Spanish-American War, 1898

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.

Beginning Research

 * Researching a Spanish American War Veteran
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies

Service Records
Volunteers

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. Indexed and published on FamilySearch


 * A wiki article describing the online collection is found at:


 * United States, Index to Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records

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 FamilySearch 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 Publication M1087.FHL films 1314126–38.

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.


 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Muster rolls of Alabama volunteers in the Spanish-American War of 1898
 * Alabama Spanish-American War service, 1898-1899
 * Delaware, Spanish-American War card file index, 1898-1899
 * Michigan volunteers, Spanish American War muster out rolls, 1898-1899
 * Missouri Military records, Spanish-American War, 1897-1898
 * New Hampshire, Spanish-American War records, 1898
 * New Jersey, Index to records of Spanish American war, books 1-122
 * New Jersey. Spanish American war records, books 15-20, 23-27, 47-99

Officers

A list of volunteer officers is in Vol.2 pages 185–272 of the following:


 * The "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army..." by Francis B. Heitman lists Regular Army and volunteer officers from 1789 to 1903 in two volumes giving a brief history of the officers service and awards received.

Regular Army

Enlisted Men

The "Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914" (NARA M233) consists of U.S. Army registers that recorded the name and other information on soldiers that enlisted between 1798 and 1914. The collection includes enlistees from the time period of the Spanish-American War, however, it does not specify whether they served in the war or not. See US Army Enlistments, 1798-1914.

Officers


 * The "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army..." by Francis B. Heitman lists Regular Army and volunteer officers from 1789 to 1903 in two volumes giving a brief history of the officers service and awards received.

 Unit Histories 
 * W. Hilary Coston. The Spanish-American War Volunteer. Ninth United states Volunteers Infantry. Roster and Muster. Biographies and Cuban Sketches. Middleton, Pa.: the Author, 1899
 * Horace Bachelder, comp. Illustrated roster of California volunteer soldiers in the war with Spain : enlisted under the President's proclamations of April 23rd and May 25th, 1898. San Francisco : Bonestell,1898.
 * Geo. B. Bowers. History of the 160th Ind. Vol. Infantry in the Spanish-American War,...Fort Wayne, Ind.: The Archer Printing Co.,[190-]
 * Chaplain John R. Skinner. History of the Fourth Illinois Volunteers in their relation to the Spanish-American War for the liberation of Cuba and other island possessions of Spain. Logansport, Indiana, Press of Wilson, Humphreys & Co., [1899.
 * Lieut. Frank E. Edwards. The '98 Campaign of the 6th Massachusetts, U.S.V. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1898
 * Walter F. Clowes. The Detroit Light Guard : a complete record of this organization from its foundation to the present day : with full account of riot and complimentary duty, and the campaigns in the Civil and Spanish-American wars : a complete roster of members at the time of muster-out of the United States service, as well as a roster of all classes of members. Detroit, Mich : J.F. Eby & Co, 1900 FHL Digital Images
 * T.A. Turner. Story of the Fifteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Minneapolis, Minnesota : Lessard Printing, c1899 FHL 977.6 M2t
 * James E. Payne. History of the Fifth Missouri Volunteer Infantry.(1899)
 * Harry L. Harris, John T. Hilton, edited by, A history of the Second Regiment, N. G. N. J, Second N. J. Volunteers, Spanish War, Fifth New Jersey Infantry : together with a short review covering early military life in the state of New Jersey. Paterson, New Jersey : Call Printing and Pub. co., c1908. FHL Digital Images
 * Curtis V. Hard ; edited by Robert H. Ferrell. Banners in the air: the Eighth Ohio Volunteers and the Spanish-American War. Kent, Ohio : Kent State University Press, c1988. FHL 977.1 M2h
 * Karl W. Heiser. Hamilton in the war of 98 : a complete history of Hamilton in the Spanish-American war : illustrated. Hamilton, Ohio : Republican Pub. Co., 1899
 * James Cooper. Campaign of the First Troops Philadelphia City Cavalry April 25-November 11, 1898. Philadelphia: Hallowell Co., Ltd, Publishers,1898?
 * B.H. Peacock, comp. Historical and biographical souvenir of the first Texas U.S. Volunteer Infantry : illustrated with scenes of camp life, Jacksonville, Fla., Camp Cuba Libre, October, 1898.Jacksonville, Florida : , 1898. FHL Digital Images

Pension Records
Indexes


 * The General Index to Pension Files is available online. The "General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934" (NARA) 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 Organization Index to Pension Files is available online. The "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900" (NARA T289), also called the "Civil War Pension Index", lists Spanish‑American War veterans including Spanish‑American War nurses.

