United States. A West Indies Naval Campaign Medal (AKA Sampson Medal), Un-named for the U.S.S. Brooklyn

3 Clasps - SANTIAGO (all three). In bronze, un-named, the SANTIAGO clasps undated on their reverses, measuring 38.5 mm in diameter, suspended from a 41 mm (w) x 9 mm (h) bar hanger (brooch) inscribed "U.S.S. BROOKLYN" with pinback, very light contact, original ribbon, near extremely fine. 

Footnotes: 

1. The Sampson Medal was a U.S. Navy campaign medal. The medal was authorized by a Joint resolution of the United States Congress on March 3, 1901. The resolution authorized the Secretary of the Navy to have produced bronze medals to commemorate naval engagements in the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The medal was to be presented to the officers and men of the United States Navy and Marine Corps who participated in engagements and battles that were deemed to be of sufficient importance to merit their commemoration. It was awarded to those personnel who served on ships in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during combat operations in the waters of the West Indies and Cuba. The resolution also stipulated that those who might be eligible for recognition for participation in more than one engagement would not receive a second medal, but would receive a "bronze bar appropriately inscribed, to be attached to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended." The Sampson Medal was also known as the West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, not to be confused with the West Indies Campaign Medal which was a separate award. A similar commemorative decoration was the Dewey Medal, considered senior to the Sampson Medal. The obverse of the medal was designed by Charles E. Barber. It depicts a bust of Admiral Sampson. The reverse was designed by George T. Morgan. It depicts a Navy officer, Sailor, and Marine standing upon a block identifying the action for which the medal was awarded. Suspending the ribbon of the medal is a brooch pin with the name of the recipient's ship. The recipient's name is engraved on the lower rim of the medal, this being one of only two medals officially issued named to a recipient. Campaign clasps or engagement bars were authorized for wear on the ribbon, showing various battles and the ship name which had participated. The medal was issued for forty-seven engagements or skirmishes and some were awarded with several engagement bars. When worn as a ribbon on a military uniform, there were no devices authorized.

2. The U.S.S. Brooklyn (ACR-3/CA-3) was the third United States Navy armored cruiser, the only one to be named at commissioning for a city rather than a state. Ordered for $3,450,420.29 (hull and machinery), she was launched on October 2, 1895 by William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia; sponsored by Miss Ida May Schieren, daughter of Charles A. Schieren, Mayor of Brooklyn, New York; and commissioned on December 1, 1896, Captain Francis Augustus Cook in command. During the Spanish-American War, the Flying Squadron arrived at Cienfuegos, Cuba on May 21, 1898 and established the blockade of that port. On May 26th, the Squadron arrived at Santiago de Cuba, where the Spanish fleet was being held behind the protection of the forts. Brooklyn was a key vessel in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3rd, in which the Spanish Fleet was destroyed. Although she was struck twenty times by whole shot, Brooklyn suffered only one man wounded (Fireman J. Bevins) and one man killed (Chief Yeoman George Henry Ellis).