THE SECOND STAGE OF COMBINED LAND
OPERATION: EL CANEY AND SAN JUAN HILL
On June 22, the 5th Corps, under the command of Major General William Rufus Shafter, made the second landing attempt at Daiquirí and Siboney, about 30 km away from Santiago de Cuba. Under the protection of the Liberation Army, the landings in these regions with better geography were successful and the Americans established a base in this region to manage the land operation.
On June 24, when the invading forces under the command of Former Confederate General Joseph Wheeler advanced inland, disregarding the warnings of the Cubans, they were ambushed by the Spanish force of approximately 2.000 soldiers led by General Antero Rubín, in Las Guasimas, 4 km away from Siboney. Although the battle ended in favor of the Spanish, they left Las Guasimas because they planned already to retreat to Santiago de Cuba.
At dawn on July 1, US forces, rushing to unite with the US fleet that had blocked Santiago de Cuba Bay, attacked the forts on El Caney and San Juan Hill which belonged to the outer land defense system of Santiago de Cuba. They believed that their capture would force the Spanish to immediately surrender. US forces consisted of 15.000 soldiers from volunteers and various army units (Buffalo Soldier regiments, Roosevelt's Rough Riders, etc.). 1.200 mambises under the command of General González Clavel also fought alongside the Americans. The number of the Spanish soldiers was approximately 1.300.
El Caney was defended by about 600 Spanish soldiers at the El Viso fort, which lacked cannons and machine guns, but the Spanish fortification on the San Juan hill was stronger. The Americans therefore directed most of their troops to San Juan Hill. The bloody battle lasted throughout the day. Despite being under intense artillery fire, the Spanish soldiers fought until they ran out of ammunition and only a few soldiers from the garrison remained alive. While San Juan Hill was captured around 4 PM, the Americans also succeeded in occupying El Caney, El Viso and Aguadores.
SIEGE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA FROM LAND
After the San Juan Hill and El Caney were taken, the advance of the American forces stopped, as the Spanish successfully defended the Canosa Fort, which the Americans attacked in waves. Even wounded Spanish soldiers in the hospital rushed to defend the Fort and to bar the entry to Santiago de Cuba. Thus, occupying forces couldn’t enter the city. Even though they surrounded the city, there was a lot of loss of life due to the Spanish fire. Meanwhile, the Spanish launched an attack at night to recapture the San Juan Hill, but they suffered many losses in this unsuccessful action.
Spanish forces at Guantánamo were initially unaware that Santiago de Cuba was under siege because communications were blocked. In addition, the Cubans surrounded the city tightly and ensured that no news from the city could leak out. Many people were caught as spies and executed. None of the requests for help from General Linares, who defended the city, reached Pareja, the commander of the troops at Guantánamo. Even when they had the news, they could not break through the Cuban troops in the north and came to help. Another reason was that the Spanish believed that the Americans would invade the island, starting from Guantánamo; therefore, General Pareja had received orders from his superiors to protect Guantánamo at all costs.
At night, Cuban soldiers dig into the ground to create mound-shaped trenches. Later, American soldiers settled here. The next night, this process was repeated a little further, allowing the Americans to advance. Near the west of the city, news that Cuban general Calixto Garcia was approaching the city caused great panic and fear of retaliation among the Spanish forces.
Diseases caused by extremely hot weather and mosquitoes (yellow fever) were common in American forces.
On June 22, the 5th Corps, under the command of Major General William Rufus Shafter, made the second landing attempt at Daiquirí and Siboney, about 30 km away from Santiago de Cuba. Under the protection of the Liberation Army, the landings in these regions with better geography were successful and the Americans established a base in this region to manage the land operation.
On June 24, when the invading forces under the command of Former Confederate General Joseph Wheeler advanced inland, disregarding the warnings of the Cubans, they were ambushed by the Spanish force of approximately 2.000 soldiers led by General Antero Rubín, in Las Guasimas, 4 km away from Siboney. Although the battle ended in favor of the Spanish, they left Las Guasimas because they planned already to retreat to Santiago de Cuba.
At dawn on July 1, US forces, rushing to unite with the US fleet that had blocked Santiago de Cuba Bay, attacked the forts on El Caney and San Juan Hill which belonged to the outer land defense system of Santiago de Cuba. They believed that their capture would force the Spanish to immediately surrender. US forces consisted of 15.000 soldiers from volunteers and various army units (Buffalo Soldier regiments, Roosevelt's Rough Riders, etc.). 1.200 mambises under the command of General González Clavel also fought alongside the Americans. The number of the Spanish soldiers was approximately 1.300.
