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Spanish American War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Seaman Robert Blume, US Navy
Born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1868, he earned the Medal of Honor while serving aboard the USS Nashville near Cienfuegos, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War, on May 11, 1898.
Pittsburgh-born Robert Blume enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1897 and 10 months later found himself aboard the USS Nashville at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. According to the "Allegheny County Medal of Honor Recipients'' by Wes Slusher and Joe Pulgini, the Nashville and the USS Marblehead were dispatched May 11, 1898, to cut underwater cables at Cienfuegos, Cuba. At 6:45 a.m., both ships opened fire on the Spanish army barracks and cable house at Cienfuegos. At the same time, four small boats, two steam launches and two sailing launches, set out to locate and cut the telegraph cables.
The steam launches, armed with a one-pounder Hotchkiss gun and Marine sharpshooter, provided cover. The sailing launches dragged the ocean bottom with grappling hooks. One 6-inch armored cable was hoisted, and while under enemy fire, cut with axes and saws, Likewise the second cable fell under the ax. Spanish reinforcements arrived increasing the firepower aimed at the launches. The small boats hit by Spanish fire started to spring major leaks as American sailors fell under the rain of fire. As the launches returned to the Nashville and Marblehead, a constant barrage followed.
During the operation, three Americans were killed and six wounded. Seaman Blume earned the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery and coolness during the operation, which saved many American lives. Blume received the medal July 7, 1899 (General Order 521), and remained in the Navy, reaching the rank of chief master of arms. He married and had a son, George Robert Blume. Robert Blume died Sept. 16, 1937, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 6, Grave 9752.
The cutting of the cables at Cienfuegos was one of the most remarkable events of the Spanish American War. In the face of severe fire, a group of men raised the cables through which communications passed between Cuba and the outside word.
Background:
The USS MARBLEHEAD was built by City Works in Boston, Massachusetts, being launched August 11, 1892. During the Spanish American War, the cruiser steamed from Key West, Florida., for war patrol duty in Cuba, under the command of Captain McCalla. The vessel arrived off Havana on April 23,1998. Two weeks later, at Cienfuegos, she shelled enemy vessels and fortifications while her crewmen and that of the NASHVILLE cut the communications cables.
On May 11, near the lighthouse at the entrance of Cienfuegos, Harbor, the MARBLEHEAD located the telegraph cables leading from the south and west into the cable house, that were used as communication between Cienfuegos, Havana and Spain.
Commanding officer McCalla, of the MARBLEHEAD prepared to cut the cables. Volunteers were requested to go on a landing party to do the cable cutting.
Lt. Cameron McR. Winslow was placed in charge of the steam and sailing launches from the USS NASHVILLE and the MARBLEHEAD with Lt. Anderson, 2nd in command. Ensign Magruder, of the NASHVILLE, commanded a steam launch that dropped the sailing launches opposite the Cable House, took position of 150 to 200 yards off shore and gave covering fire The two main cables were cut but because of intense gunfire from the enemy, an attempt to cut a smaller cable found on shore, had to be abandoned.
During the fire fight the lighthouse was destroyed as the Spanish troops, hidden in gullies and ravines, rained a hail of bullets onto the cable cutting party, resulting in many casualties. Of the men who took part, forty-nine received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The following men served in the cable-cutting party. Those with an asterisk (*) received the Medal of Honor:
From the NASHVILLE:
ERNEST KRAUSE, Coxswain. *
AUSTIN J. DURNEY, Blacksmith. *
JOHAN J. JOHANSSON, Ordinary Seaman*.
JOHN P. RILEY, Landsman. *
DAVID D. BARROW, Ordinary Seaman.*
BENJAMIN F. BAKER, Coxswain. *
LAURITZ NELSON, Sailmaker's Mate. *
HUDSON VAN ETTEN, Seaman. *
WILLARD MILLER, Seaman. *
ROBERT BLUME, Seaman. *
FRANK HILL, Private, U. S. M. C. *
JOSEPH H. FRANKLIN; Private, U. S. M. C.*
JOSEPH F. SCOTT, Private, U. S. M. C. *
THOMAS HOBAN, Coxswain.*
ROBERT VOLZ, Seaman. (severely wounded 4 times)*
ALBERT BEYER, Coxswain. *
GEORGE W. BRIGHT, Coal Passer. *
WILLIAM MEYER, Carpenter's Mate, 3d class.*
HARRY H. MILLER, Seaman. *
JOHN EGLIT, Seaman. *
MICHAEL GIBBON, Oiler. *
PHILIP GAUGHAN, Sergeant, U. S. M. C.*
POMEROY PARKER ,Private, U. S. M. C. *
OSCAR W. FIELD, Private, U. S. M. C. *
MICHAEL L. KEARNEY, Private, U. S. M. C. *
From the MARBLEHEAD
JAMES H. BENNETT, Chief Boatswains Mate. *
JOHN J. DORAN, Boatswains Mate, 2d class (shot through right buttock)*
FRANK WILLIAMS, Seaman. *
HARRY HENRICKSON,' Seaman (shot through liver, thought to be fatal)*
ALBERT BADAS, Seaman. *
AXEL SUNDQUIST, Chief Carpenter's Mate *
WILLIAM HART, Machinist, lst class. *
FRANZ KRAMER, Seaman. *
HENRY P. RUSSELL, Landsman. *
HERMAN W. KUCHMEISTER, Private, U. S. M. C. (shot through the jaw bone and neck; thought to be dead). *
WALTER S. WEST, Private, U. S. M. C.*
WILLIAM OAKLEY, G. M., 2d class. *
JULIUS A. R. WILKE, B. M., lst class.
JOSEPH E. CARTER, Boatswain. *
JOHN DAVIS, G. M., 3d class. (wound, right leg)*
WILLIAM, LEVERY, Apprentice, lst class. (wound, left leg, very slight)*
HERBERT L. FOSS, Seaman. *
NICK ERICKSON, Coxswain. *
FREEMAN GILL, Gunners Mate, 1st class. *
JOHN MAXWELL, Fireman, 2d class. *
LEONARD CHADWICK, Apprentice, lst class. *
JAMES MEREDITH, Private, U. S. M. C. *
EDWARD SULLIVAN, Private, U. S. M. C. *
DANIEL CAMPBELL, Private, U. S. M. C. *
PATRICK REGAN, Private, U.S.M.C. (fatally wounded)
E. SUNTZENICH, Apprentice, 1st Class
JULIUS A. R. WILKE, Boatswains mate, 1st Class*
Lt. Winslow was slightly wounded in the hand
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 19 November 1868, Pittsburgh, Pa. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 521, 7 July 1899. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the cutting of the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Blume set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.
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