Spanish American War Room
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The 4th Ohio Infantry sailing for Puerto Rico with their flag proudly raised. From Archives/Library collection SC 1514.
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On February 15, 1898 the U.S. battleship Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor. On April 20, 1898, Congress approved a resolution for use of military force to secure independence from Spain for Cuba and other Spanish territories.
During the months of March and April, existing Ohio National Guard Regiments were reorganized to conform to the organization of the regular U.S. Army. Ohio supplied 15,354 soldiers in artillery, cavalry, engineers and infantry regiments for federal service. The Ohio troops mustered in at Camp Bushnell near Columbus in May 1898.
By the end of July 1898, President McKinley had negotiated the terms of a cease-fire with Spain. In August, the War Department was making plans to bring the troops stationed in war zones back to the United States. Although many Ohio soldiers were eager to participate in the war, only three Ohio regiments left the United States and experienced combat. The 6th and 8th Ohio Infantry were both sent to Cuba, while the 4th Ohio Infantry took part in the invasion of Puerto Rico.
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The 4th Ohio Infantry, recently returned from Puerto Rico, pose on the steps of the Ohio statehouse. From State Archives series 1911.
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The Ohio Battle Flag Collection includes 26 flags representing five batteries of the 1st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery, one cavalry troop and eleven infantry regiments that mustered in for service in the Spanish-American War. Flags from the three regiments that experienced combat are part of the collection.
Flags in the Spanish American War Room are organized by unit type and displayed in regiment number order:
Flags of Artillery Units
Flags of Cavalry Units
Flags of Infantry Units
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