text:
Puerto Rico Campaign
(Redirected from Battle of Asomante)
Part of the Spanish–American War
Map of the Puerto Rico Campaign illustrating operations July 25 – August 12, 1898, and showing municipality borders in 1898. Blue are US Naval forces, red are US land forces, and green are Spanish ground forces.
Map of Puerto Rico under the US and Spanish flags from August 14 til September 19, 1898. The 23 blue-colored municipalities were under US flag and the 55 yellow-colored municipalities were under Spanish flag
May 8 – August 13, 1898
Puerto Rico, Atlantic Ocean
Militarily inconclusive;
Spain cedes Puerto Rico in accordance with the accords of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.[1]
United States post-war occupation of Puerto Rico[1]
(as an autonomous colony)
Manuel Macías y Casado Nelson A. Miles
William T. Sampson
Spain: 8,000
Puerto Rico: 10,000[2] 15,472 [2]
17 dead
88 wounded
10,000 surrendered at the end of the campaign[2] 5 dead
43 wounded[2]
Military campaign of the Spanish–American War
First San Juan
Second San Juan
Third San Juan
Guanica
Yauco
Guayama
Guamani
Coamo
Silva Heights
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The Puerto Rico Campaign was the American military sea and land operation on the island of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. The offensive began on May 12, 1898, when the United States Navy attacked the capital, San Juan. Though the damage inflicted on the city was minimal, the Americans were able to establish a blockade in the city's harbor, San Juan Bay. On June 22, the cruiser Isabel II and the destroyer Terror delivered a Spanish counterattack, but were unable to break the blockade and Terror was damaged.
The land offensive began on July 25, when 1,300 infantry soldiers led by Major General Nelson A. Miles disembarked off the coast of Guánica. After controlling the first skirmish, the Americans advanced to Coamo, where they engaged Puerto Rican and Spanish troops in battle. The battle concluded when the allied soldiers retreated after the battle left two dead on their side, and four on the American side. The United States was able to seize control of Fajardo on August 1, but was forced to withdraw on August 5 after a group of 200 Puerto Rican–Spanish soldiers led by Pedro del Pino gained control of the city, while most civilian inhabitants fled to a nearby lighthouse. The Americans encountered larger opposition as they advanced towards the main island's interior. They engaged in two crossfires in Guamani River and Coamo, both of which were inconclusive as the allied soldiers retreated. A battle in San Germán concluded in a similar fashion with the Spanish retreating to Lares.
On August 9, 1898, American troops that were pursuing units retreating from Coamo and Asomante encountered heavy resistance in Aibonito and retreated after six of their soldiers were injured. They returned three days later, reinforced with artillery units and attempted a surprise attack. After about an hour of fighting, Spanish artillery batteries had been silenced. American guns advanced some 2,150 yards and set up positions, but soldiers reported seeing Spanish reinforcements nearby and the guns were withdrawn back to the main line. Shortly before the launch of a flanking movement on the Spanish, all military actions in Puerto Rico were suspended on August 13, after U.S. President William McKinley and French Ambassador Jules Cambon, acting on behalf of the Spanish government, signed an armistice whereby Spain relinquished its sovereignty over the territories of Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines and Guam.
1 Prelude
1.1 Spanish preparations
1.2 American preparations
2 The naval campaign in Puerto Rico (May 8–August 13)
2.1 First actions
2.2 Bombardment of San Juan
2.3 Second Battle of San Juan
2.4 Third Battle of San Juan
3 The land campaign in Puerto Rico (July 25–August 13)
3.1 Landing in Guánica
3.2 First skirmish
3.3 Invasion
3.4 Battle of Yauco
3.5 Battle of Fajardo
3.6 Battle of Guayama
3.6.1 Battle of the Guamaní River Bridge
3.7 Battle of Coamo
3.8 Battle of Silva Heights
3.9 Battle of Asomante
4.1 Treaty of Paris of 1898
4.2 "Americanization" of Puerto Rico
4.3 Civil disorder
4.4 End of military rule and rise of the sugar economy
4.5 54 years after the end of the Puerto Rican Campaign
5 Markers, monuments and tombstones
Alfred T. Mahan
In 1890, Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, a member of the Navy War Board and leading U.S. strategic thinker, wrote a book titled The Influence of Sea Power upon History in which he argued for the creation of a large and powerful navy modeled after the British Royal Navy. Part of his strategy called for the acquisition of colonies in the Caribbean Sea which would serve as coaling and naval stations, and serve as strategical points of defense upon the construction of an Isthmusian canal.[3]
This idea was not new, since William H. Seward, the former Secretary of State under the administrations of various presidents, among them Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant, had stressed that a canal be built either in Honduras, Nicaragua or Panama and that the United States annex the Dominican Republic and purchase Puerto Rico and Cuba. The idea of annexing the Dominican Republic failed to receive the approval of the U.S. Senate and Spain did not accept the 160 million dollars which the U.S. offered for Puerto Rico and Cuba.[3] Mahan made the following statement to the War Department: "Having therefore no foreign establishments either colonial or military, the ships of war of the United States, in war will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting places for them where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea."[4]
Flag of the Batallón Provisional No. 3 de Puerto Rico (3rd Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico)
Since 1894, the Naval War College had been formulating plans for war with Spain. By 1896, the Office of Naval Intelligence had prepared a plan which included military operations in Puerto Rican waters. Not only was Puerto Rico considered valuable as a naval station, Puerto Rico and Cuba were also abundant in a valuable commercial commodity which the United States lacked: sugar. [5]
On February 15, 1898 USS Maine exploded and sunk in Havana Harbor, Cuba. According to the Navy's leading weapons expert, Philip Alger, the explosion was due to a coal fire igniting a reserve magazine of six tons of gunpowder, much of which was already degrading due to the humid climate.[6] However, the United States forwarded an ultimatum to Spain to withdraw from Cuba following the sinking of Maine. In response, Spain broke off diplomatic relations with the United States, and on April 23, 1898 Spain declared war. On April 25, the U.S. Congress declared that a state of war between the United States and Spain had existed since April 20.[7] One of the United States' principal objectives in the Spanish–American War was to take control of Spanish possessions in the Atlantic—Puerto Rico and Cuba—and their possessions in the Pacific—the Philippines and Guam.[8]
On April 27, U.S. ships, the monitor USS Puritan, the armored cruisers USS New York, and USS Cincinnati, bombarded the Spanish fortifications at Matanzas Bay in Cuba. By July 16, an armistice was signed at the Arbol de La Paz (a large ceiba tree) in Santiago de Cuba by U.S. and Spanish forces ending hostilities in Cuba and its waters. The United States then directed its undivided military resources to Puerto Rico.[9] Two leaders of the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, Dr. Julio J. Henna and Roberto H. Todd,[10] had written to U.S. President McKinley asking that Puerto Rico be included in whatever intervention was planned for Cuba as early as March 10. They even provided the U.S. government with information about the Spanish military presence on the island.[11]
Spanish preparations
Manuel Macías y Casado
With the outbreak of war, the Spanish Crown sent the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Puerto Rican provisional battalions to defend Cuba against the Americans, depleting the Puerto Rican troops in the island. The 1st Puerto Rican Provisional Battalion, composed of the Talavera Cavalry and Krupp artillery, was sent to Santiago de Cuba where they battled the American forces in the Battle of San Juan Hill. After the battle, the Puerto Rican battalion suffered a total of 70 casualties which included their dead, wounded, missing and prisoners.[12] The Spanish appointed Governor of Puerto Rico, Manuel Macías y Casado, declared martial law, resolving to resist the American forces.[13] He declared: 'Providence will not permit that in these countries which were discovered by the Spanish nation the echo of our language should ever cease to be heard, nor that our flag should disappear before the eyes. ... Long live Puerto Rico, always Spanish. Long live Spain."[13] Macías y Casado hoped that a grant of autonomy would ensure that Puerto Ricans would remain loyal to the Spanish crown.[13]
American preparations
Edwin Emerson Jr.
Map drawn by Rudolph Riefkohl and given to Edwin Emerson, Jr.
