SOLDIERS OF THE DEAD: The Hidden Horror of the Santiago Campaign

In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson and Major General William Shafter led American naval and land forces in the pivotal campaign to capture Santiago de Cuba from the Spanish. After the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera slipped into Santiago harbor, Sampson tightened the naval blockade while Shafter landed troops nearby. American forces assaulted the outer defenses of Santiago at San Juan Heights and El Caney, suffering heavy casualties but breaking through. Cervera attempted to escape the harbor, but his fleet was destroyed by the US Navy. With the city under siege, Spanish General Vara del Rey surrendered Santiago to Shafter. However, tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever then decimated the American forces, leading to an emergency evacuation. The fall of Santiago marked a major US victory, but at great cost in lives and health, foreshadowing the challenges of America's new imperial role. Sampson and Shafter were hailed as heroes, but privately grappled with the heavy toll on their men. The campaign ushered in a new era of American power, but raised questions about the costs of imperial ambitions.