Battle of San Juan Hill

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The Battle of San Juan Hill was a pivotal 1898 land engagement in Cuba during the Spanish–American War, famous for the U.S. assault led in part by Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders that helped secure American victory over Spain.

Aliases (1)

Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of San Juan Heights
associatedWith Rough Riders
Theodore Roosevelt
belligerent Spain
United States
casualtiesSide Spanish casualties including killed, wounded, and captured
United States casualties in the thousands including killed and wounded
commander Arsenio Linares y Pombo
Joseph Wheeler
José Toral y Velázquez
Theodore Roosevelt
William Rufus Shafter
conflict Spanish–American War
country Cuba
countryInvolved Spain
United States
date 1898-07-01
followedBy Siege of Santiago de Cuba
historicalPeriod late 19th century
influenced United States public support for the Spanish–American War
public perception of Theodore Roosevelt as a war hero
involvesUnit 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment
1st United States Volunteer Cavalry
24th U.S. Infantry Regiment
9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Rough Riders
Spanish infantry units
location Cuba
near Santiago de Cuba
notableFor U.S. frontal assault against entrenched Spanish positions
prominence of Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership
use of supporting Gatling gun fire by U.S. forces
objective capture of San Juan Heights
seizure of heights overlooking Santiago de Cuba
opponent Spanish Empire
United States of America
partOf Santiago campaign
precededBy Battle of Las Guasimas
result United States victory
strategicImportance decisive in securing American control over eastern Cuba
led to investment and surrender of Santiago de Cuba
subBattle assault on Kettle Hill
terrain fortified heights
hilly terrain
usedWeapon Gatling guns
Krag–Jørgensen rifles
Spanish Mauser rifles
year 1898


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