The Spanish Crown was unaware that, at the time, the United States had successfully infiltrated the island with a number of spies, among them Henry Howard Whitney, Henry Ward, George Bronson Brea, William Freeman, James Dewel, Frederick Ober and Edwin Emerson, Jr.[14]
According to a story published in Century magazine in September 1898, Edwin Emerson, Jr., was pretending to be a German journalist. He presented himself to the German Consul in St. Thomas and asked for the names of Puerto Ricans of German descent whom he could interview. Among the names which the consul gave him were that of the Riefkohl family of the town of Maunabo. Upon his arrival in the town of Maunabo he met 14-year-old Rudolph W. Riefkohl and asked the lad in German if he had a map of Puerto Rico (Emerson had lost his). Riefkohl answered that he did, however it was decidedly too big for Emerson's use. Riefkohl returned home, not knowing that Emerson was a spy, and quickly drew another with a depiction of the major ports and harbors of Puerto Rico.[14] Emerson used the map and it is believed by some that he may have given the map to the U.S. Army Commanding General, Nelson A. Miles, influencing Mile's decision on the landing points for the invasion of Puerto Rico. A photostatic copy of Riefkohl's map was published in the Century article.[15]
The naval campaign in Puerto Rico (May 8–August 13)
First actions
Ordoñez 15 cm cannon which opened fire on Yale[16]
The first engagement between the belligerents occurred on May 8, 1898, when the converted liner USS Yale captured a Spanish freighter, Rita, in San Juan Bay. On May 9, Yale fought a brief battle with Alfonso XIII, a Spanish auxiliary cruiser, resulting in a Spanish victory.[17] Around this time, Captain Ángel Rivero Méndez was assigned the command of the Spanish forces at the fortress of San Cristóbal in San Juan. On May 10, when Yale returned to San Juan Bay, Rivero-Méndez ordered his men to open fire on the steamer with an Ordoñez 15 centimeter cannon, in the first attack against American forces in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War.[18] For his actions, Rivero-Mendez was awarded the "Cruz de la Orden de Merito Militar" (The Cross of the Order of the Military Merit) first class.[18]
Bombardment of San Juan
Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during the Spanish–American War
The Bombardment of San Juan or the First Battle of San Juan (not to be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill or the Battle for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua) refers to an American naval attack on the fortifications of San Juan, Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. The American Naval commanders believed the bulk of the Spanish Fleet under Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete was steaming from the Cape Verde Islands to the Antilles and ultimately to Puerto Rico. With this understanding, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson and a squadron of ten American warships, the battleships USS Iowa, Indiana, New York, cruisers USS Montgomery and Detroit, monitors USS Amphitrite and Terror, torpedo boat USS Porter, two unidentified auxiliary cruisers, and an unarmed collier had stood out from Havana at noon on May 2 bound for Puerto Rico. Sampson intended to intercept and destroy the Spanish squadron and then move on to attack secondary shore targets- San Juan's castles, forts and batteries. He was unaware that Topete had already eluded them and slipped his squadron into the Bay of Santiago.[19]
Bombardment
On May 12, Sampson's squadron arrived at San Juan, finding an empty harbor. Making the best of the situation and as an exercise for his untested gunners, Sampson ordered the bombardment of the city's citadels. Captains Ramón Acha Caamaño and José Antonio Iriarte were among those who defended the city, from Castillo San Felipe del Morro. They had three batteries under their command, which were armed with at least three 15 cm Ordóñez cannons. The battle lasted three hours and resulted in the death of Justo Esquivies, the first Puerto Rican soldier to die in the Puerto Rican Campaign.[20] Caamaño was awarded the "Cruz de la Orden de Merito Militar" (The Cross of the Order of the Military Merit) first class for his actions.[21]
After causing much damage to the Spanish defenses and receiving minor damage, low on coal]and ammunition, Sampson ordered a cease fire and returned to Havana, Cuba and then on to Key West, Florida for repairs and supplies.[22]
Second Battle of San Juan
Bombardment of San Felipe del Morro
On June 22, 1898, USS Saint Paul under the command of Captain Charles Sigsbee arrived at San Juan Bay from Cuba and joined the blockade. Shortly after midday the old Spanish cruiser Isabel II set off from San Juan to engage Saint Paul with support from shore batteries. Isabel II opened fire on Saint Paul at long range without success in an attempt to break the blockade. Terror, a Spanish destroyer docked in San Juan for repairs, attempted to cover the cruiser's escape with a torpedo attack but was thwarted when her rudder was damaged by a direct hit from Saint Paul. Losing steerage, Terror inadvertently turned broadside, allowing Saint Paul to score direct hits near Terror's waterline, disabling one of her engines and causing her to list. Terror abandoned the attack and returned to port, followed by Isabel II. On June 26, USS Saint Paul was relieved by USS Yosemite, which continued the blockade of San Juan Bay.[23]
Third Battle of San Juan
Captain Angel Rivero Mendez
On June 28, 1898, the American auxiliary cruiser USS Yosemite fought with a squadron of Spanish warships. This squadron consisted of one cruiser, two gunboats and one blockade runner. During the engagement, SS Antonio López, a transoceanic steamer belonging to the Compañía Transatlántica Española carrying a cargo of needed military supplies, was pursued by Yosemite until and the Spanish freighter ran aground at Ensenada Honda, Puerto Rico with her valuable cargo.[24] Capt. Caamaño was in charge of retrieving the ship's cargo and the men under his command quickly removed as much of the stranded ship's cargo as possible. The desperate efforts proved fruitful, and nearly the entire cargo was salvaged from the hulk with only minor articles and a cannon that had fallen overboard during salvage attempts being lost.[25]
On 15 July, the cruiser USS New Orleans arrived to relieve Yosemite, and the quickly finished off Antonio Lopez the next day by firing twenty incendiary shells into the vessel and sinking it. Though Antonio Lopez had been sunk, her cargo was successfully delivered and ensured that any American assault on San Juan would be met with stronger resistance. Caamaño was awarded the "Cruz de la Orden de Merito Naval" (The Cross of the Order of the Naval Merit) by the Spanish government.[21]
The residents of San Juan were furious with Capt. Rivero-Méndez and blamed him for the destruction wreaked on their city by American bombardments. Nothing came of those recriminations and Capt. Rivero-Méndez was ordered to turn over the keys of all the military installations in San Juan to Captain Henry A. Reed of the U.S. Army after the Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed.[18]
The land campaign in Puerto Rico (July 25–August 13)
Landing in Guánica
Lt. General Nelson A. Miles
The Spanish forces expected the Americans to attack the northern region of the island and concentrated their defenses around San Juan and Arecibo. The Spanish government was also aware of a planned landing by the Americans at Fajardo, located on the east coast and had that town fortified. However, the southern and western regions of Puerto Rico were left with little or no defenses at all.[26]
After Cuba was taken, President William McKinley approved the land invasion of Puerto Rico by way of Fajardo, taking into consideration that the Spaniards had fortified San Juan, where they expected the initial attack. A convoy of ships left Tampa, Florida and on July 21 another convoy, which included USS Yale, USS Massachusetts, USS Gloucester and USS Dixie, departed from Guantánamo for a four-day journey to Puerto Rico.[27]
Major General Miles traveled aboard USS Yale. While approaching the Mona Passage that separates Puerto Rico from the island of Hispaniola to the east, Miles opted to land his troops in the southern region of the island, choosing Guánica as his landing zone. Miles dispatched patrol boats to notify all other convoys of his decision and to order them to proceed to Guanica. Miles' decision to change the invasion site was based on his belief that the town of Fajardo would be fortified and he feared that Spanish coastal gun boats would disrupt a landing at Fajardo.[26][27]
Guánica Lighthouse c.1893
On July 25, General Miles, 1,300 infantry soldiers of the 3,300 total that were assigned for the initial invasion and a convoy of ships, under the command of Naval Captain Francis J. Higginson of USS Massachusetts arrived at Guánica Bay. The following Navy ships and Army troopships were part of the convoy: USS Yale with Generals Miles and George A. Garretson embarked, USS Windom carrying General Guy V. Henry, USS Columbia, USS Gloucester, USS Dixie, USS Wasp and the U.S. Army transports Lampasas, Unionist, Stillwater and Specialist. Two captured Spanish ships, Nueces and Rita that had been confiscated by USS Yale as war prizes were also used.[26][27]
In 1898, Guánica was a small barrio within the jurisdiction of the town of Yauco. It had 60 houses in all and its only defense was eleven members of the 4th Volante de Yauco, a Puerto Rican militia unit, under the command of Lieutenant Enrique Méndez López. When the Guánica lighthouse keeper Robustiano Rivera spotted the approaching convoy, he immediately gave the alert to the residents of the barrio. All of the residents, with the exception Agustín Barrenechea, Vicente Ferrer, Juan María Morciglio, Simón Mejil, Salvador Muñoz, Cornelio Serrano and Pascual Elena who welcomed the invaders, abandoned their homes and joined Rivera on his journey to Yauco where he broke the news of the invading forces to the city's mayor.[27]
First skirmish
Gloucester landing team
Gloucester was the first ship to set anchor in the Bay of Guánica. Twenty-eight sailors and Marines, under the command of Lieutenants H. P. Huse and Wood, departed from the ship on rafts and landed on the beach. The Marines lowered the Spanish flag from the beach flagpole and replaced it with the American flag. They then proceeded to set up a machine gun nest and placed barbed wire around their perimeter. The first land skirmish in Puerto Rico between the Puerto Rican militia and the American forces occurred when Lt. Méndez López and his men attacked and opened fire on the Americans. During the small battle which followed, the Americans returned fire with their machine gun and Gloucester began to bombard the Spanish position. Lt. Méndez López and three of his men were wounded and the militia unit was forced to retreat to the town of Yauco.[26][27]
General Nelson Miles and other soldiers on horseback in Puerto Rico.
