the U.S.S. PORTSMOUTH. The Spanish American War ended on December 10, 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

The vessel was unarmored, but could be rapidly equipped for service in the blockade. Her armament and lack of armor meant that she would not be of great value in a naval engagement with Spanish warhsips.

Her single screw configuration meant she was less maneuverable than vessels of comparable size with twin screws.

TECHNOTES