Spanish-American War

Theaters of operation

Guam

:For engagements in Guam, please see Battle of Guam (1898) and USS Charleston (C-2).

Related Topics:
Guam - Battle of Guam (1898) - USS Charleston (C-2)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Philippines

The first battle was in the Philippines where on May 1, Commodore George Dewey commanding the United States Pacific fleet, in a matter of hours defeated the Spanish squadron, under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón, at the Battle of Manila Bay. Meanwhile Philippine nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo attacked the Spanish on land. The last significant action on the Philippines ended with the Battle of Manila where the Spanish surrendered Manila to the U.S. army.

Related Topics:
Philippines - May 1 - George Dewey - Patricio Montojo y Pasarón - Battle of Manila Bay - Emilio Aguinaldo - Battle of Manila

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cuba

The first action in Cuba was the establishing of a base at Guantanamo Bay on 10th June by U.S. Marines (see 1898 invasion of Guantanamo Bay).

Related Topics:
Cuba - Guantanamo Bay - U.S. Marines - 1898 invasion of Guantanamo Bay

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The American navy met the Spanish Atlantic fleet in Santiago Bay on July 3. Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond Pearson Hobson was ordered by Admiral Sampson to sink the collier Merrimac. Hobson modified a broken down collier and gathered a small crew of eight volunteers, and rigged the vessel with explosives. The plan was to sink Merrimac in the narrow entry of Santiago Harbor, trapping the Spanish fleet within the harbor. The mission was a failure. Hobson and his crew were captured. They were exchanged on July 6, and Hobson became a national hero.

Related Topics:
Santiago Bay - July 3 - Richmond Pearson Hobson - Collier - July 6

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Americans defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and gained control of the waterways around Cuba. This prevented re-supply of the Spanish forces and also allowed the U.S. to land its considerable forces safely on the island.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt became a war hero when he led a charge up the Kettle Hill at the Battle of San Juan Hill outside of Santiago as lieutenant colonel of the Rough Riders Regiment on July 1. The Americans were aided in Cuba by the pro-independence rebels led by General Calixto García. Unbiased reports depict a much less glorified version of events, where demoralized Spanish troops often more quickly surrendered than fought. The U.S. troops had far more problems dealing with heat and disease than with the Spanish forces, but within a month the island was in U.S. hands.

Related Topics:
Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt - San Juan Hill - Santiago - Rough Riders - July 1 - Calixto García

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Puerto Rico

During May 1898, Lt. Henry H. Whitney of the United States Fourth Artillery was sent to Puerto Rico on a reconnaissance mission, sponsored by the Army's Bureau of Military Intelligence. He provided maps and information on the Spanish military forces to the U.S. government prior to the invasion. On May 10, 1898, U.S. Navy ships were sighted off the coast of Puerto Rico. Spanish gunners stationed at Fort San Cristóbal fired the first shot (a 15-cm breech loaded Ordóñez rifle round), missing the USS Yale, an auxiliary ship under the command of Capt. William Clinton Wise. Two days later on May 12, a squadron of 12 U.S. ships commanded by Rear Adm. William T. Sampson bombarded San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the bombardment, many buildings were shelled, terrifying the population of San Juan. On June 25, the Yosemite blocked San Juan harbor.

Related Topics:
May - 1898 - Henry H. Whitney - May 10 - U.S. Navy - Puerto Rico - Fort San Cristóbal - USS ''Yale'' - William Clinton Wise - May 12 - William T. Sampson - San Juan, Puerto Rico - June 25 - ''Yosemite''

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On July 18, General Nelson A. Miles, commander of the invading forces, received orders to sail for Puerto Rico to land his troops. On July 21, a convoy of 3,300 soldiers and nine transports escorted by the USS Massachusetts sailed for Puerto Rico from Guantánamo, Cuba. On July 25, U.S. troops landed at Guanica, Puerto Rico and took over the island with little resistance.

Related Topics:
July 18 - Nelson A. Miles - July 21 - USS ''Massachusetts'' - Guantánamo - July 25 - Guanica, Puerto Rico

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~