The Battle of San Juan Hill was a pivotal engagement during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Past Secretary of State John Hay referred to the armed conflid as “a splendid little war”, the same war would be the precursor to America rising as a colonial power and serve as a one of many grounds for Theodore Roosevelts popularity within the american public. While Colonel Dewey dominated the seas, it was imperative for the United States to back Cuban insurgents capture Santiago de Cuba, a key city held by the spanish.

After the Rough Riders, alongside the 9th and 10th calvalry landed in Daiquiri on the southeastern shore of Cuba. In Daiquiri the troops prepared camp and joined with Cuban allies in order to strategize their campaign.The eventual assault on San Juan Hill was preceded by various skirmishes at Las Guasimas, where American forces, including the Rough Riders and regular army units, encountered Spanish troops. There was considerable difficulty in locating targets, unlike the equipment which the American units were armed with the spanish had smokeless gunpowder. This gave spanish troops a strategic advantage as their positions stayed concealed while they fired off shots from the treetops. These engagements served as a prelude to the main battle.

Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, alongside Colonel Leonard Wood, led the Rough Riders and played a crucial role in the charge up San Juan Hill alongside the 9th and 10th calvalry. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were part of the American forces advancing on San Juan Hill. Their discipline and combat experience proved invaluable, contributing significantly to the American offensive. The tale of the Buffalo Soldiers numerous contributions to the United States cannot be understated.

Accounts of the Battle of San Juan Hill vary regarding which unit reached the summit first. While Roosevelt’s Rough Riders have often been credited, historical discrepancies persist, with many attributing the initial ascent to the Buffalo Soldiers. The charge up San Juan Hill was chaotic and intense. American forces faced challenging terrain, with Spanish troops entrenched on the heights. The combined efforts of the Rough Riders, Buffalo Soldiers, and other units proved decisive. The men who died in the Spanish American War told to be around 385 men, in actuality that’s the number of men who died in battle. Many were unconditioned to the damp weather and 1,000 more men died from various illnesses like yellow fever, dysentary, and malaria.

The Battle of San Juan Hill represented a turning point in the Spanish-American War. The valor displayed by American forces, particularly the Rough Riders and the Buffalo Soldiers, became legendary, contributing to the eventual American victory.

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The Battle of San Juan Hill stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience of American forces, notably the Rough Riders, the Buffalo Soldiers, and other units. Their actions in this pivotal engagement reshaped the course of the Spanish-American War and left an enduring legacy of valor and sacrifice.