Spanish-American War Timeline

1837 Dec 26 Commodore George Dewey Is Born
This flowery tribute captures the sense of romance with which turn-of-the-century Americans regarded the naval hero of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey. In actuality, Dewe...
1895 Winston Churchill Travels To Cuba
"I hope the United States will not force Spain to give up Cuba— unless you are prepared to accept responsibility for the results of such action. If the States care to take Cuba—though this..." —Winston Churchill
1898 Feb 15 USS Maine Explodes off the Coast of Havana
The Maine spent her active career operating along the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean. In January 1898, the Maine was sent from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, to pr...
1898 Apr 25 The United States Formally Declares War On Spain
On April 25,1898, the United States formally declared war against Spain. The Monroe Doctrine, which since 1823 had viewed any European intervention in the Americas as a threat to U.S. se...
1898 May 1 Battle of Manila Bay
The Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged the Spanish Pacific Squadron under A...
1898 May 10 Battle of San Juan
The Battle of San Juan, not to be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill, refers to an American naval attack on the fortifications of San Juan, Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American ...
1898 Jun 6 United States Launches First Attack in the Invasion of Guantanamo Bay
The 1898 Battle of Guantánamo Bay happened June 6–June 10, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, when American and Cuban forces invaded the strategically and commercially important area ...
1898 Jun 20
to 1898 Jun 21
 United States Captures Guam from Kingdom of Spain During the Spanish-American War
The Capture of Guam was a bloodless event between the United States and the Kingdom of Spain during the Spanish-American War. The United States Navy sent a single cruiser, the USS Charles...
1898 Jun 24 Battle of Las Guasimas
The Battle of Las Guasimas of June 24, 1898, part of the Spanish-American War, unfolded from Major General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler's attempt to storm a Spanish position in the jungles surr...
1898 Jul 1 Battle of San Juan Hill
The Battle of San Juan Hill (July 1, 1898) was the bloodiest and most famous battle of the Spanish–American War. It was also one of the greatest victories for the Rough Riders. At San ...
1898 Jul 25 American Forces Land in Guanica, Puerto Rico
The Spanish forces expected the Americans to attack the northern region of the island and concentrated their defenses around San Juan and Arecibo. The Spanish government was also aware of...
1898 Jul 26 Battle of Yauco
After Rivera, the keeper of the Guánica lighthouse, notified Atilio Gaztambide, the mayor of the town of Yauco, located six miles (10 km) north of Guánica, of the American invasion of Gua...
1898 Aug 1
to 1898 Aug 5
 Battle of Fajardo
On August 1, the USS Puritan under the command of Captain Frederic W. Rodgers, was sailing by the coastline of the city of Fajardo, when Rogers noticed the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Jua...
1898 Aug 5 Battle of Guayama
After the town of Yauco was taken, Major General Nelson A. Miles decided to attack the City of Ponce by sea and by land. General Garretson's 6th Illinois and 6th Massachusetts had returne...
1898 Aug 6
to 1898 Aug 9
 Battle of Guamani River Bridge
On August 6, Colonel Coit sent two companies of the 4th Ohio on a reconnaissance mission across and beyond a cast iron bridge that crossed the Río Guanamí (Guamani River). The road beyond...
1898 Aug 9 Battle of Coamo
Shortly after the American soldiers disembarked, a group of Spanish and Puerto Rican units began moving from Ponce to Aibonito, marching through the Carretera Central (Central Highway). T...
1898 Aug 10 Battle of Silva Heights
Brigadier General Theodore Schwan and 2,896 men of his Independent Brigade had landed in Guanica and marched towards occupied Yauco. Schwan and his men were ordered to move westward and t...
1898 Aug 12 Battle of Asomante
The American cavalry pursued the soldiers that had retreated from Coamo, but were not able to reach them until the units had entered Aibonito Pass, a region more commonly known as Asomant...
1898 Dec 10 Treaty of Paris is Signed, Ending the Spanish-American War
American and Spanish delegates met in Paris on October 1, 1898 to produce a treaty that would bring an end to the war after six months of hostilities. The American commission consisted of...
1924 Jun 26 The Dominican Republic Achieves Independence From Spain
The Dominican Republic achieved independence from Spain in 1844. American occupation of the island nation began in 1916, following years of political intervention in the republic. U.S. tr...
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