List of battles of the Spanish–American War

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Template:Short description Template:Campaignbox Spanish American War Theaters During the Spanish–American War, the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy fought 30 significant battles against the Spanish Army and Spanish Navy.Template:Efn Of these, 27 occurred in the Caribbean theater and three in the Pacific theater. The Caribbean theater consisted of two campaigns — the Puerto Rico campaign, which included ten battles, and the Cuba campaign, consisting of 17 battles — while the Pacific theater had one campaign — the Philippine campaign, with two battles — and the capture of Guam.

Overview

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The United States Navy battleship Template:USS was mysteriously sunk in Havana harbor on 15 February 1898;Template:Efn political pressures from the Democratic Party pushed the administration of Republican President William McKinley into a war that he had wished to avoid.<ref>Beede (1994), p. 148.</ref> Spain promised multiple times that it would reform the government of Cuba, but never delivered. The United States sent an ultimatum to Spain demanding that it surrender control of Cuba on 20 April. After the ultimatum was sent, Madrid declared war on 23 April and Washington responded with its own declaration two days later.<ref>Beede (1994), p. 120.</ref>

The main issue was Cuban independence; the ten-week war was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. After the declaration of war, the U.S. Navy blockaded ports such as Havana and Cardenas. The Spanish attempted to lift the blockades on Cardenas and Matanzas,<ref name=Tucker385 /> finally succeeding after failing once at Cardenas.<ref name=Richard96 /> Commodore Dewey successfully destroyed the Spanish Pacific Fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, but failed to land troops.<ref name=Grant241 /> The Navy also blockaded Puerto Rico and bombarded San Juan, but the Spanish attempted to lift this blockade, succeeding on the second attempt in June.<ref name=Beede364 /> The U.S. Marines also cut telegraph lines under the bay of Cienfuegos, but suffered heavy losses from Spanish fire.<ref name=Beede104 /> The U.S. also captured the port of Guantánamo Bay after a four-day battle, which ended on June 10.<ref name=Tucker265 />

U.S. expeditionary forces landed in Cuba on 22 June and skirmished successfully at Las Guasimas two days later.<ref name=Algers110 /> Meanwhile, the island of Guam was "captured" by the Americans, which consisted of raising of the American flag.<ref name=Rivera6 /> The U.S. also attempted to land forces near Trinidad, but were repulsed by Spanish forces.<ref name=Taussig /> The U.S. forces captured San Juan Heights, which overlooked Santiago de Cuba, after two battles at San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill,<ref name=Tucker400 /> which was preceded by a smaller battle on the San Juan Hill's right flank at El Caney.<ref name=Tucker398 /> The Spanish also attempted to lift the blockade on the port of Manzanillo twice, but failed both times.<ref name=Everett140 /> The Spanish fleet also attempted to escape Santiago harbor, but was destroyed by U.S. gunboats and armored cruisers.<ref name=Grant239 /> After this victory, U.S. forces laid siege to Santiago de Cuba for 14 days, until the Spanish forces surrendered, but there were several skirmishes afterwards.<ref name=Algers213 /> The Spanish managed to cut the United States blockade at Manzanillo,<ref name=Everett140 /> but the Americans sunk two Spanish ships at Nipe Bay.<ref name=Everett115 /> The Americans also tried to land at Mani-Mani, which was west of Havana, but were repulsed by the Spanish.<ref name=Beede365 />

On 23 July, Americans landed close to the port of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Two days later, there was a small skirmish at Yauco, which was won by the Americans. The Spanish retreated and attempted to destroy rail lines to Ponce, but failed to.<ref name=Everett146 /> On 5 August, American forces marched into the town of Guayama, but the Spanish deserted the town several hours earlier.<ref name=Everett147 /> From 8 to 9 August, an American battalion captured the mountain at Coamo, Puerto Rico, on the road to the port of Ponce.<ref name=Everett151 /> At the same time, there was an inconclusive battle at Fajardo, which led to the capture and desertion of a lighthouse.<ref name=Navy /> One day later, the Americans captured Silva Heights. The Americans also landed near Mayaguez, and captured the town with no resistance.<ref name=Tucker385 /> At the Battle of Asomante, the US forces took Asomante and captured many Spanish prisoners.<ref name=Everett161 /> At the same time, American forces also captured Manila. These two battles led to an armistice agreement, which quickly led to the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish–American War.<ref name=Everett156 />

The 1898 Treaty of Paris, which was the result of the American victory in the war, was negotiated on terms favorable to the U.S. which allowed it temporary direct control of Cuba and ceded ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands. The cession of the Philippines involved payment of $20 million ($Template:Inflation today) to Spain in order to cover the Spanish infrastructure.<ref>Beede (2013), p. 289.</ref> The U.S. installed a military government in Cuba immediately after the Treaty of Paris, and eventually let it become an independent republic in 1902.<ref name=Edelstein178>Edelstein (2010), p. 178.</ref> The Philippines also rebelled against U.S. control, which led to the Philippine–American War lasting from 1899 to 1902.<ref name=Tucker479>Tucker (2009), p. 479.</ref> The Spanish also sold the rest of their Pacific islands to Germany under the German–Spanish Treaty.<ref>Schmidt-Brucken & Schuster & Wienburg (2016), p. 204.</ref>

Caribbean Theater

U.S. forces charging at Spanish positions during the Battle of Las Guasimas.

