Battle of El Caney
20°03′21″N 75°46′00″W / 20.05583°N 75.76667°W
| Battle of El Caney | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Spanish–American War | |||||||
The Capture of El Caney, Howard Chandler Christy | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
United States Cuban rebels | Spain | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Henry Lawton |
Joaquín Vara de Rey † Salvador Díaz Ordóñez WIA | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
18,000 4 field guns |
500 2 field guns | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
80–205 dead 1,200 wounded: 137 |
38 killed 138 wounded 160 captured | ||||||
The Battle of El Caney was fought on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. 600 Spanish soldiers held for twelve hours, until they ran out of ammunition, against Henry W. Lawton's 5th US Division, made up of 6,899 men. This action temporarily delayed the American advance on the San Juan Hills, as had been requested of General William Rufus Shafter.: 131 Nevertheless, American forces advanced on San Juan Hill the same day. Though encountering spirited resistance similar to El Caney, the Americans were ultimately victorious, culminating in the capitulation of the Spanish garrison.