Battle of San Juan/El Caney
The Battle of San Juan/El Caney, fought in July 1898 during the Spanish-American War, was a significant military engagement between the United States and Spanish forces in Cuba. Spanish General Arsenio Linares Pomba defended San Juan Heights and El Caney with a total of approximately 1,020 soldiers, anticipating assaults from both land and naval forces. The U.S. Army, led by General William R. Shafter, launched an offensive with around 5,000 troops targeting El Caney, where they faced fierce resistance and endured a protracted nine-hour struggle before the Spanish retreated. Concurrently, a larger contingent advanced on San Juan Heights, where Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders famously charged up Kettle Hill, playing a pivotal role in the U.S. offensive. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, with the U.S. suffering 205 killed and 1,180 wounded, while the Spanish recorded 215 killed and 376 wounded. Ultimately, the fall of Santiago de Cuba precipitated the retreat of the Spanish fleet, marking a crucial turning point in the war. The events at San Juan and El Caney exemplified the intense combat and strategic challenges faced during this pivotal conflict.
Battle of San Juan/El Caney
Date: July 1, 1898
Location: Hills east of the harbor of Santiago in eastern Cuba
Combatants: 10,000 Spanish vs. 17,000 Americans
Principal commanders:Spanish, General Arsenio Linares Pomba (1848–1914); American, General William R. Shafter (1835–1906)
Result: The United States captured Santiago.
Spanish General Arsenio Linares Pomba confronted the possibility of attacks from the west by the powerful U.S. fleet that blockaded the harbor and from the east by General William R. Shafter’s army. He chose to concentrate his defenses to the west and stationed only 500 soldiers atop San Juan Heights (including Kettle Hill) and another 520 on his northern flank at El Caney.
The offensive came from the east. Shafter sent 5,000 men against El Caney, but instead of a quick victory, the U.S. soldiers struggled for nine hours before the stubborn Spanish fell back. Meanwhile, the main U.S. force advanced on San Juan Heights. While Spanish soldiers poured down deadly fire, a group of volunteers under Colonel Theodore Roosevelt launched their famous charge up Kettle Hill. Roosevelt’s Rough Riders were at the forefront of an 8,000-man offensive that eventually overwhelmed the outnumbered Spanish. Both sides endured heavy casualties. The United States lost 205 killed and 1,180 wounded. The Spanish suffered 215 killed and 376 wounded. The fall of Santiago prompted Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete’s fleet to flee the harbor and face destruction by the U.S. Navy.