Battle of San Juan Hill
1898 CE · Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
The Battle of San Juan Hill was fought in 1898 CE in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba between United States and Cuban insurgents vs Spain; American victory; the heights above Santiago were taken and the city surrendered two weeks later.
Battle of San Juan Hill: quick facts
- Date
- 1898 CE
- Location
- Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
- Belligerents
- United States and Cuban insurgents vs Spain
- Commanders
- William Rufus Shafter and Joseph Wheeler (with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders) vs Arsenio Linares
- Result
- American victory; the heights above Santiago were taken and the city surrendered two weeks later.
- Era
- 🦅 American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of San Juan Hill?
During the Santiago campaign of the Spanish-American War, American forces assaulted the fortified San Juan Heights defending the city. Theodore Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up nearby Kettle Hill while regular infantry and Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry stormed San Juan Hill. The hard-fought victory tightened the siege of Santiago and led to the Spanish surrender in Cuba. Roosevelt's celebrated charge made him a national hero, propelling him to the vice presidency and then the White House.
Did you know?
The Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments fought alongside the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill but received far less recognition. They were among the most experienced combat troops in the battle.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of San Juan Hill on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.