The Spanish-American War (1898) was America's first major foreign war, and one of the most impactful wars in our nation's history. The combat action lasted only 115 days and fewer than 400 American Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines died in combat.As a result of the war the United States established itself as a world power, its Navy soundly destroying the once-vaunted Spanish Armada. As a direct result of the American victories, the United States gained temporary control of Cuba and the Philippine Islands, and expanded its possessions to include Puerto Rico and Guam, both of which remain American Territories to this day. "A Splendid Little War" recounts the chronology of events leading up to and during the fighting of the Spanish-American War. Perhaps no war in our history has been more popular at home or among those who fought it. American media played a significant role in instigating war, and fanning the patriotic fervor that made it so.In these pages you will meet the heroes of both sides and follow the chronology of battle through the actions of the aging Civil War heroes that commanded the American forces, and the young Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Army Nurses who were conspicuous by their gallantry and devotion to duty and to each other.