El Caney was defended by about 600 Spanish soldiers at the El Viso fort, which lacked cannons and machine guns, but the Spanish fortification on the San Juan hill was stronger. The Americans therefore directed most of their troops to San Juan Hill. The bloody battle lasted throughout the day. Despite being under intense artillery fire, the Spanish soldiers fought until they ran out of ammunition and only a few soldiers from the garrison remained alive. While San Juan Hill was captured around 4 PM, the Americans also succeeded in occupying El Caney, El Viso and Aguadores.
SIEGE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA FROM LAND
After the San Juan Hill and El Caney were taken, the advance of the American forces stopped, as the Spanish successfully defended the Canosa Fort, which the Americans attacked in waves. Even wounded Spanish soldiers in the hospital rushed to defend the Fort and to bar the entry to Santiago de Cuba. Thus, occupying forces couldn’t enter the city. Even though they surrounded the city, there was a lot of loss of life due to the Spanish fire. Meanwhile, the Spanish launched an attack at night to recapture the San Juan Hill, but they suffered many losses in this unsuccessful action.
Spanish forces at Guantánamo were initially unaware that Santiago de Cuba was under siege because communications were blocked. In addition, the Cubans surrounded the city tightly and ensured that no news from the city could leak out. Many people were caught as spies and executed. None of the requests for help from General Linares, who defended the city, reached Pareja, the commander of the troops at Guantánamo. Even when they had the news, they could not break through the Cuban troops in the north and came to help. Another reason was that the Spanish believed that the Americans would invade the island, starting from Guantánamo; therefore, General Pareja had received orders from his superiors to protect Guantánamo at all costs.
At night, Cuban soldiers dig into the ground to create mound-shaped trenches. Later, American soldiers settled here. The next night, this process was repeated a little further, allowing the Americans to advance. Near the west of the city, news that Cuban general Calixto Garcia was approaching the city caused great panic and fear of retaliation among the Spanish forces.
Diseases caused by extremely hot weather and mosquitoes (yellow fever) were common in American forces.
NAVAL BATTLE
Admiral Pascual Cevera, the commander of the Spanish fleet whose movement was blocked by the American fleet in the Bay of Santiago de Cuba, was thinking of abandoning the ships and joining the Spanish forces on land after the Americans managed to approach the city and, if necessary, sinking the ships to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Americans, because trying to take the ships out of the bay would mean suicide. However, the Spanish government was against this and was in favor of the Spanish navy fighting with the American navy and being defeated with dignity, even if it would be defeated.
Finally, Cevera made a political decision and decided to force the navy out of the bay by fighting American warships, and then go to Havana or Cienfuegos with as many ships as he could escape from the American fleet. Undoubtedly, the capture of El Caney and San Juan Hill by the Americans was effective in his decision. It was also discussed whether the ships would attempt this action day or night, and it was decided to start the operation in the morning, because the mouth of the bay was narrow and was also controlled by American warships which were illuminating the surroundings, lined up 1 mile apart; that's why the ships had to leave the bay one by one under the conditions of that day. According to the plan, Maria Teresa, the flagship of the fleet, would be the first ship to move. It would attempt to ram Brooklyn, the fastest armored cruiser in the United States, giving way to the pursuing battleships Vizcaya, Cristóbal Colón, Almirante Oquendo, and finally two smaller destroyers.
However, the plan did not work as desired. Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Furor and Vizcaya, which were heavily damaged under the rain of fire, ran aground, while Pluto sank. Cristóbal Colón was the one who resisted the longest. When the Spanish realized that the ship would fall into the hands of the Americans, they sank the ship by opening the bottom taps. The most severely damaged warship in the US Navy was Brooklyn, but it was capable of navigation. The other ships did not suffer much damage. In this naval battle, 323 Spanish soldiers lost their lives, 151 were injured, and 1720 were captured. On the American side, only 1 soldier died and 3 people were injured.
After a naval battle that lasted one or two hours on July 3, the Spanish fleet in the Caribbean, known as the sixth best of its time, was destroyed. One of the reasons why the Spanish bravely defended the city was the presence of the navy they trusted so much, but the complete destruction of the navy in front of them, created deep demoralization among the Spaniards.
With the Spanish navy's guns out of action, the Americans bombarded the city without much response on July 11. The Liberation Army had already taken control of Gascón, El Cobre, and Dos Pedritos and reached Santa Ifigenia Cemetery.
The city surrendered on July 14, 1898, and the US forces occupied the city on July 17.
When the Spanish surrendered the city to the Americans, the USA began to show its true face. Major General Shafter did not allow the Liberation Army to enter Santiago de Cuba.
