120 Years Ago Today

On June 22, 1898, soldiers of the 3d Infantry Regiment arrived in Santiago Harbor, Cuba. The Regiment departed Fort Snelling, MN by train on April 19 and traveled over 1,400 miles. They arrived in Mobile, AL two days later. The Regiment trained in Mobile for six weeks, until it was transferred to Tampa, FL on June 13. Upon reaching Tampa, it was assigned to General Shafter’s force en route to Cuba and set sail ten days later, bound for Cuba.

Once ashore, the Regiment is placed in Brigadier General Bates’ Independent Brigade, and placed in reserve at El Pozo, the Headquarters of the US Army Fifth Corps. By July 1, the Regiment is placed into action as part of the Siege of Santiago.