The Siege Of Santiago Poem by James Ephraim McGirt

'Twas here the fort of Spain did stand,
The strongest post of all the land;
And when we entered in the bay,
The eyes of all were turned that way,
So restless, they eager to see
The one to conquer, who 'twould be.
There Morro Castle standing bold,
So strong it was in days of old;
Its deadly guns all seemed to say:
'I'll hold the entrance of the bay.'
A pleasant morn, a Sabbath day,
We all were resting in the bay;
So soon our day of peace did change,
It proved a day for our revenge.
As Sampson's heart did eager yearn
The plans of Cevera to learn;
Commanded Schley to ascend the shore,
Perchance the plans he might explore.
Somehow these orders seemed divine,
His sailing was the proper time;
While on their way, to their surprise,
A coming vessel met their eyes.
The flag they raised that they might greet,
Behold! It was Cevera's fleet,
Came rushing out in swiftest speed;
Destructive boats were in the lead.
'The boats are fleeing!' Schley then cried;
He sounded the signal far and wide.
Before the story he could tell
The air was filled with fire and shell;
The shells they sent went not in vain;
They proved a direful fate to Spain.
Their ships in flames of fire were blazed—
'Till we on them in pity gazed,
And sent a boat in chivalry's name,
To save them from the burning flame.
Their direful fate's too great to tell,
To them it proved a fiery hell.
As Schley stood gazing left and right,
To him it seemed a dreadful sight;
The ships in flames on every side:
'The battle's won,' he quickly cried.
Ah! many Spaniards on that day
Were burned and buried in the bay.