Editing Spanish–American War (section)

===Puerto Rico===
{{Main|Puerto Rico campaign}}
[[File:Spanish troops leaving Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, to engage the American forces at Hormiguero, Puerto Rico, 08-10-1898 - NARA - 533437.tiff|thumb|Spanish troops before they departed to engage the American forces at [[Hormigueros, Puerto Rico]]]]

On May 24, 1898, in a letter to Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge wrote, "Porto Rico is not forgotten and we mean to have it".<ref name="Puerto Rico">{{cite web |title=Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/64500545.pdf |website=National Park Service |publisher=United States Department of the Interior |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211073515/https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/64500545.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the same month, Lt. Henry H. Whitney of the United States Fourth Artillery was sent to Puerto Rico on a reconnaissance mission, sponsored by the Army's Bureau of Military Intelligence. He provided maps and information on the Spanish military forces to the U.S. government before the invasion.

The American offensive began on May 12, 1898, when a squadron of 12 U.S. ships commanded by Rear Adm. William T. Sampson of the United States Navy attacked the [[archipelago]]'s capital, [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]. Though the damage inflicted on the city was minimal, the Americans established a [[blockade]] in the city's harbor, [[San Juan Bay]]. On June 22, the [[cruiser]] {{ship|Spanish cruiser|Isabel II||2}} and the [[destroyer]] {{ship|Spanish destroyer|Terror||2}} delivered a [[Second Battle of San Juan|Spanish counterattack]], but were unable to break the blockade and ''Terror'' was damaged.

The land offensive began on July 25, when 1,300 infantry soldiers led by [[Nelson A. Miles]] disembarked off the coast of [[Guánica]]. The first organized armed opposition occurred in [[Yauco]] in what became known as the [[Battle of Yauco]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

This encounter was followed by the [[Battle of Fajardo]]. The United States seized control of [[Fajardo]] on August 1, but were forced to withdraw on August 5 after a group of 200 Puerto Rican-Spanish soldiers led by Pedro del Pino gained control of the city, while most civilian inhabitants fled to a nearby lighthouse. The Americans encountered larger opposition during the [[Battle of Guayama]] and as they advanced towards the main island's interior. They engaged in crossfire at [[Battle of the Guamani River Bridge|Guamaní River Bridge]], [[Battle of Coamo|Coamo]] and [[Battle of Silva Heights|Silva Heights]] and finally at the [[Battle of Asomante]].<ref name="Asomante" /> The battles were inconclusive as the allied soldiers retreated.

A battle in [[San Germán]] concluded in a similar fashion with the Spanish retreating to [[Lares, Puerto Rico|Lares]]. On August 9, 1898, American troops that were pursuing units retreating from Coamo encountered heavy resistance in [[Aibonito]] in a mountain known as ''Cerro Gervasio del Asomante'' and retreated after six of their soldiers were injured. They returned three days later, reinforced with artillery units and attempted a surprise attack. In the subsequent crossfire, confused soldiers reported seeing Spanish reinforcements nearby and five American officers were gravely injured, which prompted a retreat order. All military actions in Puerto Rico were suspended on August 13, after U.S. President William McKinley and French ambassador [[Jules Cambon]], acting on behalf of the Spanish government, signed an [[armistice]] whereby Spain relinquished its sovereignty over Puerto Rico.<ref name="Asomante"/>