America at War

Spanish-American War

1898

January 25 - USS Maine is sent to Havana, Cuba.

February 8 - Letter written by Senor Dupuy de Lome, Spanish Minister to the United States, is published. Derogatory of President McKinley, the letter leads to his resignation. Senor Luis Polo y Bernabe is named the new Minister.
February 15 - USS Maine is destroyed by an explosion in Havana's harbor. Two hundred sixy-six killed.
February 17 - Court of inquiry into the loss of the USS Maine is ordered by the Commander of the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral Sicard.
February 19 - United States declines a Spanish request for a joint investigation into the destruction of the Maine.
February 21 - The U.S. Senate orders an investigation into the loss of the Maine.

March 8-9 - A $50 million emergency fund at President McKinley's disposal is passed by Congress.
March 16 - Spain objects to the U.S. fleet's presence at Key West and other heightened defense activities.
March 19 - Senator Proctor of Vermont gives his personal observations on Cuba to the Senate.
March 28 - Congress receives the report on the Maine from the Court of Inquiry.

April 5 - Consul General Lee recalled from Cuba.
April 10 - Consul General Lee departs Cuba.
April 11 - President McKinley recommends armed intervention in Cuba in a message to Congress.
April 15 - U.S. Army mobilized.
April 16 - Senate passes Belligerency Resolutions.
April 19 - Resolutions demanding Spanish withdrawal from Cuba passed by Congress.
April 20 - Queen opens Cortes with war speech. Government announces its opposition to privateering. President McKinley signs notification to the nations of intent to blockade.
April 21 - Spain severs diplomatic relations with the United States. President McKinley cables U.S. ultimatum to Spain, demanding a reply by April 23. Spanish Minister leaves Washington.
April 22 - American squadron blockades Cuban ports.
April 23 - Proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers is issued by President McKinley.
April 24 - Spain declares war on United States.
April 25 - Resolution declaring a state of war has existed since April 21 is passed by Congress.
April 26 - Volunteer recruitment began in New York City.
April 27 - Seventh Regiment from New York declines to enlist.
April 28 - Commodore Dewey's fleet sails for Manila from Hong Kong.
April 29 - Spanish squadron sails for the West Indies from Cape Verde.
April 30 - Commodore Dewey's fleet arrives at Manila.

May 1 - Spanish fleet at Manila destroyed by Dewey's fleet. USS Topeka (a cruiser) arrives in New York from Falmouth.
May 2 - Dewey cuts Manila-Hong Kong cable.
May 4 - USS Oregon (battleship) and USS Marietta (gunboat) sail for Rio de Janeiro.
May 7 - State Department informed of seizure of Cavite by Commodore Dewey.
May 9 - Congress thanks Dewey. New York Governor disbands Thirteenth Regiment.
May 11 - USS Winslow (torpedo boat) shelled by Spanish forts at Cardenas. Five killed.
May 12 - Spanish forts at San Juan, Puerto Rico bombarded by U.S. squadron under Admiral Sampson. Spanish fleet arrives at Fort de France, Martinique from Cape Verde.
May 13 - Commodore Schley's fleet sails south to meet the Spanish fleet.
May 14 - Spanish fleet spotted off Curacao.
May 15 - Sagasta's Cabinet resigns. Spanish torpedo-boat destroyer Terror disabled at Fort de France, Martinique. Spainish fleet leaves Curacao. Reorganization of Thirteenth Regiment Authorized by Governor Black.
May 18 - Ninety thousand troops order to mobilize at Chickamauga.
May 20 - Spanish fleet arrives at Santiago, Cuba.
May 24 – Spanish fleet bottled up at Santiago de Cuba.
May 25 – Three troop transports depart for Manila. Seventy-five thousand more volunteers called for by President McKinley.
May 26 – USS Oregon arrives at Key West. Insurgent leaders contacted by Commodore Schley. New York Ninth and Sixy-ninth Regiments arrive at Chattanooga. No opposition to Florida expedition landing near Guantanamo, Cuba.
May 29 - Trapping of Cervera in Santiago harbor reported by Commodore Schley. USS Columbia (cruiser) after colliding with the British steamer Foscolia, which sank.
May 30 - Troops at Tampa embark for Havana.
May 31 - Spanish fort at Santiago bombarded by Rear Admiral Sampson's fleet.

June 1 - Transports bound for Manila arrive in Honolulu. USS Monadnock (monitor) ordered to Manila from San Fransisco.
June 3 - Santiago bombarded by U.S. fleet.
June 4 - USS Merrimac (cruiser) sunk in mouth of Santiago harbor.
June 7 - Batteries at Santiago bombarded and silenced by U.S. squadron.
June 8 - Fortifications at Guantanamo Bay assaulted.
June 9 - War revenue conference report agreed on by House.
June 10 - Guantanamo Bay reported held since June 7 by Admiral Sampson. War revenue conference report agreed on by Senate. Marines land at Caimanera.
June 11 - Spaniards kill four Americans at Caimanera.
June 13 - Shafter's troops sail for Santiago.
June 14 - Two Americans and several hundred Spaniards killed at Caimanera.
June 15 - Second expedition sails for Manila from San Fransisco. Use of dynamite guns on USS Vesuvius results in great destruction to Santiago forts.
June 17 - Spanish squadron passed Gibraltar after sailing from Cadiz.
June 19 - General Shafter reports that he can take Santiago in 48 hours.
June 20 - Shafter's troops arrive off Santiago de Cuba.
June 22 - Shafter lands portion of his troops.
June 23 - Admiral Camara's fleet arrive at Island of Pantellaria.
June 28 - Blockade of souther Cuba (Cape Franc to Cape Cruz) proclaimed by President McKinley.

July 1 - Santiago assaulted by American forces, outer works captured.
July 2 - American attack on Santiago renewed. Americans lose 1000 killed and wounded and take 2000 Spanish prisoners.
July 3 - Spanish fleet at Santiago destroyed.
July 6 - American gunboats blow up Alfonso XII (transport) off of Mariel. Prisoner exchange takes place outside Santiago.
July 7 - President McKinley signs Hawaiian Annexation Resolution. Subig captured by Admiral Dewey with 1300 prisoners.
July 11 - Admiral Cervera and 746 prisoners transported to Portsmouth, New Hampshire by USS St. Louis (cruiser). Santiago bombarded by American fleet.
July 13 - Yellow fever outbreak in Shafter's army announced.
July 14 - Santiago surrenders.
July 18 - Presidential proclamation provides for government of Santiago. Manzanillo bombarded by American ships; seven Spanish vessels destroyed.
July 21 - General Miles' army at Puerto Rico. American gunboats capture Nipe and sink Jorge Juan (cruiser).
July 25 - U.S. troops land at Guanica, Puerto Rico which surrenders after being fired upon by USS Gloucester.
July 26 - Spanish government, through France, asks U.S. for terms for peace.
July 28 - Ponce, Puerto Rico surrenders and welcomes U.S. troops.
July 30 - President McKinley provides terms for peace to Spanish through France.
July 31 - U.S. troops encounter Spanish troops at Malate, Philippines.

August 9 - Spain accepts McKinley's terms for peace.
August 10 - U.S. forces capture Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
August 12 - War ends, blockades of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Manila lifted.

Spanish-American War

1898

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