After the skirmish was over, men from Lampasas landed on the beach to secure the area and to build a landing dock. 3,300 American soldiers under the command of General Miles landed. The units that landed were the 6th Volunteer Regiments of Illinois and Massachusetts, an Artillery battalion, five battery companies, two engineer companies and a medical unit.[27] The men who had not abandoned the barrio of Guanica swore allegiance to the United States. Garretson named Agustín Barrenechea mayor of Guanica and Simón Mejil the chief of police. On the afternoon of the 25th, Garretson left Guánica with seven companies of the 6th Massachusetts and one company of the 6th Illinois and headed towards Yauco.[27]
Secretary of War Russell A. Alger learned about the landing at Guanica the next day when he read an Associated Press report in a local Washington, D.C. newspaper. The War Department had ordered Miles to invade Puerto Rico by way of San Juan and therefore Alger was completely surprised with the report. Miles would have been subject to disciplinary actions had the invasion not gone so smoothly. Alger received the following cable from Miles three days after the invasion:[28]
Spanish troops are retreating from southern part of Puerto Rico. This is a prosperous and beautiful country. The Army will soon be in mountain region. Weather delightful; troops in the best of health and spirit. Anticipate no insurmountable obstacles in future results. Results thus far have been accomplished without loss of a single life.[28]
Battle of Yauco
See also: Yauco Battle Site
Lt. Col. Francisco Puig
After Rivera, the keeper of the Guánica lighthouse, notified Atilio Gaztambide, the mayor of the town of Yauco, located six miles (9.7 km) north of Guánica, of the American invasion of Guánica, the mayor in turn notified Governor Macías via telegraph. Governor Macías ordered Captain Salvador Meca and his 3rd company of the 25th Patria Battalion from Yauco to head for Guánica. Meca and his men were joined by Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Puig, who assumed command of the Spanish forces at Hacienda Desideria two miles (3.2 km) from Guánica. Puig arrived with two companies known as "Cazador Patria Battalion", and they were joined by Puerto Rican volunteers, the Civil Guards, and mounted guerrillas from the towns of Yauco and Sabana Grande. Puig had the men positioned on both sides of the road that ran from Guánica to the coffee Hacienda Desideria (owned by Antonio Mariani) in Yauco, as well as an infantry company positioned on a hill south of the hacienda.[29]
In the meantime, Garretson, set out of Guánica with his men towards Yauco with the intention of capturing the Yauco rail terminus that ran between that town and the City of Ponce, the largest city in the southern region of the island.[29] Garretson and his men arrived in the darkness of night and was informed by his scouts of the possibility of a hostile situation at the Hacienda Desideria. He ordered the Illinois company and two companies (companies L and M) of the 6th Massachusetts to occupy a small hill on his right that overlooked the hacienda.[29]
Part of the Hacienda Desideria, owned by Antonio Mariani, where the Battle of Yauco took place in 1898
Captain San Pedro detected the movements of the American troops from his positions on a nearby hill and ordered his men to open fire. Garretson then ordered a direct attack on the Spanish and Puerto Rican forces in the hacienda. At day break, the 6th Massachusetts overran the Spanish forces and suffered four casualties.[29] Puig was expecting reinforcements from Yauco which did not arrive and was ordered to disengage and retreat. Before retreating the right wing of the Spanish force, which was not overrun, initiated a flanking attack against two positions held by the Illinois and Massachusetts companies. The unexpected strength of the Spanish force caused some of the 6th Massachusetts troops to momentarily panic, but the Spanish forces were eventually driven off. Puig and his forces suffered two officers and three soldiers wounded and two soldiers dead.[29]
19th century train station in Yauco
Puig and his men retreated towards Yauco, but failed to destroy the rail terminus which connected the town to the city of Ponce, and proceeded to march towards the town of Peñuelas. Garretson's troops entered Yauco in the afternoon of July 26 and on July 27 Puig's men continued their march, leaving their artillery and heavy equipment behind, passing the towns of Adjuntas and Utuado and finally arriving at the town of Arecibo on the northern coast of the island on July 29.[29] Col. Puig, believing that he would be dishonored and accused by the Spanish Government of abandoning military equipment during his retreat, committed suicide on August 2.[30]
Miles, upon learning about the lack of discipline of the 6th Massachusetts during the battle, ordered an investigation. The 6th Massachusetts was sent on a hard march from Guánica to Ponce as punishment and the regimental commander, a lieutenant colonel, a major, and a captain resigned upon request.[29]
Battle of Fajardo
Further information: Battle of Fajardo
Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse), c. 1898. It is located on the northeastern part of the highest point of Cape San Juan in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
On August 1, the monitors USS Puritan, USS Amphitrite, armed tug USS Leyden, and collier USS Hannibal were sailing off the coast of Fajardo on the northeast corner of Puerto Rico, when Captain Frederick W. Rodgers, Puritan's commanding officer and senior officer afloat, spotted the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan" (Cape San Juan Lighthouse) that had been designated the landing site for the US Army's invasion of Puerto Rico. Rodgers ordered a reconnaissance landing party ashore, including Puerto Rican volunteers. The sailors advanced to within a one-half mile (0.80 km) of Fajardo, about five miles (8.0 km) from the coast, but withdrew when they encountered Spanish troops.[31][32]
The 25-man Spanish garrison stationed in Fajardo was alerted to the American presence and ordered to withdraw after notifying their superiors in San Juan. When Dr. Santiago Veve Calzada, a Fajardan, realized that the garrison was abandoned and his town defenseless against the Americans, he implored the Spanish authorities in San Juan to dispatch troops to defend Fajardo.[31] Losing hope that Spanish troops would come to the town's aid, Veve went to the lighthouse to seek protection for the town from the Americans. On the afternoon of August 5, Veve entered Fajardo with a contingent of bluejackets and United States flags were hoisted over the Fajardo Customs House at the harbor and City Hall.[31] On the evening of August 6, Captain Charles J. Barclay of Amphitrite ordered 28 sailors and 7 officers commanded by Lt. Charles N. Atwater and Assistant Engineer David J. Jenkins ashore to relight and occupy the Fajardo Light. They were also ordered to quarter 60 women and children of the town's families that were deemed in danger for having sided with the Americans. As the first group of sailors was entering the darkened lighthouse, Naval Cadet William H. Boardman was mortally wounded when his revolver fell from a faulty holster and discharged into his thigh, cutting the femoral artery. His was one of only two Navy deaths during the Puerto Rican campaign.[32]
On August 4, Governor General Manuel Macías y Casado sent Colonel Pedro del Pino and about 220 troops, including civil guardsmen to recapture the city. When Colonel Pino entered Fajardo on August 7, he found it nearly deserted because the residents, fearing a battle, had fled to the Fajardo Light and the surrounding hills. At close to midnight on August 8, Pino's troops began their assault on the lighthouse. The landing party of Amphitrite's sailors occupying the lighthouse doused the light and signaled the ships offshore, initiating shore bombardment as the naval guns began firing a protective pattern. After two hours, the Spanish forces retreated back to the town. The Americans suffered no casualties, despite a close call when a wayward naval shell smashed through the two-foot (0.61 m) thick walls of the lighthouse within touch of six men but failed to explode. The Spanish losses were two dead and three wounded, including a lieutenant.[31][32]
Early the next morning, Barclay decided the continued occupation of the lighthouse was of marginal value and ordered his men back to the ship. A landing party of 30 sailors from Amphitrite and a similar number of U.S. Marines from USS Cincinnati under Lieutenant John A. Lejeune came ashore to secure the area while the 60 Fajardan civilians boarded Leyden for passage to Ponce and the lighthouse was abandoned to the Spaniards. In Fajardo, Pino's men tore down the U.S. flags that flew over the harbor Customs House and City Hall, returning to San Juan after verifying that the lighthouse was abandoned. The contingent of about 20 civil guards that had accompanied Pino, were left to maintain order in the town. The skirmish at Fajardo was the only time that American forces withdrew from a position during the Puerto Rican Campaign.[31]
Battle of Guayama
US troopships and convoy at Playa de Ponce, 1898
After the town of Yauco was taken, Miles decided to attack the City of Ponce by sea and by land. Garretson's 6th Illinois and 6th Massachusetts had returned to Guanica and after the troops rested, Garretson and his men were ordered to move eastward to Ponce. Lt. Col. Rafael Martinez Illecas, in charge of the Spanish forces in that city, had pulled out, leaving behind a small garrison of 300 volunteers to hold the town.[33] When the American forces arrived in Ponce they met no resistance and the Spanish volunteers surrendered. The American forces were not the only ones who participated in the taking of Ponce. Members of the Puerto Rican Commission, which included the leader of the Intentona de Yauco revolt, Antonio Mattei Lluberas and his group, arrived in Ponce aboard USS St. Louis and were assigned to the headquarters of General Miles. From this group Miles organized the "Porto Rican Scouts", which was later assigned to General Theodore Schwan, under the command of Edwardo Lugo Viñas.[34] Miles then ordered Brigadier General Peter G. Hains and the men of the 3rd Illinois, 4th Ohio and 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiments to take Arroyo, a small port 60 miles (97 km) east of Ponce that served the larger, nearby coastal town of Guayama.[33] Arroyo was taken on August 2 and on August 5 Hanes ordered the 4th Ohio, the 3rd Illinois and a battery of Sims-Dudley guns, manned by Company G of the 4th Ohio, to capture Guayama.[33]
Spanish forces were entrenched on the crest of two small hills, between which the road from Arroyo to Guayama ran. The Americans had crossed a stream in front of the hills when suddenly the Spanish opened fire. The Americans protected their position by the stream and increased their firepower as more reinforcements arrived.[33] The outnumbered Spanish troops retreated to Guayama as the Americans made their advance on the hills. The firefight, which lasted half an hour, left three American wounded. When the 4th Ohio entered the town they discovered that the Spaniards had fled north and abandoned the city, ending the Battle of Guayama. General John Rutter Brooke used the Cautiño Residence (Casa Cautiño) by the town square in Guayama as his military headquarters.[33]
