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Spanish American War |
The Spanish American War, a time of great change and the United States moving to the forefront of world power. Teddy Roosevelt charging up the San Juan Heights, the Rough Riders and the sinking of the battleship, the U.S.S. Maine - these are what people commonly know about the United States' war with Spain in 1898. What they may not remember is that this was the war that steered the United States to center stage as a world power. Victorious over Spain in Cuba and the Philippines, the United States, a nation founded in opposition to imperialism, grappled with its new role as an imperial power.
The Span-Am War (as it is often called) was an armed military conflict between Spain and the United States that took place between April and August 1898, over the issues of the liberation of Cuba.
The revolution in Havana prompted the United States to send in a warship, the U.S.S. Maine to indicate high national interest. Tension among the American people was raised because of the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, and the yellow journalist newspapers that accused the Spanish of oppression in their colonies, agitating American public opinion.
The war began after American demands for the resolution of the Cuban fight for independence were rejected by Spain. Strong expansionist sentiment in the United States motivated the government to develop a plan for annexation of Spain's remaining overseas territories including the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
The war ended after victories for the United States in the Philippine Islands and Cuba. On December 10, 1898, the signing of the Treaty of Paris gave the United States control of Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
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The ?Patria Battalion? was reborn in February of 1998 in preparation for the centennial of the Spanish-American War. The primary drive behind its formation was to fulfill the need for accurate portrayals of the Spanish colonial land forces that served in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines prior to and during the Spanish-American War.
Although our primary portrayal is that of a Spanish Rifle Battalion that served in Puerto Rico, we are still able to fit into other living history & battle scenarios which portray fighting in Cuba, Guam or the Philippines. We are able to do this because most of the uniforms, equipment and weaponry were the same throughout the various island garrisons with subtle differences existing within each garrison. The organization has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1998 but we still have a long way to go. Today the unit is headquartered in Illinois but also has members in Ohio. Members of the unit travel throughout the United States to take part in living history and battle reenactments. Unlike the American Army there is little information that is readily available here in the U.S. or Spain concerning the various aspects of the Spanish colonial army which fought in the Spanish-American War. This lack of information has made the accurate portrayal of the Spanish difficult but quite rewarding. A lot of progress has been made in the last three years but those of us portraying the Spanish have a lot more work to do before we can consider our portrayal to be more than adequate. |
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K Troop, 1st United State Volunteer Cavalry is based out of the Texas State Railroad State Historical Park in Palestine, Texas (about half-way between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
K Troop is the official Living History Representatives of the Texas State Railroad and Texas Parks and Wildlife. The organization has represented the Texas State Railroad State Historical Park with Living History exhibits and encampments of the 1898 period over most of the State of Texas. K Troop shows what life was like in 1898 during the Spanish American War. Our main goal is educating the public about this very important time period as very little is seemingly known by students and parents today about how important this time was in the history of the country. Living History exhibits include several tents, such as Mess Tent (with "mess," or a meal, being prepared), and complete and functional 1898 Troop Field Hospital, a Headquarters Tent and Fly, a Commanding Officers Tent and Fly, ?A? Frame Officer?s Tents, ?Dog Tents?, and a Guard Post Tent. Also shown are the weapons used in that time period, such as the Gatling Gun, a Black Powder Cannon, a ?Potato Digger? Machine Gun, and a ?Maxim? Machine Gun (Spanish). Equipment used for displays are vintage or faithful reproductions. Uniforms are the ?Rough Rider? uniform. There are both Mounted and Dismounted Troops. K Troopers have been in the TNT ?Rough Riders? mini-series and in several television specials on the Spanish American War filmed in the Railroad Park. Last year, K Troop hosted the National Centennial of the Spanish American War at the Texas State Railroad State Historical Park where PBS filmed the participants for the PBS Special ?Crucible of Empire?. |
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The 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry, Co. I Living History and Reenactment Group (USA -- Great Lakes area)
The "Boys (and Girls) of '98" is an authentic living history/re-enactment group based in the midwest The group is part of the Great Lakes Living History Society, which is composed of men and women dedicated to authentic historical impressions of many different eras.
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The "Living History Crew of the USFS OLYMPIA" (USA -- Philadelphia, PA)
There is only one place in the world where there can be a truly authentic recreation of the life of the Spanish American War navymen - aboard the USFS OLYMPIA in Philadelphia, PA. Why? The reason is simple. She is the only warship of the Spanish American War battle fleets that has survived to the present day. She is now the base of operations for the ?Living History Crew of the USFS OLYMPIA,? a highly dynamic group of military historians.
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9th U.S. Infantry, Company C Living History and Reenactment Group (USA--Midwest, IN)
Join an organization that represents the U.S. Regulars during a very critical period in American History! Company C of the Ninth U.S. Infantry represents that famous organization as it was when it took part in both the Spanish American War and the Philippine-American War, including its actions at the now-famous San Juan Hill, outside of Santiago, Cuba.
The reenactment unit strives for authenticity and accuracy in its various portrayals, which includes both a garrison and field portrayal.The group is a member organization of the USAWS (United Spanish American War Society). As part of its presentation, the unit recreates the manual of arms, has a mess with historically accurate rations, and also takes part in live-fire demonstrations with period weapons. The Company C, 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment living history organization usually attends six to eight events per year. The season usually begins with an annual Spring Muster and Drill to break the members back into the unit?s lifestyle after the long winter months. At this event, the members brush up on the manual of arms, camp life, bayonet drill, and the have a live fire qualification for score. The event also includes a skirmish and patrol. |
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Company K, 2nd Regiment, Texas Volunteer Infantry is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. At this time we have no sponsors nor do we collect dues. Each man is responsible for his own uniform and gear.
We have chosen a local Dallas unit to portray even though Co. K (the "Dallas Guard Zouaves") did virtually nothing during the war. As Texans, and long time Civil War reenactors, we thought it would be a change to not have to travel to Virginia and pretend to be soldiers from Ohio! |
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1st Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico (Mid-Atlantic East Coast)
The geographic location of the unit is based mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region of the east coast, with members in both
Maryland and Virginia. We attend battle reenactments and living history events all up and down the eastern seaboard. We are always looking for more quality events to attend, so please contact us! |