Cuba campaign

Battles Date Conclusion
Battle of Matanzas April 25, 1898 US victory, blockades of the Spanish port of Matanzas.<ref name=Tucker385/>
First Battle of Cardenas May 8, 1898 American victory, Spanish attempts to lift the blockade on Cuba thwarted.<ref name=Richard96>Richard (2001), p. 96.</ref>
Second Battle of Cardenas May 11, 1898 Spanish victory, loosening of the blockade on Cuba.<ref name=Richard96/>
Battle of Cienfuegos May 11, 1898 Inconclusive. Americans cut telegraph cable, but suffered heavy casualties.<ref name=Beede104>Beede (2013), p. 104.</ref>
Battle of Guantánamo Bay June 6–10, 1898 American victory, capture of Guantánamo Bay.<ref name=Tucker265>Tucker (2009), p. 265.</ref>
Battle of Las Guasimas June 24, 1898 American victory, town of Sevilla captured.<ref name=Algers110>Algers (1901), p. 110.</ref>
Battle of Tayacoba June 30, 1898 Spanish victory, Americans fail to land troops.<ref name="Taussig">Taussig (2009), p. 9.</ref>
First Battle of Manzanillo June 30, 1898 Spanish victory, American gunboats fail to capture Manzanillo harbor.<ref name=Everett140>Everett (2010), pp. 140–143.</ref>
Battle of El Caney July 1, 1898 Inconclusive. American forces succeeded on capturing El Caney fort and protecting the right flank at San Juan Hill, but suffered delays and heavy casualties.<ref name=Tucker398>Tucker (2009), pp. 398–400.</ref>
Second Battle of Manzanillo July 1, 1898 Spanish victory, a second attempt to capture Manzanillo harbor fails.<ref name=Everett140/>
Battle of San Juan Hill July 1, 1898 American/Cuban victory, capture of San Juan heights.<ref name=Tucker400>Tucker (2009), pp. 400–402.</ref>
Battle of Aguacate July 1, 1898 Cuban victory, many Spanish forces continue retreat to Santiago.<ref name="Muller">Template:Cite book</ref>
Battle of Santiago de Cuba July 3, 1898 American victory, destruction of six Spanish ships escaping from Santiago harbor.<ref name=Grant239>Grant (2008), p. 239.</ref>
Siege of Santiago de Cuba July 3–17, 1898 American/Cuban victory, surrender of the city of Santiago de Cuba.<ref name=Algers213>Algers (1901), pp. 213-215.</ref>
Third Battle of Manzanillo July 18, 1898 American victory, destruction of Spanish squadron in Manzanillo harbor.<ref name=Everett140/>
Battle of Nipe Bay July 21, 1898 American victory, sinking of two Spanish ships.<ref name=Everett115>Everett (2010), p. 115.</ref>
Battle of Mani-Mani July 23, 1898 Spanish victory, American landing fails.<ref name=Beede365>Beede (2013), p. 365.</ref>

Puerto Rico campaign

Battle Date Conclusion
Bombardment of San Juan May 12, 1898 Spanish defenses damaged.<ref name=Beede364>Beede (2013), p. 364.</ref>
Second Battle of San Juan June 22, 1898 US victory, Spanish attempts to break U.S. blockade fails.<ref name=Beede364/>
Third Battle of San Juan June 28, 1898 Spanish resupply attempts succeed.<ref name=Beede364/>
Battle of Yauco July 25, 1898 US victory, Spanish forces retreat and fail to destroy rail lines.<ref name=Everett146>Everett (2010), p. 146.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Battle of Guayama August 5, 1898 US victory, capture of Guayama<ref name=Everett147>Everett (2010), pp. 147–148.</ref>
Battle of Coamo August 8–9, 1898 US victory, capture of Coamo.<ref name=Everett151>Everett (2010), pp. 151–155.</ref>
Battle of Fajardo August 8–9, 1898 Inconclusive.<ref name=Navy>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Battle of Silva Heights August 10, 1898 US victory, capture of Silva Heights.<ref name=Tucker385>Tucker (2009), p. 385.</ref>
Battle of Mayaguez August 11, 1898 US victory, Spanish forces retreated before the US forces arrived.<ref name=Tucker385/>
Battle of Asomante August 9–13, 1898 US victory, capture of Asomante. This led to the end of the war in Puerto Rico and the end of the Spanish–American War.<ref name=Everett156>Everett (2010), p. 156.</ref>

Pacific Theater

Philippine campaign

Battle Date Conclusion
Battle of Manila Bay May 1, 1898 Decisive American victory, destruction of Spanish Navy′s Pacific squadron.<ref name=Grant241>Grant (2008), pp. 241–243</ref>
Battle of Manila August 13, 1898 American-Filipino victory, capture of Manila.<ref name=Everett161>Everett (2010), p. 161.</ref> This led to the end of the war in the Philippines and the end of the Spanish–American War.<ref name="Everett156" />

Capture of Guam

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Battle Date Conclusion
Capture of Guam June 20–21, 1898 Bloodless US victory, capture of Guam from the Spanish.<ref name=Rivera6>Rivera (2014), p. 6.</ref>

References

Notes

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Citations

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Bibliography

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