Battle of the Guamaní River Bridge
On August 6, Colonel Coit sent two companies of the 4th Ohio on a reconnaissance mission across and beyond a cast iron bridge that crossed the Río Guamaní (Guamaní River). The road beyond the bridge was essential for General Hains' projected advance to the town of Cayey.[28] The 4th Ohio observed elements of Spain's 6th Provisional Battalion under the command of Julio Cervera Baviera entrenched in Guamaní Heights, six miles north of the bridge. The 4th felt that they were too strongly entrenched to attempt an assault at the time.[33] The 4th Ohio requested reinforcements and on August 9, attacked the Spaniards and a short firefight erupted. The numerical superiority of the Americans forced the Spanish to retreat from Guamaní Heights.[28][33] This battle was the costliest battle yet for the Americans since their landing at Guánica, as it resulted in seven wounded. The Spanish forces suffered 2 dead and 15 wounded.[28]
Battle of Coamo
The 3rd Wisconsin awaits orders to charge the Spanish at Coamo
Shortly after the American soldiers disembarked, a group of Spanish and Puerto Rican units began moving from Ponce to Aibonito, marching through the Carretera Central (Central Road). The caravan was composed of two companies of the Batallón de Cazadores de la Patria (Battalion of the Motherland's Hunters) and some members of the Civil Guard and a Puerto Rican guerilla force. A total of 248 infantry men and 42 members of the cavalry formed the battalions under the command of Lt. Col. Rafael Martínez Illescas, the same commander who was in charge of the Ponce garrison.[35] Traveling by foot, the journey would last two days. The group decided to spend one night in the resort of the town of Coamo known as the Baños de Coamo before continuing their march in the morning.[35][36] Martínez Illescas immediately ordered the construction of several trenches; while building these, the soldiers were ambushed by an anti-Spanish guerilla force, led by Pedro María Descartes, who managed to kill a member of the Civil Guard.[35]
Spanish and Puerto Rican prisoners of war after the Battle of Coamo
Meanwhile, two battalions of volunteers from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, led by Generals Oswald H. Ernst and James H. Wilson, settled on opposite sides of the road to Coamo.[35] On August 9, 1898, the Americans began their offensive, opening cannon fire against the city and completing their attack with artillery fire, the 3rd and 4th Regular Pennsylvania Artillery to provide artillery support for the frontal assault on the Baños, damaging the resort.[36][37] The Americans intended to encircle and defeat the defenses in the city. A group of soldiers entered the city from the backside, having advanced through a river nearby. The rear assault was reinforced by Wilson's army under General Ernst, attempting to trap the allied soldiers in a crossfire, employing a tactic known as the pincer movement.[38] Martínez Illescas was surprised by the attack and led an improvised attack, but he was killed in the crossfire along with his second-in-command, leaving Captain Hita in charge; he ordered his men to surrender. Half of the allied troops ignored the order, and continued the attack, Troop C galloped at top speed north from the Baños de Coamo, after finding the resort abandoned by the Spanish.[36] Hita's men were sent to a prisoner-of-war camp located at Río Descalabrado, while the men who continued to attack retreated to Aibonito when they realized that the Americans were using a pincer movement.[38]
Battle of Silva Heights
Col. Julio Soto Villanueva (X) with his staff in Mayagüez
Brigadier General Theodore Schwan and 2,896 men of his Independent Brigade had landed in Guanica and marched towards occupied Yauco. Schwan and his men were ordered to move westward and to capture the city of Mayagüez. Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva ordered 1,500 Spanish Regulars of the 24th Rifle Battalion, six companies of the Alfonso XIII auxiliaries, and other scattered Spanish and Puerto Rican guerilla forces dispatched from the garrison at Mayagüez to meet and defeat Schwan. The Spanish forces entrenched themselves at a high ridge called Silva Heights, located at a road near the town of Hormigueros.[28]
Schwan's troops arrived in the town of San Germán and continued the march towards their objective. Troop A of Schwan's 5th Cavalry approached Silva Heights and were soon engaged in a firefight when the Spanish forces opened fire. The Americans were aided by two companies of the 19th Infantry, supported by artillery and Gatling guns, as well as the 11th Infantry. The Spanish forces retreated after the American reinforcements brought them under intense fire.[28] Schwan's men set up camp on Silva Heights for the night and the following day they continued their drive to Mayagüez. They arrived the following morning to find that the Spanish forces had abandoned the city to retreat to the east towards Lares. Schwan did not follow Soto Villanueva, but instead was ordered to take the town of Las Marías. The outcome of the Silva Heights Battle left 3 Spanish dead, 6 wounded, and 136 prisoners. Schwan's brigade suffered 15 wounded and 2 killed in action.[28][39]
Battle of Asomante
Spanish trenches in Asomante
The American cavalry pursued the soldiers that had retreated from Coamo, but were not able to reach them until the units had entered Aibonito Pass, a region more commonly known as Asomante. The region had been prepared by allied Puerto Rican and Spanish troops, who had built a trench and placed soldiers and equipment around the foliage.[40] As soon as the soldiers noticed the presence of the invading unit they opened cannon fire. The cavalry received infantry reinforcements, which were received by battery fire. Six American soldiers were injured in the crossfire, prompting a retreat order.[40] The allied units (Spanish and Puerto Rican) lost five soldiers and two civil guards.[40] During the following two days the Americans decided to do a battlefield reconnaissance and Colonel S. Reber, developed a croquis of the Aibonito Pass. Spies were deployed throughout Coamo, including a Puerto Rican separatist named Carlos Patterne, who was able to enter the city without suspicion and contact Rufino Huertas, a separatist teacher.[41] Huertas gave Patterne a series of defense plans that were previously developed and organized by Martínez Illescas.[41] While inactive, the Puerto Rican soldiers deployed in Asomante completed rounds every two hours, working four hours daily. They mostly ate beans, some rice and meat, while conserving several cracker packs for Spanish reinforcements that were supposed to arrive.[42] They slept in improvised huts that did not protect them from the rain.[42]
The American commanders decided to attack the trenches with artillery, while sending a large group to Barranquitas, from which they would try to attack the allied troops from the back.[43] At 10:30 a.m. Captain R.D. Potts led part of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment through the central highway to Aibonito. Lieutenants Bliss and O'Hern led two units with similar equipment. At 1:00 p.m. the allied troops opened cannon fire as the Americans entered their range.[44] Potts ordered the deployment of two batteries while O'Hern received orders from Commander Landcaster to set a cannon at a distance of a 100 yards to the vanguard's right.[44] They intended to defeat a small group led by Captain Hernaíz. Shrapnel from allied cannon fire was falling close to Lancaster's location, and he asked Potts to help him by deploying a battery nearby. One of Hernaíz's Placensias cannons overheated, which forced him to order a temporary cease to the offensive.[45] Landcaster believed that the opposition had been annihilated, ordered an advance. However, the allied fire was renewed, this time supported by Mauser rifle fire. The sudden attack caused confusion among some soldiers, who reported seeing a second Spanish unit nearby.[46] Fearing that the allied units could capture the American equipment, Landcaster ordered a retreat. Lieutenant Hains was gravely injured by a Mauser bullet, being replaced by Sergeant John Long. Meanwhile, most of Potts' men fled the battlefield. In the crossfire the allied forces overpowered the American infantry, using Mauser fire to disorganize their artillery,[47] during which time four American officials were gravely injured including Long, Lieutenant Harris, Captain E.T. Lee and Corporal Oscar Sawanson.[48] Private Frederick Yough, Corporal August Yank, George J. Bruce and Private Sices also received injuries, with Yough subsequently dying. Harris' position was filled by O'Hern, while Sawanson was fatally shot while trying to support the artillery. In total the allied units had only an injured artillery man, while the American side had two dead and five injured. Wilson's camp was the first to receive a telegram from General Miles notifying him that the war had ended. The Americans sent Bliss to Asomante, but Nouvilas refused to suspend the hostilities after receiving a telegram from Macías denying any peace treaty.[49] All military actions in Puerto Rico were suspended August 13, after President William McKinley and French Ambassador Jules Cambon, acting on behalf of the Spanish government, signed an armistice whereby Spain relinquished its sovereignty over the territory of Puerto Rico.[11]
Treaty of Paris of 1898
In an 1898 newspaper cartoon, 'Uncle Sam" watches as the 'Goddess of Liberty" heralds 'freedom" for Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines
The Puerto Rico Campaign, which began with Yales's capture of Rita on May 8 and ended on August 13 after the Treaty of Paris was signed, was short compared to the other campaigns in the Spanish–American War, because the war came to an end before the military objective of the campaign was completed. Among the factors which benefited the invaders in the short campaign was that the Puerto Ricans who resided in the southern and western towns and villages resented Spanish rule and tended to view the Americans as their liberators.[28] Some Puerto Rican leaders such as José de Diego and Eugenio María de Hostos expected the United States to grant the island its independence[50][51] and in the case of Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón and the committee which he headed, greeted General Miles and the invaders in Ponce with banquets.[52] Believing that Puerto Rico would gain its independence, a group of men staged an uprising in Ciales which became known as "El Levantamiento de Ciales"[53] or the "Ciales Uprising of 1898" and proclaimed Puerto Rico to be a republic. The Spanish authorities who were unaware that the cease fire had been signed brutally suppressed the uprising[54] Another reason which can explain why the campaign was short and not as violent as the others is that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Puerto Rican Provisional Battalions were in Cuba defending that island against the American invaders.
