90 Miles From Tyranny : July 25, 1898 - U.S. forces invade Puerto Rico

Saturday, July 25, 2026

July 25, 1898 - U.S. forces invade Puerto Rico

During the Spanish-American War, U.S. forces launch their invasion of Puerto Rico, the approximately 110-mile-long, 35-mile-wide island that was one of Spain’s two principal possessions in the Caribbean. With little resistance and only seven deaths, U.S. troops under General Nelson A. Miles were able to secure the island by mid-August. After the signing of an armistice with Spain, American troops raised the U.S. flag over the island, formalizing U.S. authority over its one million inhabitants. In December, the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Spanish-American War and officially approving the cession of Puerto Rico to the United States.

United States troops officially entered the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on July 28, 1898, during the Puerto Rico campaign of the Spanish-American War. [1, 2]

Led by Major General Nelson A. Miles, the American forces secured the city and its strategic port without a major battle. This followed their initial landing 15 miles west at Guánica on July 25. The surrender of Ponce was a major turning point, allowing the U.S. Army to establish its main regional headquarters and gain access to the island's best military road connecting directly north to San Juan. [1, 2, 3]

Timeline and Details of the Takeover

Strategic Value: In 1898, Ponce was Puerto Rico's largest city with a population of 22,000. It boasted underwater telegraph cables and a critical military highway. [1, 2]
The Surrender: The Spanish garrison, consisting mostly of about 300 local volunteers, chose to retreat into the surrounding mountains rather than engage the vastly superior American forces. [1]
The Entrance: On July 28, General Miles and his troops entered the city center and raised the American flag over the Plaza de las Delicias. [1, 3]
Proclamation of Miles: Upon entering, General Miles issued a famous proclamation to the Puerto Rican people, declaring that the U.S. forces came not as conquerors, but to bring "liberty" and "protection" to the inhabitants. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Historical Location: Plaza de las Delicias, Ponce
The main square where the U.S. troops marched and raised the flag remains a central historic point in Ponce.