Battle of Las Guasimas

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A fanciful depiction of the U.S. advance at Las Guasimas.

Date	June 24, 1898
Location	Sevilla, near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Result	Indecisive

Combatants

United States
Republic of Cuba

Spain

Commanders

Joseph Wheeler

Antero Rubín

Strength

1,300 regulars
800 guerrilleros
4 field guns
2 machine guns

1,500 regulars
2 field guns

Casualties

16 dead
54 wounded

10 dead
24 wounded

Cuban Campaign
Cárdenas – Cienfuegos – Guantánamo Bay – Las Guasimas – Tayacoba – Aguadores – El Caney – San Juan Hill – Naval Santiago – Santiago – Manimani

The Battle of Las Guasimas, the first true clash of arms in the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American War, was a bloody skirmish which ended indecisively in favour of Spain on June 24, 1898.

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 with some difficulty. The task of dislodging the enemy fell to Major General (of volunteers) and former confederate cavalry officer, "Fighting" Joe Wheeler. He was in overall command of the division that included the 1st US Volunteer cavalry, or Rough Riders, 1st Regular Cavalry, and the 10th Regular Cavalry of the famed African-American Buffalo Soldiers, who marched his force out from Siboney the next day.

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.

Having bloodied the advancing Americans to their satisfaction, the Spanish embarked on their planned retreat in the direction of Santiago. American casualties, amounting to almost 10% of those engaged, were fairly heavy considering the battle's short duration.

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.

This engagement was featured in the movie Rough Riders starring Tom Berenger as Theodore Roosevelt.