Pension Records

The pension records themselves are not on microfilm. Copies can be ordered from the National Archives.


 * See also Military Records: Pre-WWI Pension Applications (16 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.

Casualty Records
Regular Army Officers


 * The "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army..." by Francis B. Heitman lists Regular Army and volunteer officers from 1789 to 1903 that were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. See Vol.2 pp. 13-42.

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.


 * National Spanish American War Gravesite Recording Project
 * "Casualty List, Rough Riders, July 1 to 3, 1898. Attachment to Report of Operations" National Archives NAID 301979

Census Records
1900 U.S. Federal Census

The 1900 Federal Census (NARA T623) enumerated military personnel stationed overseas in places such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The census gives the soldier’s name, rank, place of residence in the United States, birth date and place, company, regiment, and branch of service.

1930 U.S. Federal Census

The 1930 Federal Census asked if a person was "A veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition" and "What war or expedition" they served in.

1940 U.S. Federal Census

The 1940 Federal Census asked "Is this person a veteran of the United States military forces or the wife, widow, or under 18-year-old child of a veteran?" and "If child, is veteran-father dead?" and "War or Military" served in. These were only asked of persons which were recorded on 2 of the 40 lines per page, which would have covered about five percent of the population.

Prisoner of War Records
Regular Army Officers


 * The "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army..." by Francis B. Heitman lists Regular Army and volunteer officers from 1789 to 1903 that were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. See Vol.2 pp. 13-42.

Veterans Society Records
The United Spanish War Veterans was established in 1899. Its membership includes veterans with service in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection to 4 July 1902. The following sources contain information on their members who were veterans of the two wars.
 * George G. Kane. The history of the United Spanish War veterans through national encampment memorabilia : the first 50 years, 1904-1954.(2005) FHL 973 M2kh

State & Local
 California 
 * History, Department of California, 1908-1938, Auxiliary, United Spanish War Veterans...
 * History, Department of California, 1938-1954, Auxiliary, United Spanish War Veterans...
 * By-laws and roster of Theodore Roosevelt Camp No. 9 and Auxiliary No. 5 Los Angeles, California : United Spanish War Veterans. Department of California, 1939]

Kansas
 * Kansas, United Spanish War Veterans Reports of Deaths, 1945-1970 (Ancestry) ($)

Kentucky
 * Proceedings of the stated convention of the 60th National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, Louisville, Kentucky August 31-September 4, 1958. January 15, 1959.Washington, D.C. : United States Government Printing Office, 1959

Michigan
 * United Spanish War Veterans Camp Index, ca. 1890–1984, FHL 6 rolls
 * United Spanish War Veterans Master Index, ca. 1890–1984, FHL 3 rolls

 New York
 * Index cards, M-Z, for New York County. Contains members of Manhattan Camp no. 1 Sgt. Hamilton Fish Camp no. 46, Defendam Camp no. 36, Col. Henry Hubbell Camp no. 24, Old Guard Camp no. 19, Gen Andrew S. Burt Camp no. 117 and others.

