The USS Oregon arrived off the port of Santiago de Cuba on June 1st and joined the blockading fleet.
At 8:45 am on July 1, Admiral Cervera sortied with his fleet on his flagship, the Infanta Maria Teresa. Luckily for the Spanish, the Oregon was out of its usual position and another battleship, the USS Massachusetts was recoaling at Guantanamo Bay at the time.
Lookouts aboard the armored cruiser USS Brooklyn discovered the approach of the Spanish fleet and fired a gun as a warning and the battle was underway. The goal of the Spaniards was to escape and put out to sea. Cervera went after the Brooklyn
The Oregon took the lead in the ensuing chase as it was the only ship with its steam up. It was followed by the Brooklyn. American gunfire son set the Infanta Maria Teresa afire and fearing an explosion, Cervera ordered the ship run aground. The Almirante Oquendo did likewise a short time later. The Vizcaya was also forced aground and surrendered. The two destroyers were particularly savaged by American gunfire.
Only the Cristobol Colon had a good six-mile lead and was still running west. The American ships slowly caught up with her and struck its flag, running ashore and scuttling the ship. Thus ended the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
The Oregon was not hit in the action owing to the poor quality of the Spanish gunfire.
With the American success here and in Cuba and the Philippines, Spain sued for peace on 17 July and the Spanish-American War ended 12 August 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
It Wasn't Much of a Battle, Actually. --Cooter
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