The diary is approx. 72 leaves, most written on both sides in ink or pencil. 21x17 cm. (8¼x7”), plain wrappers coming disbound, a unique holographic record contemporary to events aboard over several months of the ship’s deployment. The print is 63.5x89 cm (25x35"), on cardboard, a printed pictorial account of the naval battle of Santiago de Cuba, July 2, 1898, printed aboard USS Brooklyn (CA 3) and distributed only to some of the approximately 600 USS Brooklyn crew members after which plates were thrown overboard.
Very detailed notebook kept by a signalman aboard the U.S.S. Brooklyn during the Spanish American War, containing a running diary of his experiences, his accounts, notes on such subjects as compass quarter points, Morse code, signal flags (with colored examples), and more. There is a sketch plan of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July, in which the Spanish Fleet was destroyed, with the Brooklyn playing a key part. He traces the ship’s movements through the action in Cuba, and gives rich descriptions of the blockade and naval actions. A few excerpts: “June 6th, 1898. Off Santiago De Cuba. Call all hands at 5 O’Clock…. Formed column heading to the northward which was towards the forts which we were to bombard. Texas reported her starboard turret gun was disabled, the breech block being jammed… At 7:40 New York made signal commence firing, there went forth such a report from the guns of the ships that you could not hear yourself talk, for half an hour shot and shell was sent into the forts, meanwhile the forts were returning the same with a will, this range was 4,500 yards….” On July 3rd, Streitberger witnessed the destruction of the Spanish naval forces: “…The enemy’s ships came out in the following order… They turned to the westward and attacked the weakest point where the Brooklyn lay all alone. The nearest ship to us was the Texas. Our ships fire shell after shell on them but they did not return their fire, but concentrated their batterys on the Brooklyn, which was their only obstacle. The Brooklyn out of the way and they would have had a chance to escape which I think was their object, for the New York was not in sight and there was no other ship than the Brooklyn that could make the speed required in fighting their ships…” A truly remarkable account, recorded by a signalman who would have, by virtue of his post, been aware of the overall action as well as the first-hand experience under fire. A complete transcript of the notebook is available on request. Accompanied by six medals for service, including actions not covered in this notebook: Cuba, Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, 1898; Philippine Islands campaign, 1898; Spanish campaign, 1898; USS Brooklyn, West Indies campaign, 1898; USS Brooklyn, Santiago, 3 July 1898; China Relief Expedition, 1900. A fascinating and historically significant notebook containing crucial source material on the Spanish-American War, with a very rare pictorial account of the the naval battle of Santiago de Cuba was the deciding military engagement of the relatively one-sided Spanish American War. The Streitberger diary is one of the very few eye witness accounts of the naval battle and outside of Shley’s own memoirs, and the only one emanating from aboard Brooklyn, the key vessel in the American naval squadron. Provenance: descended in the Steitberger family to the present owner
Condition:
The diary is well worn, spine perished, but pages still attached and intact, in good condition; the pictorial print is very good although slightly darkened and with a few chips along its edges; the medals very good or better.