Ohio
 * Proceedings of the stated convention of the 55th national encampment United Spanish War Veterans, Cleveland, Ohio. August 30 to September 3, 1953. January 6, 1954. -- Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and ordered to be printed, with illustrations. Washington, D.C. : United States Government Printing Office, 1954
 * United Spanish War Veterans. Dept. of Ohio. Deaths and graves registration, ca. 1900's-ca. 1980's

Pennsylvania
 * Proceedings of the stated convention of the 36th National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 19-23, 1934.Washington, D.C. : United States Government Printing Office, 1935

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

 Washington and Alaska
 * United Spanish War Veterans Death Announcements [1935-1953]

Additional Society Publications

 * Roster of the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba. Fort Meyer, Virginia : Planchet Press, 1992?; Reprint. Originally published: Denver Colorado : Press of the Carson-Harper Co., 1901

Lineage Society Records
 Sons of Spanish American War Veterans   Daughters of '98
 * Sons of Spanish American War Veterans
 * Daughters of 98

National Archives
Service Records Medical Records
 * United States, National Archives, Military Records of the Spanish-American War, 1898
 * Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War, 1899 - 1927
 * Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War, 1899 - 1927
 * Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War, 1898 - 1898
 * Regimental and Company Books of Spanish-American War Volunteer Organizations, 1898 - 1898
 * Carded Medical Records of Deceased Men in the War With Spain, 1898 - 1898
 * Field Records of Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection Hospitals, 1898 - 1902
 * Rosters of Regimental Medical Officers of U.S. Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898 - 1901
 * Station Cards of Spanish-American War Volunteer Surgeons, 1898 - 1901
 * Name Index to Civilian Doctors Volunteering Services During the Spanish-American War, ca. 1898 - ca. 1898
 * Index to Division and Corps Hospitals During the Spanish-American War, ca. 1898 - ca. 1898
 * Registers of Service of Spanish-American War Contract Nurses, 1898 - 1900
 * Correspondence Relating to the Service of Spanish-American War Contract Nurses, 1898 - 1939
 * Personal Data Cards of Spanish-American War Contract Nurses, 1898 - 1939
 * Contracts for Female Nurses in the Spanish-American War, 1898 - 1898
 * Cards Showing the Brigade, Division, and Corps Hospital at Which Men of Various Spanish-American War Regiments Were Treated, 1898 - 1901
 * Record Book of Volunteer Unit Involvement in the War with Spain and the Philippine Insurrection. NAID 17401090

Other Collections
 * War Correspondents' Passes for the Spanish-American War, 4/29/1898 - 8/8/1898
 * Register of Mustering Officers of the Spanish American War, 1898 - 1898
 * Card List of Volunteer Officers During the Spanish-American War, ca. 1898 - ca. 1898
 * Census of the Archipelagoes of Spain, ca. 1899 - ca. 1899 Census was taken in 1887

Sources for Further Reading

 * Alger, Russell A. The Spanish-American War. (Freeport, New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1971).


 * Chadwick, French E. The Relations of the U.S. and Spain: The Spanish-American War. (New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1911).


 * Dyal, Donald H. Historical Dictionary of the Spanish American War. (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996).


 * Foner, Philip S. The Spanish-Cuban-American War and the Birth of American Imperialism, 1895-1902. (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1972).


 * Freidel, Frank. The Splendid Little War. (Boston: Little, Brown and Co.,1958).


 * Gabbert, Howard Markland. The Rough Riders: A Brief Study and Indexed Roster of the 1st Regiment U.S. Volunteer Cavalry 1898. (Tucson: Arizona State Genealogical Society, 1992)..
 * 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, Pennsylvania: U.S. Army Military History Research Collection, 1974)..
 * 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, Vol. 30 (Spring 1998), p. 62–72. (FHL book 973 B2p.)


 * O'Toole, George J. A. The Spanish War: An American Epic--1898. (New York: Norton, 1984).


 * Sexton, William T. Soldiers in the Sun: An Adventure in Imperialism. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Military Service Publishing Co., 1939).


 * Titherington, Richard Handfield. A History of the Spanish-American War of 1898. (Freeport, New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1971).


 * Trask, David F. The War with Spain in 1898. (New York: Macmillan, 1981).


 * Venzon, Anne Cipriano. The Spanish-American War: An Annotated Bibliography. Vol. 11 of Wars of the United States. (New York: Garland Publishing, 1990)..
 * 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.


 * Werstein, Irving. Turning Point for America: The Story of the Spanish-American War. (New York: J. Messner, 1964).