As stated in the introduction, the Puerto Rican Battalion suffered a total of 70 casualties which included their dead, wounded, MIA's and prisoners.[12] The Spanish, Puerto Ricans and Americans that participated in the campaign totaled 33,472. Of this total 18,000 were Spanish, 10,000 were Puerto Rican and 15,472 were American military personnel. The Spanish and Puerto Rican suffered 429 casualties which included 17 dead, 88 wounded and 324 captured. The American forces suffered 43 casualties: 3 dead and 40 wounded.[2] The commander of Spain's 6th Provisional Battalion, Julio Cervera Baviera gained notoriety as the author of a pamphlet called La defensa de Puerto Rico, which supported Governor General Manuel Macías y Casado and in an attempt to justify Spain's defeat against the United States, falsely blamed the Puerto Rican volunteers in the Spanish Army of the fiasco[55] A group of angry Sanjuaneros agreed to challenge Cervera to a duel if the commander did not retract his pamphlet. The men drew lots for this honor; it fell to José Janer y Soler and was seconded by Cayetano Coll y Toste y Leonidas Villalón. Cervera's seconds were Colonel Pedro del Pino and Captain Emilio Barrera. The duel never took place, as Cervera explained his intentions in writing the pamphlet, and all parties were satisfied.[56]
Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, ratified on December 10, 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States. Spain had lost its last colony in the Western Hemisphere and the United States gained imperial strength and global presence. The United States established a military government and appointed Miles the first head of the military government established on the island, acting as both head of the army of occupation and administrator of civil affairs.[57] Members of the Spanish forces and civilians who were loyal to the Spanish Crown were allowed to return to Spain. By October 18, the Spanish withdrawal from Puerto Rico was completed as the final troops left San Juan for Spain.[11] Those who belonged to the Spanish military who decided to stay in Puerto Rico were offered the option by the United States to serve in the newly formed "Porto Rico Regiment". Some took the offer, such as Teófilo Marxuach, a former Lieutenant in the Spanish Army who joined the regiment,[58] and others, such as Capt. Angel Rivero Méndez, declined the offer and retired from the military.[59]
"Americanization" of Puerto Rico
From 1898 to 1900, Puerto Rico was governed by four military officers, Commanding General Nelson A. Miles (1898), Major General John R. Brooke (1898–1898), Major General Guy Vernon Henry (1898–1899) and Major General George Whitefield Davis (1899–1900). Some of these men, such as Miles, Brooke and Henry were experienced veterans of the Indian Wars and, even though they were accustomed to the pacification and administration of the Native Americans, the U.S. Army had no previous experience in the administration of overseas territories.[60] Henry stated: "It was an entirely new duty for American Army officers. There was no precedent in the experience of these so suddenly placed in charge of this our first real colony, upon which their policy could be based."[60]
Raising the U.S. Flag over San Juan, October 18, 1898
The administration of Puerto Rico was the responsibility of the United States Department of War's Division of Insular Affairs which was molded after the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Almost immediately, the United States began the 'Americanization" process of Puerto Rico. The U.S. occupation brought about a total change in Puerto Rico's economy and polity and did not apply democratic principles to the colony. Puerto Rico was classified as an 'unincorporated territory" which meant that the protections of the United States Constitution did not automatically apply because the island belonged to the U.S., but was not part of the U.S.[61]
In 1899, U.S. Senator George Frisbie Hoar described Puerto Ricans as "uneducated, simple-minded and harmless people who were only interested in wine, women, music and dancing" and recommended that Spanish should be abolished in the island's schools and only English should be taught.[62] Schools became the primary vehicle of Americanization, and initially all classes were taught in English, which also made for a large dropout rate.[61]
On January 15, 1899, the military government changed the name of Puerto Rico to Porto Rico (On May 17, 1932, U.S. Congress changed the name back to "Puerto Rico") and the island's currency was changed from the Puerto Rican peso to the American dollar, integrating the island's currency into the U.S. monetary system.[63] The United States exerted its control over the economy of the island by prohibiting Puerto Rico from negotiating commercial treaties with other nations, from determining tariffs, and from shipping goods to the mainland on other than U.S. carriers.[61]
Civil disorder
A state of civil disorder existed in the island's mountainous region after the invasion of the United States. The local Criollo, who now found themselves unemployed and felt that they had been exploited by their former employers, formed bands called 'Partidas". The Partidas, at first attacked and robbed many of the wealthy plantation owners, who were loyal to the Spanish Crown, in vengeance, however they later began to attack the businesses owned by the local natives. One of the most notable leaders of the Partidas was José Maldonado Román a.k.a. 'Aguila Blanca". Maldonado, who operated in the areas of Juana Díaz and Ponce, harassed the Spanish Civil Guard and later did the same to the American Forces. Another factor contributing to the state of civil disorder on the island was the lack of discipline of the American troops who were stationed on the island. These troops were not professional soldiers and were composed of volunteers. Many instances were reported where these men would act disorderly, under the influence of alcohol, and get into fights with the local residents.[64] The state of civil disorder came to a halt on the island after the military government began to rebuild Puerto Rico's infrastructure, thereby providing employment for many of the discontented and unemployed population, and when the volunteer troops were replaced by the regular Army.[64]
End of military rule and rise of the sugar economy
Military rule was replaced by a civilian government by way of the Foraker Act of 1900. However, the Act stipulated that the governor, chief of police and top officials were presidentially appointed and they were all to be Americans.[61]
In 1901, the first civilian U.S. governor of Puerto Rico, Charles Herbert Allen, installed himself as president of the largest sugar-refining company in the world, the American Sugar Refining Company. This company was later renamed as the Domino Sugar company. In effect, Charles Allen leveraged his governorship of Puerto Rico into a controlling interest over the entire Puerto Rican economy.[65]
54 years after the end of the Puerto Rican Campaign
In 1947, the U.S. granted Puerto Ricans the right to democratically elect their own governor, which it first exercised in 1948. The Constitution of Puerto Rico was approved by a Constitutional Convention on February 6, 1952, ratified by the U.S. Congress, and approved by President Truman on July 3 of that year. Puerto Rico adopted the name of Estado Libre Asociado (literally translated as "Free Associated State"), officially translated into English as Commonwealth, for its body politic.[66][67][68]
Markers, monuments and tombstones
Rock in Guánica which indicates where Major General Nelson A. Miles and his men landed
In Puerto Rico there are no monuments to commemorate the Spanish–American War as such. There are various markers where some of the historical events took place and some tombstones which honor both the American invaders and the Spanish and Puerto Rican defenders of the island. In the town of Guánica there is a rock on the coastal port with an inscription indicating that Major General Nelson A. Miles and his men landed on that spot. There is also a monument in the town dedicated to the veterans of the Spanish–American War, however said monument fails to specify to which veterans it is dedicated to, the Americans or the Spanish/Puerto Ricans. In Yauco there is a monument/tombstone dedicated to an unknown Spanish soldier who had fallen in combat and was left there on that very spot. In Coamo there are two markers that indicate where Rafael Martínez Illescas and Frutos López died. López's tomb is located in the old cemetery of Coamo next to that of the tomb of the three unknown Puerto Rican soldiers who perished in that conflict. Martínez Illescas' body was transferred in 1916, to his hometown Cartagena in Spain where he is buried. The town of Guayama has a monument dedicated to the members of the 4th Ohio Infantry. In Asomante, there is a marker which indicates the place where the "Battle of Asomante" took place.[69]
Puerto Rico portal
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Puerto Rico/Did you know-Puerto Rico? portal
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65th Infantry Regiment
^ a b Zwick, Jim (April 23, 1995). "Sitting in Darkness: An Unheeded Message About U.S. Militarism". Baltimore Sun. pp. J1, J6.
^ a b c d e Negroni, Coronel Héctor Andres (1992). La Guerra Hispanoamericana en Puerto Rico (Military history of Puerto Rico). 1898 Los Documentos de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario. ISBN 84-7844-138-7. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
^ a b "Strategy as Politics'; by: Jorge Rodriguez Beruff; Publisher: La Editorial; Universidad de Puerto Rico; page 7; ISBN 978-0-8477-0160-5
^ A.T.Mahan, "The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1660–1783)", London: Sampson Low, Marston, Seale; page 83
^ Strategy as Politics by: Jorge Rodriguez Beruff; Publisher: La Editorial; Universidad de Puerto Rico; page 13; ISBN 978-0-8477-0160-5
^ Puerto Rico
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^ "Hombres Illustres de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). www.prfrogui.com. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
^ a b c "Chronology of Puerto Rico in the Spanish–American War". The World of 1898: The Spanish–American War. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
^ a b Tropas de España en Puerto
^ a b c Trask 1996, p. 338
^ a b "Los espías estadounidenses de la Guerra Hispanoamericana en Puerto Rico" (American Spies in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War); By: Roberto Ramos-Perea del Ateneo Puertorriqueño
^ "Alone in Puerto Rico, by Edwin Emerson, Jr., Century Magazine, Vol. 56, Issue 5, pp. 666–676, September 1898
^ Cañón Ordóñez de 15 cm modelo 1885
^ Ediciones Digitales
^ a b c "1898 – Adjuntas en la Guerra Hispanoamericana" (in Spanish). Retrieved October 10, 2006.
^ "Pascual Cervera y Topete". The World of 1898: The Spanish–American War. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
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^ "Saint Paul". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
^ Berta Pensado, El Marqués de Comillas (1954)
^ "ANTONIO LOPEZ (Shipwreck)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
^ a b c d Barnes, Mark R. "The American Army Moves on Puerto-Rico, Part 2". War in Puerto Rico. Spanish American War Centennial Website. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
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^ a b c d e f g h i "Puerto Rico — "A Moonlight Picnic"". Home of Heroes. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
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^ "Protagonistas de la Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico". 1898 La Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved August 2, 2008.
