▁January ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 1 8 9 3 . ▁He ▁assumed ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁batt les hip ▁ ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 8 9 7 . ▁On ▁February ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁made ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁In qu iry ▁to ▁investigate ▁the ▁destruction ▁of ▁the ▁. ▁On ▁March ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 , ▁he ▁assumed ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁Atlantic ▁Squadron , ▁with ▁the ▁temporary ▁rank ▁of ▁R ear ▁Admir al . ▁ ▁Spanish – American ▁War ▁ ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁declared ▁war ▁against ▁Spain ▁on ▁April ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ; ▁and , ▁eight ▁days ▁later , ▁Admir al ▁P asc ual ▁Cer vera ' s ▁fleet ▁sa iled ▁from ▁the ▁Cape ▁Ver de ▁Islands ▁for ▁an ▁uncertain ▁destination . ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Sam pson , ▁in ▁flags hip ▁, ▁put ▁to ▁sea ▁from ▁Key ▁West . ▁Sam pson ' s ▁early ▁invol vement ▁in ▁the ▁conflict ▁included ▁his ▁super vision ▁of ▁the ▁Cub an ▁block ade , ▁which ▁last ed ▁for ▁the ▁duration ▁of ▁the ▁war , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁bomb ard ment ▁of ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁San ▁Juan ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 . ▁After ▁initially ▁being ▁sent ▁to ▁block ade ▁Hav ana ▁itself , ▁Sam pson ▁was ▁given ▁orders ▁to ▁intercept ▁Admir al ▁Cer vera ' s ▁squad ron , ▁but ▁with ▁only ▁a ▁vague