 On that day, American forces aboard the "Florida" near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area prior to a planned deployment of Cuban resistance fighters in the area.The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire; their boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore.The men aboard the "Florida" launched several rescue attempts; the first four were forced to retreat under heavy fire.