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^ a b c Los incidentes de Fajardo 3 al 7 de agosto de 1898
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^ Protagonistas de la Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico Parte XII
^ a b c d Pratts 2006, p. 42
^ a b c The American Army Moves on Puerto-Rico
^ Pratts 2006, p. 46
^ a b Pratts 2006, p. 48
^ https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=405039
^ a b c Pratts 2006, p. 50
^ a b Pratts 2006, pp. 70–71
^ "Pratts 2006, p. 60
^ "About Eugenio María de Hostos (1839–1903)". Hostos Community College. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
^ "José de Diego". The World of 1898: The Spanish–American War. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
^ El Nuevo Dia Archived 2009-06-03 at the Wayback Machine
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^ Pers2.htm
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^ Hewitt, Holmes & Williams 1905, p. 440
^ "Angel Rivero, Crónica de la Guerra Hispanoamericana en Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Retrieved August 2, 2008.
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^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). LexJuris de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico". Welcome.toPuertoRico.org. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
^ Monumentos y tumbas
Beruff, Jorge Rodríguez (2007). Strategy as Politics: Puerto Rico on the Eve of the Second World War. La Editorial, Universidad de Puerto Rico. ISBN 978-0-8477-0160-5.
Dinwiddie, William (1899). "Puerto Rico: Its Conditions and Possibilities". New York: Harper & Brothers.
Hakim, Joy (1994). History of US: Book Eight, An Age of Extremes. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507759-8.
Hewitt, Waterman Thomas; Holmes, Frank R.; Williams, Lewis A. (1905). "Cornell University: A History". The University Publishing Society.
Pratts, Edgardo (2006). De Coamo a la Trinchera del Asomante (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Puerto Rico: Fundación Educativa Idelfonso Pratts. ISBN 0-9762185-6-9.
Trask, David F. (1996). The War with Spain in 1898. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-9429-8.
Ángel Rivero Méndez: Crónica de la Guerra Hispanoamericana en Puerto Rico. Published by: Imprenta de los sucesores de Rivade- neyra (1922)
Héctor Andrés Negroni: Historia militar de Puerto Rico. Published by: Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario (1992)
Spanish–American War Centennial site
"Puerto Rico". The Spanish–American War: A Guide to the Collections of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. New York Public Library. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
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Cusco painting tradition
Indochristian painting in New Spain
Quito painting tradition
Colonial universities in Latin America
Colonial universities in the Philippines
General Archive of the Indies
Colonial Spanish Horse
Castas
Old inquisition
Slavery in Spanish Empire
Law of coartación (which allowed slaves to buy their freedom, and that of others)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Puerto_Rico_Campaign&oldid=904107340#Battle_of_Asomante"
Battles of the Spanish–American War
Military in Puerto Rico
United States Marine Corps in the 18th and 19th centuries
Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages
Use American English from March 2019
Use mdy dates from March 2019


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I'm fully aware of how this is all going to sound, but it also happens to be the truth. I woke up one day six years ago to discover that I had inexplicably gained the ability to see and hear angels, demons, auras and ghosts. This was not something I was chasing or even really believed in. I was in my early 30s, living in New York City and working the daily grind. I had a string of unsuccessful relationships and was just kind of treading water. As far as any kind of spiritual life — it could not have been the furthest thing from my mind. I hadn't stepped in a church in over 20 years and truthfully, the mere mention of God kind of annoyed me.
And then came San Francisco. I arrived to finish work on a film and after checking into my hotel room, I started to see things that I'd never seen before. I can best describe it as moving clouds of energy. I had no idea what was going on. The temperature in the room plummeted, which added to my shock. The more I looked around, the more I could see. Geometric patterns came out of the walls, spirits moved across the room, masses of light swirled around me, all kinds of wild stuff both beautiful and horrifying. Over the course of the night spirits told me to expose what was happening.
I finished the job, an incredible feat considering, and flew back to New York. I was still very rattled and wasn't exactly announcing to the world what had happened. Still, despite my efforts to keep it all under the radar, this new ability — I call it a "gift/curse" — followed me back to the city.
Sometime later I met my now girlfriend, Mara, to whom I had to reveal this because I was falling in love with her. I kind of put it all on the table, which was really unnerving because she was as skeptical as I would have been in her shoes. But she loved me and said we'd take it on together. No matter what.
Randomly, new people entered my life and somehow it all sort of connected and I found myself and this story as the basis for the documentary film Wake Up. Now, being the guy who puts himself on film is the last thing I ever wanted to do. I resisted it and even when I started to be filmed, I didn't love the idea of sharing with the world that I had suddenly developed these unique abilities.
One of the first things we did was get an MRI of my brain and a psychiatric exam. The doctors confirmed I was not schizophrenic and that nothing was abnormal about my brain. That was an enormous relief, but it left a lot more questions. We spent the next two-plus years traveling around the country and hanging out with all sorts of amazing people — a Sufi mystic, a healer/acupuncturist, researchers, academics, an enlightenment teacher, a Buddhist Roshi, Native Americans, etc. During this whole time, Mara and I were navigating our relationship in the midst of trying to understand why this happened to me and what I was supposed to do with it.
Making Wake Up was no joy ride. It was incredibly difficult to put myself out there, but it was also an incredibly profound experience. I looked for meaning as a child growing up in a small town in Georgia, but the whole God-fearing Southern Baptist approach never sat well. I found myself, decades later, confronting the same issues I struggled with in church. This journey helped me process not just this sudden ability to see and hear the extraordinary, but also to get on a path of understanding.
I don't claim to have all the answers — it's still unfolding for me — but what I learned in Wake Up dramatically changed my entire perspective on everything. I'm hoping that this film will not only be a source of enjoyment for people but also be a place of discovery and inspiration as it has been for me… and the amazing people that went along with me on this journey of waking up.
Wake Up, the DVD, is available for immediate rental online viewing within 48 hours, and the DVD is available for purchase now. Visit wakeupthefilm.com, or www.facebook.com/WakeUpTheFilm.
Jonas Elrod has been in the film industry for the last 10 years working as producer/director on various projects including documentaries, music videos, commercials and short films. Based in New York, Jonas co-ran the award winning production company Rockhard Films. Focusing primarily on music videos and commercials, he worked with top artists/clients such as Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Nike, ESPN and Spike Lee.
I've seen this movie and met Jonas, and this is a profoundly moving and special film. If you haven't seen it, you should. It will open your eyes!


Hi and welcome to the September issue of Inside Recliners. In this issues there's positive news from north of the border, a focus on one of the latest chairs to our range and our guide to transferring patients from a Recliners Chair.
But coming up before that we've got the OT show in Birmingham's NEC. We'll be there showcasing our latest range including the incredibly popular mode Multi-Care Plus. Pop along to stand (What's the number?) and ask Matt for a demonstration.
How do cities around the world compare for wheelchair users? The Guardian asked readers to share their experiences – here's what they found.
The not-for-profit fashion design agency that's making fashion accessible for everyone.
Our Reflexion Foam considerably lowers the risk of pressure ulcers by substantially reducing the weight load around critical contact areas.
Do you have any feedback on Recliners Chairs, or a question you'd like to ask our team?
We're always happy to respond to any questions, feedback or ideas for our range. Get in touch any time via email (info@recliners.org.uk) or phone 01443 431 000.


BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. Organised with the support and guidance of leading police governance professionals, academics and stakeholders, this event explores key police governance challenges of the day. Interested in police governance? Then put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now!
Police governance has developed very considerably since PCCs were first elected six years ago – and not just as a result of the recent opportunity for PCCs also to take on fire governance. Increasingly, OPCCs undertake a considerable (and growing) range of policy-related work, plus are expected to deliver much speedier and more effective support and decision-making than their Police Authority secretariat forerunners.
CoPaCC (Policing Insight's parent organisation) was established at the time of the first PCC elections in 2012 to monitor Police and Crime Commissioners' work, and is now widely acknowledged as providing considerable national insight into police governance. With the support and guidance of leading police governance professionals, academics and other interested parties, CoPaCC is now organising this first annual "Police Governance Summit", to take place on Wednesday, 6th to Thursday, 7th June.
This first "Police Governance Summit" will focus on areas that CoPaCC and our expert advisers have identified as key current challenges. The Summit will include sessions run and informed by leading national authorities and subject matter experts.
Session Five: Effective use of committees: Should the Joint Audit Committee just be about compliance?
Session Six: Police Governance Budgets: Can greater OPCC collaboration help make the most out of tight budgets?


text:
N.W.A. Is The Soundtrack Of Los Angeles Protests
Alyson Camus|June 2, 2020
News, Slideshow
Bruce Springsteen, Dead Kennedys, Fugazi, Ho99o9 and Run the Jewels, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Pussy Riot, Rage Against the Machine, The Clash
N.W.A. Is The Soundtrack
Protests haven't stopped in Los Angeles and they are not going to stop anytime soon. With them comes a heavy police presence, and the national guards are now occupying Hollywood! I had never seen so much police/military presence than Monday afternoon, and since plenty of businesses have boarded up for fear of looting, Sunset boulevard looks like a pre/post-apocalypse avenue. I know we are in Hollywood but the problem is that this is not a scene set up for the shooting of some action movie. There is a wind of anarchy blowing over the entire city, we never know which part of the town will be hit, which stores will be looted, and people are afraid.
