The New Student's Reference Work/Guasimas, Las, Cuba

Guasimas (gwäs′e-mäs), Las, Cuba, the scene of a memorable engagement in the Spanish-American War, which occurred, June 24, 1898, at Las Guasimas, near Siboney, close to the landing point at Daiquiri, about 20 miles east of Santiago on the southern coast of Cuba. The conflict was between a Spanish force of 2,000 to 3,000, concealed in a dense jungle, and General Young's brigade of dismounted American cavalry, the brunt of the fighting being borne by a battalion of 450 men of Colonel Roosevelt's regiment of Rough Riders (volunteers) and 400 Regulars. The victory, though dearly bought, rested with the Americans, the Spanish, confused and disheartened, fleeing precipitately from the field.