Puerto Rico campaign in the context of Battles of the Spanish–American War

⭐ Core Definition: Puerto Rico campaign

The Puerto Rico campaign was the American military sea and land operation in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War, which resulted in the invasion, occupation, and annexation of the archipelago and island by the United States, and the cession of said territory by Spain. The offensive began on May 12, 1898, when the United States Navy attacked the capital, San Juan. Though the damage inflicted on the city was minimal, the Americans were able to establish a blockade in the city's harbor, San Juan Bay. On June 22, the cruiser Isabel II and the destroyer Terror delivered a Spanish counterattack, but were unable to break the blockade and Terror was damaged.

The land offensive began on July 25, when 1,300 infantry soldiers led by Major General Nelson A. Miles disembarked off the coast of Guánica. After winning the first skirmish, the Americans advanced to Coamo, where they engaged Puerto Rican and Spanish troops in battle. With two defenders and four Americans dead, the defenders retreated. The United States forces were able to seize control of Fajardo on August 1, but were forced to withdraw on August 5 after a group of 200 Puerto Rican–Spanish soldiers led by Pedro del Pino counterattacked, while most civilian inhabitants fled to the nearby lighthouse. The Americans encountered more opposition as they advanced towards the main island's interior. They engaged in two crossfires in Guamaní River and Coamo, both of which were inconclusive as the allied soldiers retreated. A battle in San Germán concluded in a similar fashion with the Spanish retreating to Lares.

↓ Menu

HINT:

👉 Puerto Rico campaign in the context of Battles of the Spanish–American War

During the Spanish–American War, the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy fought 30 significant battles against the Spanish Army and Spanish Navy. Of these, 27 occurred in the Caribbean theater and three in the Pacific theater. The Caribbean theater consisted of two campaigns — the Puerto Rico campaign, which included ten battles, and the Cuba campaign, consisting of 17 battles — while the Pacific theater had one campaign — the Philippine campaign, with two battles — and the capture of Guam.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

↓ Explore More Topics

In this Dossier

⭐ Core Definition: Puerto Rico campaign
👉 Puerto Rico campaign in the context of Battles of the Spanish–American War
Puerto Rico campaign in the context of List of governors of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico campaign in the context of Las Cabezas de San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Puerto Rico campaign in the context of List of governors of Puerto Rico

This list of governors of Puerto Rico includes all persons who have held the office of Governor of Puerto Rico since its establishment under the rule of the Spanish Empire (1508–1898) to the present under the sovereignty of the United States (1898–present).

The archipelago and island of Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States during the Spanish-American War in 1898, ending 390 years of active rule by the Spanish Empire, which began the European exploration, colonization, and settlement of the main island under conquistador Juan Ponce de León in 1508. Ponce de León was the first person to hold the title and office of governor by orders of King Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1509. The governor remained an appointee of the Spanish Crown during Spanish rule, and was an appointee of the President of the United States during American rule until 1948, when the residents of Puerto Rico began to popularly elect the governor, starting with Luis Muñoz Marín, who took office in 1949.

View the full Wikipedia page for List of governors of Puerto Rico

↑ Return to Menu

Puerto Rico campaign in the context of Las Cabezas de San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Las Cabezas de San Juan (Spanish for 'the San Juan capes' or 'headlands'), officially Cabo San Juan (Cape San Juan in English), is a coastal area and nature reserve located in the northeastern corner of the main island of Puerto Rico, particularly in the Cabezas barrio of the municipality of Fajardo. The reserve is famous for its biodiversity, with its bioluminescent lagoon (Laguna Grande, one of the three year-round bioluminescent bodies of water in the territory and one of seven in the Caribbean), its coral reefs, and its subtropical dry and mangrove forests, and for its history, particularly for its lighthouse and its role during the Puerto Rico campaign of the Spanish–American War.

View the full Wikipedia page for Las Cabezas de San Juan (Puerto Rico)

↑ Return to Menu