There were several protests all over town, from Hollywood to West Hollywood or Van Nuys, and yes, the protests were peaceful until the police sent tear gas to disperse the crowd after the curfew. At Sunset & Vine, people walked away calmly but they hadn't decided it was over and they confronted the police lines a few times on Santa Monica boulevard. The neighborhood Rite Aid was looted, as well as other stores, and at this point, I expected it to happen, I told myself the store would be the target of the looting when I was trying to find a parking place several blocks away.
If there are more protests, the same series of events will repeat like groundhog day: peaceful gathering, chanting and march, tear gas, a forceful confrontation between the crowd and the police, rubber balls, and looting of nearby stores by a completely different group of people. I witnessed one of these confrontations, the police didn't hesitate to shoot rubber balls at the young crowd, and there was even one person in a wheelchair at the front! Why are the police still focusing on stopping the protesters instead of protecting the stores and stopping the looting? This is beyond any comprehension.
But there was a funny scene at the beginning of the protest, a guy was riding a huge motorcycle on Sunset while blasting N.W.A.'s 'Fuck tha Police', which seemed to be the perfect soundtrack for the scene. Not that there was any aggression toward the police coming from this crowd, their slogans were focused on George Floyd's death, equality, and civil rights…
This revolution is still young and in needs of a soundtrack, and of course, N.W.A. is the first band that comes to mind, followed by a few classics of rap and punk: Public Enemy, Fugazi, Dead Kennedys, The Clash, Rage Against the Machine, all denouncing police brutality, but also the more recent comers like Pussy Riot, Ho99o9 and Run the Jewels. And if Bruce Springsteen's 'My City of Ruins' sounds like an incongruity at the end of this playlist, it is because nobody can recognize the place now. But what does it say about our society that a song written in 1988 is still the first idea that comes to mind?
← Going Steady: New Singles Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020, Reviewed
Krist Novoselic Went MAGA Fan In One Facebook Post →
Support Let Me Help Inc by shopping at smile.amazon.com
By Iman Lababedi	| January 18, 2022	| 0 Comments
Confirmed: There Was Blood Everywhere In The House Where Elliott Smith Was Stabbed
By Alyson Camus	| January 18, 2022	| 0 Comments
the police owe us an explanation.
Mozart's "The Marriage Of Figaro", Saturday, January 15th, 1PM, At The Metropolitan Opera, Reviewed
sex and skills level the playing field
Sneak Peaks: New Album Releases 1-21-22 – 1-28-22
Fast Money, indeed
Press Releases For January: Here Are The Artists
By admin	| January 17, 2022	| 0 Comments
"flashes of vivid memories from an ancient time with an ex-lover"
Going Steady: New Singles 1-14-22 – 1-20-21 Reviewed
Less push, More flow
Village Voice Pazz and Jop Ripoff Poll 2021
By Steve Crawford	| January 16, 2022	| 0 Comments
350 rock critics, wannabe rock critics, or people with OCD
L.A. Burning, West Coast Concert Picks, January 17th-23rd
a new Tupac Shakur exhibit opening downtown LA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Teaching the Teachers About Islam? Some Say a Workshop Turned Political
by ROXANA KOPETMAN
https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/25234/teaching-the-teachers-about-islam-some-say
Small groups of teachers recently gathered, first in Los Angeles, then in Orange County, for workshops on topics such as Arabic music, the role of women in Islam and Islamophobia.
The goal was to teach teachers, to give them information they could apply in their classrooms. Ultimately, the thinking went, all students would benefit, particularly Muslim students facing bullying and discrimination.
But the workshops–"Learning about Islam and the Arab World"–have come under fire by some who say they are an attempt to indoctrinate teachers with a one-sided view of the Middle East conflict, portraying the state of Israel as the villain and Palestinians as the victims.
The two-day workshops were organized by the Greater L.A. chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an interfaith organization that supports the 'boycott, divest and sanction' movement against Israel, a movement known by the initials BDS that's gaining traction on college campuses across the country.
The Israel Group, a Southern California-based organization that works to counter the BDS movement, filed complaints with both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Orange County Department of Education.
"...It is apparent that the workshop was designed, not as a neutrally balanced presentation about a complex situation, but rather as a propaganda platform intended to vilify Israel and the Jewish people as being responsible for all suffering and for the entire refugee problem in the Middle East," Jack Saltzberg, the group's executive director, wrote the Orange County Board of Education in an Oct. 24 letter.
Critics questioned why an organization that takes an anti-Israel position is allowed to offer such workshops, why the Middle East conflict was discussed at all in courses that lead to teachers' salary points, and why the districts offered workshops on one religion and not others. In Los Angeles, hundreds of teachers have taken the workshops for years without any apparent complaints.
Vivian Ekchian, the acting superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, said in a statement that teachers participated "to build cultural competency and develop effective strategies to connect with the diverse communities we serve.
"Learning About Islam and the Arab World' was reviewed for multicultural awareness, respect for diversity, dialogue, and non-violent conflict resolution, and alignment to the California History Social Studies Standard 7.2," she wrote.
The L.A. Unified staff "did not observe evidence of the concerns raised," Ekchian said.
In response, L.A. Unified is making some changes that could impact whether future workshops will continue to be counted as teacher credits that can lead to salary increases.
In Orange County, Dennis Cole, one of three Orange County Department of Education administrators who attended the workshops held in Anaheim, said he also did not see biased presentations. But due to concerns expressed, that department is re-evaluating future workshops.
Vicki Tamoush, who led the Orange County workshops, did not directly address the criticisms, saying her organization did not receive any complaints.
"To the contrary, the attendees' comments over the years have been overwhelmingly positive," Tamoush wrote in an e-mail.
"Many have commented that this workshop opened their eyes to their own misconceptions or even prejudices; others have asked us to provide more information to them outside of the workshop. All of them have expressed their gratitude for the materials, information, and speakers presented and commented on the depth, breadth, and quality of the presentations and have consistently told us that this is one of the best professional development sessions they have ever attended."
In the Los Angeles Unified School District, the annual two-day workshops have been offered for at least a decade.
Although fewer than 10 educators signed up for the most recent programming in Los Angeles, on Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, some 500 teachers have attended the workshops through the years, Tamoush said.
The program held in Orange County, on Oct. 4 and Oct. 25, was the first time it has been held in that location. About 15 people attended the second workshop, and of those only four said they were current teachers. Others included observers from the Orange County Department of Education, the Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County, Orange County Human Relations, (which co-sponsored the local workshops,) and retired teachers.
Attendees were provided a quick portrait of who Muslims are in the United States and around the word, and what they believe. There also was discussion about gender roles, why some Muslim women wear head coverings and how Muslim women are portrayed in the media.
There were lessons on the meaning of Islam – "It means the peaceful submission to God"; and a definition of the Arabic word "jihad" not commonly heard in mainstream media: it means to exert an effort for the sake of God, and not holy war, one speaker said.
A panel with mostly high school students concluded the second day workshop with a discussion about how those who are Muslim navigate their lives on campus, including thoughts about dating and fasting during Ramadan.
Despite the small turnout, the speakers in Orange County featured some heavyweights in the Southern California Muslim community, including Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles-area chapter of the Council on Muslim-American Relations, or CAIR, and Shakeel Syed, until last year the executive director of the Islamic Shura Council.
Barbara Dresel, a retired California Teachers Association employee who attended the workshops in Orange County because she wanted to learn more about Islam, said she heard no bias. Instead, she said, she found the sessions educational.
"The consistent message about Islam was that ... it's about being a good person and being accountable to God," she said.
But other attendees took exception, especially to some of the presentations and materials offered in the Los Angeles workshops.
Linda Cone, a retired teacher from Yorba Linda who attended the workshops in both communities, said the Los Angeles seminars were overly political. "The focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was out of line... in terms of bias and distortion of facts."
The speakers and discussions were not identical in Los Angeles and Orange County. In L.A., for example, more sessions delved into the Middle East Conflict, including one titled "Palestine Today: No way to treat a child."
Marcia Jacobs, a Jewish Culver City resident who attended the L.A. workshops, said many segments were dedicated to the Arab-Israeli conflict, with references to "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians.
"That's a political situation. I don't think it's appropriate to have a discussion without having the other side heard. It was very biased," Jacobs said. "It made the Israelis look like torturers and monsters. They had nothing good to say about the Jews."
Both Cone and Jacobs said they went on their own, not representing any organization. Both are members of conservative groups, including ACT USA, which bills itself as a national security grassroots organization that has been labeled by some as anti-Muslim.
After the L.A. workshops came to the attention of The Israel Group, other Jewish organizations alerted their constituents.
One of them was Stand With Us, a pro-Israel organization. While that group stated on its website that it neither opposes the seminar, or the idea of encouraging teachers to be sensitive to diverse classroom cultures, it criticized some of the presentations in both Orange County and Los Angeles.
One presentation in Los Angeles titled "Palestine/Israel" offered by a part-time instructor at Santa Monica College drew particular attention.
Both Stand With Us and the Anti-Defamation League called it "problematic." Both groups cited "substantial misrepresentations, distortions of established historical facts, omissions of relevant facts, and inflammatory language."
Officials with ADL are following up with the educational agencies to make sure all perspectives are presented moving forward, said Peter S. Levi, ADL's regional director for Orange County and Long Beach.
Lisa Armony, a director with the Jewish Federation & Family Services of Orange County, attended part of the presentation held in Anaheim and said she saw no bias during the sessions she attended.
The Orange County training "was not anti-Semitic," wrote Rusty Kennedy, of the OC Human Relations, which co-sponsored the workshops, which were held in Anaheim.
