On 3 April she arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Norfolk, Virginia and was outfitted with two six-pound rapid-fire guns and a Colt automatic machine gun. Additionally, the pilothouse was armored with  steel plate. On 11 May 1898 Hudson, along with the U.S. Navy warships , , and , had pursued three Spanish gunboats into the Bay of Cardenas, Cuba.
On April 3, 1898, she docked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, where she was upgraded with two six-pound rapid-fire cannons and a Colt machine gun. Additionally, her pilothouse was reinforced with steel plating. On May 11, 1898, Hudson joined U.S. Navy warships , , and , in pursuit of three Spanish gunboats into the Bay of Cardenas, Cuba.