Commander_Taussig_of_the_USS_Bennington_claims_Wake_Island_for_the_United_States_of_America
Commander (later RADM) Edward D. Taussig of the USS Bennington takes formal possession of Wake Island for the United States with the raising of the flag and a 21-gun salute on January 17, 1899. The only witnesses aside from her crew were seabirds.