The Spanish American War was fought between the United States and Spain and started in 1898 in April. It was a short war, ending in August of 1898, and the end of the War was stopped by the Treaty of Paris that was signed in December 1898. The United States demanded that Spain work to end the fight for independence between Cuba and Spain. It also was thought to be a way to target Spain’s territories across the seas, such as Guam and Puerto Rico. The United States Army fought in the brief war and distinguished themselves on the field of battle.
The war was made worse by the newspapers in America urging and egging the war on. The USS Maine was a United States Warship that was sank, the cause of the sinking was never discovered, but the media claimed it was sunk at the hands of Spain. It was sunk on February 15th 1898. It caused a popular phrase “To Hell With Spain, Remember the Maine.” The US Army was fighting in the war in a couple of different places, one of which was the 1st Volunteer Army Regiment, also known as the “Rough Riders,”
Another landing by US Army Forces was between June 22nd and the 24th, 1898, when soldiers of the US Army V Corps commanded by General William R. Shafter landed to the east of Santiago. They worked to establish the American base of operations. Over the next several weeks they fought Spanish forces in a series of skirmish lines at the Battle of Las Guasimas, and the Battle of El Caney.
The US V corps combined with the 1st Volunteer “Rough Rider” regiment and a united force of about 15,000 U.S. Army forces in volunteer, infantry and Cavalry regiments worked together to advance upon San Juan, and San Juan Hill. Later US President Teddy Roosevelt led the charge up San Juan Hill on or about July 2nd, 1898, more than 200 Army soldiers were killed and 1,200 Army Soldiers were fighting in the courageous and brave fighting. After the fight of San Juan Hill and El Caney, the American Advances were slowed to a halt. The United States later signed a treaty to end the fighting. The United States gained Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam from Spain as a result of the skirmishes and the short war.
