ABSTRACT
The Spanish-American War between Spain and the United States began in late April 1898 and ended in mid-August 1898. The fighting in Cuba consisted of only one land battle of note and has attracted little attention from historians and military experts. The most controversial figure is the American commander, Major General William R. Shafter, who is often portrayed as incompetent and old-fashioned. The successful guerrilla tactics of the insurgents meant that, instead of being deployed on offensive operations, the majority of Spanish troops in Cuba had to be assigned to defensive duty protecting forts, towns, property and lines of communication. In the United States the popular slogan of on to Havana implied that American troops would soon be landed in Cuba to seize the capital city. The American military build-up at Sevilla was greatly facilitated by the curious unwillingness of the Spaniards to move aggressively against the invading forces.
