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. Show
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. Chronology of Major Events[edit | edit source]
Beginning Research[edit | edit source]
Service Records[edit | edit source]Volunteers Below is an index to service records:
Individual state indexes are also available for:
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:
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.
Officers A list of volunteer officers is in Vol.2 pages 185–272 of the following:
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 United States Army. Officers
Unit Histories
Pension Records[edit | edit source]Indexes
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) at FamilySearch Learning Center.Casualty Records[edit | edit source]Regular Army Officers
Cemetery Records[edit | edit source]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.
Census Records[edit | edit source]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[edit | edit source]Regular Army Officers
Society Records[edit | edit source]Veterans Society Records[edit | edit source]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.
State & Local[edit | edit source]California
Connecticut
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Utah
Washington and Alaska
Additional Societies[edit | edit source]
Lineage Society Records[edit | edit source]Sons of Spanish American War Veterans
Daughters of '98
State Spanish-American War Records[edit | edit source]
National Archives[edit | edit source]
Service Records
Medical Records
Other Collections
Sources for Further Reading[edit | edit source]
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