Capture of Guam - Aftermath

Aftermath

Glass went ashore and raised an American flag over the fortifications while the bands aboard the Australia and Peking played "The Star-Spangled Banner". His orders included destroying the island's forts, but Glass decided that they were in such disrepair that he left them as they were.

The local people began to trade with the American soldiers on the transports. They sailed to the American ships in small boats loaded with a variety of fruits. The natives believed a nickel (5¢ coin) was worth more than a dime (10¢ coin). The Americans took advantage of this to obtain twice as much fruit for the larger coin as they would for the smaller one. The American troops finally exhausted their supply of coins and thereafter defrauded the locals using polished brass beer checks.

Francisco Portusach and his workers finally completed transferring the coal from City of Peking to Charleston on 22 June. Afterward, Glass took him to his cabin, and appointed him Governor of the island, until the arrival of proper American authority. After saying goodbye to the natives, Charleston and the three transports left the harbor at 16:00, and later joined George Dewey's fleet at Manila.