While our white fellow-citizens justly herald the fame of Ensign Bagley, who was known to the author from his youth, let our colored patriots proclaim the heroism of Tunnell of Accomac.
While not ranking as an official in the navy, yet he was brave, he was faithful and we may inscribe over his grave that "he died doing what he could for his country." War between the United States and Spain began April 21, 1898.

Actual hostilities ended August 12, 1898, by the signing of the protocol by the Secretary of State of the United States for the United States and M.Cambon, the French Ambassador at Washington, acting for Spain.
The war lasted 114 days.

The Americans were victorious in every regular engagement.

In the three-days battle around Santiago, the Americans lost 22 officers and 208 men killed, and 81 officers and 1,203 men wounded, and 79 missing.

The Spanish loss as best estimated was near 1,600 officers and men killed and wounded.
Santiago was surrendered July 17, 1898, with something over 22,000 troops.
General Shatter estimates in his report the American forces as numbering 16,072 with 815 officers..