How to Earn a Medal of Honor During the Spanish-American War

This article is a guest post by Pat Garland. If you’re interested in posting on EiH, contact me for more details.

Prior to our invasion of Cuba in July 1898, an expedition by black troopers of the 10th Cavalry landed on the island to meet with Cuban rebels, who were fighting the Spanish.

In a totally separate landing, on June 10th, 1898, members of the all-black 10th Cavalry, left the U.S.S. Florida, and landed at Tayabacoa, to make contact with Cuban nationalist fighters. Their intention was to have the Cuban leaders coordinate their attacks against the Spaniards during the upcoming invasion. The landing site, however, was close to a Spanish garrison, and after a brief firefight, the landing party evacuated the beach. The Spaniards captured sixteen wounded men, who had been left behind. A rescue force, all volunteer, was dispatched from the “Florida,” and consisted of just four men, Privates George Henry Wanton, Dennis Bell, Fitz Lee, and William Thomkins. These four were able to land unnoticed onto the beach and melt into the night.

Making their way to the fort, they crept inside and surprised the few Spaniards, who were guarding the prisoners in a stockade. They had one thing in mind, getting these men back the boats safely, then back to the ships, without stirring the Spanish garrison. The walking wounded were able to help, by carrying the more seriously wounded, and by stealth were able to navigate in the warm and humid darkness to where the boats were beached. Quietly loading the boats, they pushed away from shore, going as far as they could before using the oars. Jubilant troopers on the ships welcomed the adventurers back, and saw to it that the former captives were taken care of. The volunteers were awarded Medals of Honor on June 23rd, 1899, becoming the first four black men to be so honored for this war.

Pat Garland is a retired military criminal investigator trained in forensic ballistics. He has a passion for military and law enforcement subjects and is the author of the book, A Forgotten Soldier-The Life and Times of Major General Harry Hill Bandholtz.

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