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Battle of San Juan - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Adrianople, Aegospotami, Agincourt, Antietam, Anzio, Ardennes, Austerlitz, Ayacucho, Balaclava, Bannockburn, Blenheim, Boyne, Cannae, Caporetto, Chancellorsville, Crecy, Dunkirk, Flodden |
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The Battle of San Juan, not to be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill, refers to an American naval attack on the fortifications of San Juan, Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War.
For weeks, the U.S. navy had awaited the arrival of the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera, who in reality, had eluded his enemies and slipped his squadron into the Bay of Santiago. On May 12, Admiral Sampson, in his restless search for the Spaniards, steamed his fleet into San Juan harbor.
Finding nothing but a few small gunboats, Sampson exchanged fire with San Juan's defenses, causing and receiving superficial damage. Taking casualties and low on coal, he ordered a retreat to Key West for repairs and supplies.
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