Less than a week after the surrender of Santiago de Cuba, the base at Guantánamo Bay was used to launch the invasion of Puerto Rico 800 km to the east.
On August 12, the US and Spain agreed in a Peace Protocol so that the fighting stopped. As a result of negotiations lasting more than two months, the official peace agreement, the Treaty of Paris, was signed on December 10, 1898. During these meetings, Cubans were presented only as observers. According to the agreement, the USA took over the Spanish-dominated colonies of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico, and Cuba became an USA protectorate. The agreement was approved by the American Senate on February 6, 1899, and came into force in Cuba on April 11, 1899. Cuba, governed by the US Military Government, established its own civilian government, and with the proclamation of the Republic of Cuba on May 20, 1902, it was announced that the jurisdiction of the Military Government was terminated. Although Cuba gained independence, the United States imposed many restrictions, including controlling Cuba's relations with other countries, and reserved the right to intervene when necessary. The US also ensured that the base in Guantánamo Bay was permanently rented as a "coal and naval base".
Admiral Pascual Cevera, the commander of the Spanish fleet whose movement was blocked by the American fleet in the Bay of Santiago de Cuba, was thinking of abandoning the ships and joining the Spanish forces on land after the Americans managed to approach the city and, if necessary, sinking the ships to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Americans, because trying to take the ships out of the bay would mean suicide. However, the Spanish government was against this and was in favor of the Spanish navy fighting with the American navy and being defeated with dignity, even if it would be defeated.
Finally, Cevera made a political decision and decided to force the navy out of the bay by fighting American warships, and then go to Havana or Cienfuegos with as many ships as he could escape from the American fleet. Undoubtedly, the capture of El Caney and San Juan Hill by the Americans was effective in his decision. It was also discussed whether the ships would attempt this action day or night, and it was decided to start the operation in the morning, because the mouth of the bay was narrow and was also controlled by American warships which were illuminating the surroundings, lined up 1 mile apart; that's why the ships had to leave the bay one by one under the conditions of that day. According to the plan, Maria Teresa, the flagship of the fleet, would be the first ship to move. It would attempt to ram Brooklyn, the fastest armored cruiser in the United States, giving way to the pursuing battleships Vizcaya, Cristóbal Colón, Almirante Oquendo, and finally two smaller destroyers.
However, the plan did not work as desired. Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Furor and Vizcaya, which were heavily damaged under the rain of fire, ran aground, while Pluto sank. Cristóbal Colón was the one who resisted the longest. When the Spanish realized that the ship would fall into the hands of the Americans, they sank the ship by opening the bottom taps. The most severely damaged warship in the US Navy was Brooklyn, but it was capable of navigation. The other ships did not suffer much damage. In this naval battle, 323 Spanish soldiers lost their lives, 151 were injured, and 1720 were captured. On the American side, only 1 soldier died and 3 people were injured.
After a naval battle that lasted one or two hours on July 3, the Spanish fleet in the Caribbean, known as the sixth best of its time, was destroyed. One of the reasons why the Spanish bravely defended the city was the presence of the navy they trusted so much, but the complete destruction of the navy in front of them, created deep demoralization among the Spaniards.
With the Spanish navy's guns out of action, the Americans bombarded the city without much response on July 11. The Liberation Army had already taken control of Gascón, El Cobre, and Dos Pedritos and reached Santa Ifigenia Cemetery.
The city surrendered on July 14, 1898, and the US forces occupied the city on July 17.
When the Spanish surrendered the city to the Americans, the USA began to show its true face. Major General Shafter did not allow the Liberation Army to enter Santiago de Cuba.
Less than a week after the surrender of Santiago de Cuba, the base at Guantánamo Bay was used to launch the invasion of Puerto Rico 800 km to the east.
On August 12, the US and Spain agreed in a Peace Protocol so that the fighting stopped. As a result of negotiations lasting more than two months, the official peace agreement, the Treaty of Paris, was signed on December 10, 1898. During these meetings, Cubans were presented only as observers. According to the agreement, the USA took over the Spanish-dominated colonies of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico, and Cuba became an USA protectorate. The agreement was approved by the American Senate on February 6, 1899, and came into force in Cuba on April 11, 1899. Cuba, governed by the US Military Government, established its own civilian government, and with the proclamation of the Republic of Cuba on May 20, 1902, it was announced that the jurisdiction of the Military Government was terminated. Although Cuba gained independence, the United States imposed many restrictions, including controlling Cuba's relations with other countries, and reserved the right to intervene when necessary. The US also ensured that the base in Guantánamo Bay was permanently rented as a "coal and naval base".