Today marks the anniversary of a little-known military operation that took place 125 years ago at Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. One Marine involved was Cantabridgian Joseph F. Scott. Joseph Francis Scott was born in Boston on June 4, 1866, and moved with his family to Cambridge in the early 1870s. Scott enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Boston on August 11, 1888, and was assigned to the gunboat USS Nashville on August 21, 1897.
By April 1898, Spanish forces were blockading Cuba. The US had only a few ships stationed nearby, including the USS Nashville. To stay in communication, Spanish forces used telegraph cables running from Cuba back to Spain through their possessions in the Caribbean and Key West. To isolate Spanish forces, the US decided to cut off this communication line—literally. First came the north shore cable cut, which severed communication from Cuba to Key West. Next was the more difficult task of cutting lines at the south side of the island near Cienfuegos. Around 6:45am on May 11, crews from the Nashville and USS Marblehead undertook the mission and rowed toward the shore in open boats. Although the crews hoped to slip in undetected, several seamen were armed and aided by a Hotchkiss naval gun to suppress fire, if needed.
Unfortunately, the group was spotted by a Spanish cavalryman. The US forces worked quickly to find the cable under 30-40 feet of water and coral reef. After some difficulty with a grappling hook, the 2″ cable, weighing about 6 lbs per foot, was heaved upwards. The mission was to cut a section of around 150’—no easy feat! When cutting the first cable, US forces were well offshore and a safe distance from Spanish fire. When cutting the next cable, a third previously unknown cable was found. By this time, the seas were pitching, and the boats are drifting closer to the Spanish position. At one point, Lieutenant Cameron McRae Winslow reported that the boats were within pistol range of Spanish forces. Despite heavy fire, the seamen attempted to cut the third cable. This harrowing event resulted in many injuries and a small number of fatalities on the American side. The fire was so intense the US forces pulled back, having successfully cut two of the communication cables. The entire operation lasted around three hours.
On July 7, 1899, Scott was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts at Cienfuegos, which noted that under “…the heavy fire of the enemy, Scott displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.” Scott was eventually promoted to Corporal and honorably discharged on May 7, 1901 and returned to Cambridge. Corporal Scott went on to work in the Boston Naval Yards as a ship fitter and maintained an active presence as an advocate for the veteran community. He died on February 28, 1941 at the home he shared with his wife Helena and their son Raymond at 3 Leonard Avenue in North Cambridge. Scott was buried in Cambridge Cemetery.
Special thanks to Timothy Brosnan Sr., Junior Vice Commander, and Joyce Burchsted, Adjutant, of AMVETS Baker Xiarhos Post 333 for bringing our attention to Corporal Scott and his heroic deeds, and for their efforts to preserve veteran history and memorials. Click below to watch Episode 49 of “Dennis This Week” featuring an interview with Brosnan and Burchsted.
Sources
Cambridge Public Library’s Historic Cambridge Newspaper Collection
Entry for Corporal Joseph Frances Scott, USMC (deceased) in Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Information-for-Units/Medal-of-Honor-Recipients-By-Unit/Corporal-Joseph-F-Scott/.
Episode 49 of “Dennis This Week” featuring an interview with Timothy Brosnan Sr. and Joyce Burchsted of AMVETS Baker Xiarhos Post 333 (August 30, 2019). https://reflect-dennis.cablecast.tv/vod/1079-DTW-49-08302019-v1/vod.mp4.
