"resolute" departed new york city on 25 may 1898 assigned to cruise between môle-saint-nicolas, haiti, and santiago de cuba, cuba, in search of the spanish navy squadron commanded by admiral pascual cervera y topete. after calling at key west, florida, on 8 june, "resolute" returned to the southeast cuban coast to assist the u.s. fleet in scouting, relying on her high speed for protection. she was present on 3 july at the battle of santiago de cuba, steaming eastward to warn united states army transports of the spanish squadrons emergence from the harbor of santiago de cuba. subsequently, "resolute" transported spanish prisoners-of-war to the united states, departing the cuban coast on 8 july for charleston, south carolina; newport news, virginia; tompkinsville, new york; and new york city.