A highly stylized depiction of the American advance onto Spanish positions at Las Guasimas, June 24, 1898
Battle of Las Guasimas
Conflict	Spanish-American War
Date	June 24, 1898
Place	near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Result	Pyrrhic American victory
Combatants United States Cuban Rebels Spain Commanders Joseph Wheeler Anterio Rubin Strength 1,000 1,000 Casualties 16 dead 54 wounded 10 dead 14 wounded
Santiago Campaign Las Guasimas – El Caney – San Juan Hill – Santiago de Cuba – Santiago

The Battle of Las Guasimas was the first true clash of arms in the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American War. Image of Las Guasimas from The University of San Diego The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in eastern Cuba. ... Joseph Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician who fought during the Civil War and Spanish-American War and served as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. ... Battle of El Caney Conflict Spanish-American War Date July 1, 1898 Place El Caney, Cuba Result Indecisive The Battle of El Caney was fought on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. ... Battle of San Juan Hill Conflict Spanish-American War Date July 1, 1898 Place near Santiago, Cuba Result American victory The Battle of San Juan Hill was the bloodiest and most famous battle of the Spanish-American War. ... The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War, and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron (also known as the Flota del Ultramar) and dashed the hopes of Spain for preventing a blockade of Cuba. ... Siege of Santiago Conflict Spanish-American War Date July 3-17, 1898 Place Santiago, Cuba Result U.S. victory The Siege of Santiago also known as the Siege of Santiago de Cuba was the last major operation of the Spanish-American War on the island of Cuba. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ...

A contingent of Spaniards, having fought a skirmish with American landing forces near Siboney on June 23, had retired to their lightly entrenched positions at Las Guasimas and repulsed American and Cuban raids. The task of dislodging the enemy fell upon General Wheeler, in overall command of the Rough Riders volunteer cavalry, 1st Regular Cavalry, and 10th Regular Cavalry, who marched his force out from Siboney the next day. Roosevelt and the Rough Riders atop San Juan Heights, 1898 The Rough Riders was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry regiment during the Spanish-American War. ...

The battle commenced with the opening volley of American artillery. Spanish infantry returned fire, peppering advancing American regiments with rifle shots. Despite the enemy's bright white uniforms, many American troops had difficulty locating Spanish soldiers, whose 1893 Mauser rifles fired modern smokeless propellants. Heavy foliage resulted in only light casualties on either side. Mauser is the common name of German arms manufacturer Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH, as well as the line of bolt action rifles they built for the German armed forces. ... Smokeless powder is the name given to any number of gunpowder-like propellants used in firearms which produce neglegible smoke when fired, unlike the older black powder which it replaced. ...

Faced with a stubborn American advance, the Spanish began withdrawing in the direction of Santiago. Clearing the ridge, the Americans charged Spanish entrenchments. The last of the Spaniards retreated. Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in eastern Cuba. ...

The American force briefly occupied Las Guasimas in anticipation of a counterattack that never came. Finding the position of minimal strategic importance, they buried their dead and withdrew, plagued by minor outbreaks of influenza. Negatively stained flu virions. ...

This engagement was featured in the movie Rough Riders starring Tom Berenger as Theodore Roosevelt. Tom Berenger (born May 31, 1949) is a American actor known mainly for his roles in action films. ... Order: 26th President Vice President: Charles Warren Fairbanks Term of office: September 14, 1901 – March 3, 1909 Preceded by: William McKinley Succeeded by: William Howard Taft Date of birth: October 27, 1858 Place of birth: New York City Date of death: January 6, 1919 Place of death: Oyster Bay, New...