Spanish-American War
West Virginias have always readily suppoted the nation- from the Spanish-American
war in 1898 to operation Iraqi freedom in 2003.
A great example of this suport was Spanish-American War. It
began in 1898 as result of incidents in Cuba. The war only lasted three months.
Cuba had been trying to declare its independence from Spain.
Many Americans were concerned with how the Cubans were being treated. Others only cared about their sugar plantation investments.
So, the U.S. sent the battleship Maine down to Cuba to protect American citizens and investments. It was mysteriously blown
up in Havana harbor on Febuary 15, 1898.
The United Sates quickly declared war on Spain. President McKinley asked
for 125,000 volunteers to fight. 750,000, more than five times more than he asked for, answered his call.
West Virgina's response to the call was ovwhelming. President McKinley only
asked for two regiments from West Virginia. Too many more Mountaineers volunteered than could be taken. Before the war
was over, two regiments and four companies were made from West Virginian soldiers. In the end, some 3,000 West Virginians
saw action.
Andrew Summers Rowan, a West Virginan, became famous during the war. He
was chosen by the President to take a message to General Garcia, who was the leader of the revoolt in Cuba. The problem was
that Garcia was in the interior forests of the island, kmaking communcation with no easy task. Elbert Hublard wrote a book,
A Message to Garcia, that described all the dangers that Rowan faced on his misson. Hubbard wrote, "There is a man
whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed in every college of the land."
Another important West Virgianian who served in the war was Captain French
Ensor Chadwick of Morgantown. He commanded the battleship New York. He participated in the blockade of Havana harbor
and the destruction of the Spanish fleet that was under the command of Admiral Cervera.
