Spanish-American War, 1898

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The war between the United States and Spain was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. The conflict lasted from April to August 1898. As a result, the United States acquired Puerto Rico and Guam and bought the Philippines. Cuba became independent.

The war was fought by U.S. regular forces and state volunteers. About 250,000 enlisted men and 11,000 officers served in this conflict. Most volunteers came from the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. Records for this war are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

UNITED STATES ‑ MILITARY RECORDS ‑ WAR OF 1898

Service Records
Below is an index to service records:


 * General Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served during the War with Spain. National Archives Microfilm Publication M871. (FHL films 1002433–558.)

Individual state indexes are also available for:


 * Louisiana. National Archives Microfilm Publication M240 (FHL film 0880013.)
 * North Carolina. National Archives Microfilm Publication M413 (FHL films 0821907–8.)

The indexes list the soldier’s name, rank, and unit. Entries that refer to miscellaneous personal papers have no corresponding compiled service records. The papers themselves follow the jacket envelopes for most units. See the Family History Library Catalog for complete information on film numbers.

The service records of Florida have been microfilmed:


 * Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served in the Florida Infantry during the War With Spain. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1087. (FHL films 1314126–38.) See the Family History Library Catalog for complete film numbers.

Other service records are available at the National Archives. You may also find military records at state archives, historical societies, and county courthouses. Some are on microfilm at the Family History Library. To find specific microfilm numbers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

[STATE] ‑ MILITARY RECORDS ‑ WAR OF 1898

Records of Officers
A list of volunteer officers is in the following:


 * Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States. . . . Volume 2. 1903. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1994, pages 185–272. (FHL book 973 M2hh 1994.) (FHL film 0002237.) Entries are in alphabetical order and include the rank and military unit.

Pension Records
For pension files of Spanish‑American War veterans, use General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934, National Archives Microfilm Publication T288. The index covers veterans of the Civil War, Spanish‑American War, Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion (1900 to 1901), and the regular Army, Navy, and Marine forces. The pension records are not on microfilm at the Family History Library. To obtain copies you must request copies from the National Archives using NATF Form 80. For additional information, see Union Service and Pension Records in the “Civil War”. See also Military Records: Pre-WWI Pension Applications (16 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.

For Spanish‑American War nurses who applied for pensions, see the source below:


 * Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served between 1861 and 1900. National Archives Microfilm Publication T289 765 rolls (FHL films 1570402–03.)

Veterans’ and Lineage Society Records
The United Spanish War Veterans was established in 1899. Its membership includes veterans with service in the war with Spain and the Philippine Insurrection to 4 July 1902. The following sources with information on their members who were veterans of these wars are available at the Family History Library.

Michigan. United Spanish War Veterans Camp Index, ca. 1890–1984. (FHL Sources for Further Reading

Michigan. United Spanish War Veterans Master Index, ca. 1890–1984. (FHL film 1765850–52.) This index is similar to the one described above.

Utah. United Spanish War Veterans, Department of Utah. Muster Rolls of Members, 1929–1957. (FHL film 1666085.) Lists the veteran’s name, age, residence, final discharge date, and unit. Some entries may contain additional data.

See the Family History Library Catalog for complete information on film numbers.

Cemetery Records
Peterson, Clarence Stewart. Known Military Dead during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1898–1901. Baltimore: Clarence Stewart Peterson, 1958. (FHL book 973 M23pc; fiche 6051242.) This work includes name, rank, company, regiment, and death date and place.

Sources for Further Reading
Dyal, Donald H. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish American War. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996.

Gabbert, Howard Markland. The Rough Riders: A Brief Study and Indexed Roster of the 1st Regiment U.S. Volunteer Cavalry 1898. Tucson, Ariz.: Arizona State Genealogical Society, 1992. (FHL book 979.1 M2g.) Includes the name of the soldier, rank, place of residence, death date, muster out date, and discharge date.

Kelly, Thomas E., III. The U.S. Army and the Spanish-American Era, 1895–1910. Special Bibliography 9 in 2 parts. Carlisle Barracks, Pa.: U.S. Army Military History Research Collection, 1974. (FHL book 973 B4ua no. 9.) An inventory of the manuscript and published holdings of the U.S. Army Military History Research Institute. The collection has material gathered from veterans and widows, including questionnaires completed by veterans in 1968 as part of the Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, and Boxer Rebellion research project.

Livingston, Rebecca. “Sailors, Soldiers and Marines of the Spanish-American War: The Legacy of USS Maine.” Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration 30. (Spring 1998): 62–72. (FHL book 973 B2p.)

Venzon, Anne Cipriano. The Spanish-American War: An Annotated Bibliography. Vol. 11 of Wars of the United States. New York: Garland Publishing, 1990. (FHL book 973 M23b v. 11.) Contains sections on the U.S. Army and Navy which identify sources on regular and volunteer units and vessels. Also covers Black Americans in the war, relief efforts, and medical and sanitary conditions.