in the months following the 1898 spanish–american war, during a court of inquiry held to investigate problems in the u.s. army's food quality, commanding general nelson a. miles made reference to "embalmed beef." miles, a civil war union army veteran, had many years of experience with army provisions. at the onset of the spanish–american war, he recommended to secretary of war russell a. alger that local cattle be purchased in cuba and puerto rico for the army's use, rather than using preserved or refrigerated meat that had been transported from the united states. this would have followed the army's traditional practice of procuring fresh beef from local sources.