It was a nasty war, fueled by a supposition that later proved to be untrue.
In the late 1890s, America was supporting Cuban independence from Spain. American businesses found profits in Cuban trade and resources, and formed power zones in Latin America.
On February 15, 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. 260 of our men were killed. Public opinion, fired up by the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst, fixed the blame on naval mines and the Spanish government. Congress then declared our recognition of the independence of Cuba from Spain on April 19. Spain retaliated by declaring war on the U.S. on April 24th, and Congress declared that a state of war had existed since the 21st of that month.
Commodore George Dewey then won a decisive naval battle in Manila Bay on May 1, the Spanish fleet was destroyed off Santiago Cuba on July 3, and the city of Santiago was surrendered by the Spaniards on July 17.
Meanwhile, the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (the famed Rough Riders), on July 1, assaulted Kettle Hill in the San Juan Heights, led by Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt. He carried a Colt .38 revolver salvaged from the battleship Maine. Just prior to the assault, Captain William O. "Buckey" O'Neill was shot through the head by a sniper bullet, shortly after reportedly declaring that the Spanish bullet wasn't made that could kill him.
Here's picture of Buckey in his dress blues. He had already distinguished himself by being the Sheriff of Yavapai County in Arizona, a good newspaper journalist, and a political activist in Arizona. He had also initiated the Grand Canyon railway, which still runs between Williams and the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Treaty of Paris (ratified by our Senate in 1899) ended the war. It turned out that more of our men died from yellow fever, dysentery and other non-combat causes than perished in battle. The U.S. was given Guam and Puerto Rico and agreed to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippine Islands. Cuba was then independent of Spain and was under U.S. military control for three years until May 20, 1902.
Here are some artifacts from the Spanish American War. The rifle is a Krag-Jorgensen Model 1896 carbine, the type used by the Rough Riders. The cartridges used the new smokeless powder. Teddy Roosevelt, with his political pull, had secured the "latest and greatest" cavalry weapons for his men, while most of the Army was still using black powder .45/70 trapdoor rifles. Note that one of the period .30/40 Krag cartridges in the web belt is tinned to prevent corrosion in humid tropical climates.
As an ironic footnote to the war, in modern times, forensic experts checked out the wreckage of the Maine and went over the ship's blueprints and bills of lading. It was discovered that the explosion of the Maine was internally caused when a coal fire heated an adjacent bulkhead enough to set off powder stores in the hold. The Maine disaster was one of the leading causes of Spain and America going to war, but claims that it was Spain's fault proved to be totally wrong.
Interesting in light of what is going on right now to justify getting involved in Syria!
...and that's your history lesson for today, folks!
John
In the late 1890s, America was supporting Cuban independence from Spain. American businesses found profits in Cuban trade and resources, and formed power zones in Latin America.
On February 15, 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. 260 of our men were killed. Public opinion, fired up by the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst, fixed the blame on naval mines and the Spanish government. Congress then declared our recognition of the independence of Cuba from Spain on April 19. Spain retaliated by declaring war on the U.S. on April 24th, and Congress declared that a state of war had existed since the 21st of that month.
Commodore George Dewey then won a decisive naval battle in Manila Bay on May 1, the Spanish fleet was destroyed off Santiago Cuba on July 3, and the city of Santiago was surrendered by the Spaniards on July 17.
Meanwhile, the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (the famed Rough Riders), on July 1, assaulted Kettle Hill in the San Juan Heights, led by Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt. He carried a Colt .38 revolver salvaged from the battleship Maine. Just prior to the assault, Captain William O. "Buckey" O'Neill was shot through the head by a sniper bullet, shortly after reportedly declaring that the Spanish bullet wasn't made that could kill him.
Here's picture of Buckey in his dress blues. He had already distinguished himself by being the Sheriff of Yavapai County in Arizona, a good newspaper journalist, and a political activist in Arizona. He had also initiated the Grand Canyon railway, which still runs between Williams and the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Treaty of Paris (ratified by our Senate in 1899) ended the war. It turned out that more of our men died from yellow fever, dysentery and other non-combat causes than perished in battle. The U.S. was given Guam and Puerto Rico and agreed to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippine Islands. Cuba was then independent of Spain and was under U.S. military control for three years until May 20, 1902.
Here are some artifacts from the Spanish American War. The rifle is a Krag-Jorgensen Model 1896 carbine, the type used by the Rough Riders. The cartridges used the new smokeless powder. Teddy Roosevelt, with his political pull, had secured the "latest and greatest" cavalry weapons for his men, while most of the Army was still using black powder .45/70 trapdoor rifles. Note that one of the period .30/40 Krag cartridges in the web belt is tinned to prevent corrosion in humid tropical climates.
As an ironic footnote to the war, in modern times, forensic experts checked out the wreckage of the Maine and went over the ship's blueprints and bills of lading. It was discovered that the explosion of the Maine was internally caused when a coal fire heated an adjacent bulkhead enough to set off powder stores in the hold. The Maine disaster was one of the leading causes of Spain and America going to war, but claims that it was Spain's fault proved to be totally wrong.
Interesting in light of what is going on right now to justify getting involved in Syria!
...and that's your history lesson for today, folks!
John
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