The War with Spain
April to July 1898
In early1898 the 4th
U.S. Infantry Regiment was garrisoned at
Fort Sheridan, Illinois. When war was declared the regiment was ordered from
Ft. Sheridan to Tampa, Florida
where the Army was concentrating.
Initially the regiment was
going to participate in an immediate invasion of Cuba. However, due to a hue
and cry raised by the many state representatives in congress and Governors the invasion was postponed to allow the state volunteer
formations muster and participate in a campaign in Cuba.
The regiment arrived in Tampa
and was assigned initially to the 1st division. However, by the time
the army left for Cuba the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division under Colonel Evan
S. Miles.
On June 14 the 5th
corps sailed for Cuba. The 4th Infantry sailed on the steamer “Concho”
landing at Daiquiri. The first engagement for the regiment was on was at El Caney. El Caney was a city northeast of Santiago the objective of the 5th corps
movements since landing. Capturing El Caney would secure the road to Santiago
and prevent the Spanish from sending in reinforcements.
El Caney was defended by
over 500 entrenched Spanish soldiers armed with Mauser rifles. In addition to
the city was defended by a series of blockhouses especially the stone fort of El Viso.
When the Army attacked El
Caney the 2nd Brigade was held in reserve. Due to the tenacity of
the Spanish defense the 2nd brigade was ordered to assault El Caney from the south.
As the 4th Infantry advanced they were flanked on their left by the 1st U.S. infantry. On their right was the 24th U.S. infantry. About
300 yards from El Caney just after the regiment had crossed a sunken road they were hit with withering fire from El Caney
and El Viso. Among the first hit was Lt. William C. Neary of company G. There were many acts of bravery on the part of the regiment at El Caney. However, it was not until El Viso was captured before the Spanish surrendered.
Next the regiment marched
to join the rest of the 5th Corps in a siege of Santiago. During the
march toward Santiago Spanish skirmishers fired on the 4th Infantry killing Lt. John G. Bernard. Skirmishers from the regiment drove off the Spanish riflemen.
Upon reaching Santiago the
regiment immediately entrenched under the hot tropical sun. No sooner had they
finished digging in when they were ordered to relocate to another position further east.
As they marched away the 71st New York volunteers occupied their trenches.
It is not known whether they thanked the 4th Infantry for leaving them such fine trenches.
The regiment entrenched again
and over the next few days traded volley fire with the Spanish defenders of Santiago.
The regiment was preparing to take part in an all out attack when the Spanish surrendered.
The regiment was hurriedly
evacuated with the rest of the 5th corps to Camp Wyckoff Long Island, New York.
This was done to prevent tropical diseases from further devastating the 5th Corps.
In September 1898 the regiment
returned to Fort Sheridan.