"Given the spate of hate targeting Muslims and Arabs, among other victims this year, it seemed a good idea to promote understanding of these diverse communities," wrote Kennedy, whose group was not involved with the Los Angeles workshops.
"Middle East issues are nuanced and complicated and we vow to educate ourselves on those nuances as we move forward," he said.
Kennedy added that he would support training about Judaism and Jewish communities, a population that has also seen an increase in discrimination and school bullying.
Since the workshops ended, various parties connected to the seminars have been in talks that could change the way the teacher education is provided.
School officials in Los Angeles said they are changing the make-up of the committee that reviews courses that give teachers points toward salary increases. Instead of a panel made up solely from the human resources department, the new committee will include educators and a representative of the district's human relations, diversity and equity division.
Nick Melvoin, the Los Angeles Unified School Board vice president, said he urged the district to improve the course approval process "to prevent any future (seminars) from presenting one-sided material."
Melvoin, who is Jewish, said he had no problem with the stated objective of the workshops. Instead, he said, "the course materials raise serious questions." He added that he has asked district officials to re-evaluate the course's objectives, instructors, and materials.
"I wasn't convinced that the allegations of bias were without merit."
Educators in Orange County also are re-thinking teacher workshops.
Perhaps other groups will come in and give presentations from different points of view, or maybe the county will put on its own programming, said Cole, one of the Orange County Department of Education administrators who attended the Anaheim workshops.
"The topic of how do we care for Muslim students so they don't feel bullied is welcomed, just like with other students — insert any religion here — that's the topic that will go forward," Cole said.
"Will this particular workshop go forward? That's left to be seen."
Related Topics: Islam in the Classroom, Islamophobia receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free mef mailing list


Acording to a declaration made by Florence Devouard, Wikipedia may be in the slumps – "At this point, Wikipedia has the financial ressources to run its servers for about 3 to 4 months.". This may very well be just arather extraordinary example of begging for money, or a way to put itself on the shelf, but since it is the most popular way to get information it may be possible.
Wikipedia has risen in a while to a de facto way of gathering information on the web. Either for a project, for personal information or for work, it provides. It's one project that has put the collective intelligence of the masses to a very good use and which continues to be a must-know-of tool for everyone. This means lots of people use it. This means bandwith. And lots of it. And servers. And looots of storage. Which in the end means money.
Wikipedia is not advertising supported in any way. The Wikimedia foundation raises money to keep the project going. In a previous article (don't remember the source) one representative of the foundation claimed that they gather $1million and they should be OK with finances.
So what will become of wikipedia? Will it introduce ads to support itself or continue to rely on donations? Either way I hope that it does not end here. There is still a lot of information that needs to become available.


The needs of an infant, in terms of sleep, are all dictated by their nutritional needs, meaning they need to wake up to eat. Every 2 to 3 hours, babies need to wake up because their tummies are small. They need to fill their tummies up, and then in 2 or 3 hours, they'll wake up again because they're telling you, "I'm hungry." So they're going to sleep according to what their body really needs. You don't want to think about your newborn sleeping through the night. They're not supposed to.
How you might know that maybe your baby can sleep a little bit longer is by keeping in close contact with your pediatrician because your pediatrician will tell you if he or she is gaining enough weight and that your baby is developing normally. So during the first 3 months of life or so, make sure that you are encouraging and welcoming the fact that your infant is waking up. I know you're tired as a parent, of course, but it's exactly what your household needs to look like. Babies need to wake up to eat.
How long it takes for a baby to adjust to sleeping through the night will vary depending on the baby and the baby's age. You as a parent need to have patience and stay committed. Sleep patterns do not change immediately.
Before they can fall asleep at night, babies - as well as adults - need to slow down their brain activity. In order to do this, they need some quiet time before bed. Turn down the lights and turn off the television or radio. Keep your voice low. Perhaps read to them in a soft voice.
It's very important to keep a routine at bedtime. As much as possible, put the baby to bed at the same time each night. Keep feeding times regular. Babies and children respond to routines - knowing that one thing follows another. Routines should be followed every night before bedtime. Read to your child or pray or say final words - the same thing every night ("Sleep tight," etc.).
Transitional objects definitely help. Transitional items should be introduced to the baby early - before he or she is able to sleep through the night. Whether it's a special stuffed animal, blanket or pacifier (check with your pediatrician about a pacifier). Hold the item while you feed the baby. Keep it nearby so that the baby will associate that item with you. By three or four months, most babies will be able to roll over and grasp the item. When they are able to do this, place the item in the babies crib. The baby will associate this item with the mother or father. It helps to make the baby feel secure.
We had no strategies for getting my son to sleep through the night. It was terrible. We were desperate. We tried letting him cry which would force my other son, Andrew, into my room since the two kids share a bedroom. Mackenney would continually cry, and then I would give up. It is hard to listen to a baby cry for 5 minutes let alone 40 minutes. When he cries, the whole family wakes up.
Since Ann Corwin visited, I have not had any problems. A couple of nights, my son woke up and I gave him water and he went back to sleep. Now, he sleeps through the night. The nanny is on board, too and follows the routine. I couldn't believe it!
I know that some people don't like the pacifier, but we do use a pacifier with my grandson. He used to have ear aches that kept him up at night. Some kids have allergies that wake them up. You should check with your doctor. Also, you have to make sure babies get into a pattern.
As a caregiver, I talk to the parents to learn the kid's sleep routine. I would want to know if the child has a cold or isn't feeling well or is stressed. The more consistent the routine is in the day, the more the baby will sleep throughout the night or nap time. If he does wake up, rub his back and keep the room dark with a little light. If the baby has special blankets, make sure that they are there. Make sure there are smooth transitions from bath to bedtime. Reading a book before bedtime helps. Make it a routine, so the child knows what is coming up next.


Cleaning Systems, Inc. (CSI) of De Pere, Wisconsin proudly announces the hiring of Josh Smith to the position of Lustra® Regional Sales Manager covering Texas.
Josh is originally from South Alabama and has been in the Texas area for 15 years. He comes to CSI with 10 years of experience in the Car Wash Industry.
Questions about Mr. Smith's hiring should be directed to Larry Taylor at (210) 872-9021 or via e-mail at LTaylor@LustraBear.com.


Encourage understanding: Divide the children into five groups. Give each group one of the following scriptures and some props or a simple costume to represent the corresponding prophet: Isaiah 7:14; 9:6 (Isaiah); 1 Nephi 11:14–21 (Nephi); Mosiah 3:5, 8 (King Benjamin); Alma 7:9–10 (Alma); Helaman 14:2–6 (Samuel). Invite each group to read and discuss what the prophet said about Christ's birth. Have one child from each group use the props or costume to represent the prophet and tell the other children which prophet he or she is representing and to read or tell what that prophet said about Jesus's birth. Sing "He Sent His Son" (CS, 34–35) or "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus" (CS, 36).
You will have a wrapped present for each of the Prophets with their name inside.
A child will come to the front and choose a present and then unwrap it to reveal the name of the Prophet. The 'Prophet' will then come into the Primary Room and share the scripture/message with the children. You will then discuss what the scripture means.
If you don't want to have people dress up, here is an alternative idea. Have five gifts with the scriptures and the name of the Prophet inside. On a board have 5 pictures that have to do with each of the prophets/scriptures. Invite a child up and have them pick a gift, then have them unwrap the gift. Read the scripture aloud and then have them match the name of the prophet with the picture it belongs to.
Isaiah: you could have a Nativity picture with the names of Christ, from the scripture, around it.
Samuel: you could use the picture that I used above, found HERE, or another picture of the new star.
Discuss the scripture after each one has been read and matched.
**You could also do a present pass. Have the pianist play a song and pass the gift around. When the music stops that child gets to unwrap the present.
These are just a couple simple ideas that I had in mind, but I think the children will really enjoy them, and learn about the birth of Jesus Christ as prophesied by many prophets of old.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy this week's ideas and use them for your lesson. If you do I would love to hear how it goes, so leave me a comment letting me know.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Liz. I am so glad that you enjoy the ideas that I share. Thanks again. Kind comments keep me going. ?
I second what Liz said! Your ideas are very good and I am grateful you are willing to share!
Great ideas!!! Thanks sooo much!!!
Looking forward to doing the present pass this Sunday! The punch clock and the ReverANT story were both big hits in the past weeks, so I know this week will be great as well! Thank you SO much for being a great Sharing Time resource for me!
I love your ideas for sharing time! I often incorporate them into my sharing times. Thank you for taking the time to share your talents and wonderful ideas!
Thanks for sharing, Tashina! I love the ornament idea!
I love the help for this weeks sharing time. Thank you!!
Thanks Stephanie! Hope the lesson goes well.
This is a great idea. I am not in a presidency, but am the Sunbeam teacher. My kiddos are very smart and will love unwrapping the presents. Thank you for sharing this darling idea. I know it will be a great attention getter! I just discovered your wonderful site.
Thank you so much for sharing! Im in the primary presidency and I'm doing my very first sharing time this Sunday. I'm a convert and have never been in primary and never taught a lesson so I really appreciate that there is somewhere I can go for some ideas!
Thank you, Kim. Primary is great, and the children will love anything you do. 🙂 I hope your Sharing Time went well.


//  08/29/2005 : grzegorz - created.
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/// Throws ArgumentException if the object does not exist within this element's tree.
/// Whether content is paginated in the background.
/// firing the PaginationCompleted and PaginationProgress events as appropriate.
/// will be repaginated and existing pages may be destroyed.
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