| Welcome to the 'Reenacted' Home Page of the: 1st Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico A Spanish Infantry Unit that fought during the Spanish American War of 1898 |
| The Spanish trench at the U.S.A.W.S. Montauk Point, (Long Island) New York event held in 2000. |
A Brief Unit History:
The 1st Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico was enlisted in Spain and Puerto Rico in May of 1895. The ranks
included 900 officers and enlisted men. The Battalion would be under the command of both Lt.General Arsenio
Linares and after July 1st, 1898 under Maj.General Jose Toral in the Santiago Military District. The principal Spanish
defensive line before Santiago Cuba was along the ridge of San Juan Heights. The anchor of it's defense was the
blockhouse near it's southern end and this would be the focus of the American attack when it came. As fate and
history would have it, the 1st Provisional Battalion would find itself stationed here awaiting the inevitable U.S.
offensive! The now famous "Charge up San Juan Hill" was made July 1, 1898 the heavily outnumbered defenders
were pinned down by supporting fire from both Kettle Hill (now captured by the Americans) and U.S. Gatling Guns.
The Spanish inflicted heavy casualties on the American troops assaulting the hill but the weight of the U.S. attack
could not be stopped. The 1st Provisional Battalion retired from the heights with heavy losses towards Santiago de
Cuba into already prepared siege lines. The Spanish garrison would eventually surrender, and after the armistice
Spanish and U.S. troops openly fraternized. The 1st Provisional Battalion surrendered with all military honors and
were returned to Spain with their arms and colors.
Unit Location:
The geographic location of the unit is based mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region of the east coast, with members in both
Maryland and Virginia. We attend battle reenactments and living history events all up and down the eastern
seaboard. We are always looking for more quality events to attend, so please contact us!
Our Mission & About Us:
The unit was 'formed' in 1998 during the Spanish-
American War Centennial, but did not make it into
the field until for the first time at a small time line
event in Virginia late 1999. Myself and a few
friends wanted to bolster the small community of
Spanish colonial infantry reenactors in this
fascinating and turbulent time period. Finding
information on the Spanish Army of this era or time
period is difficult at best, and putting together a
historically accurate impression has been a difficult
challenge, but rewarding! For the Spanish
reenactor there are virtually no vendors or sutlers,
to speak of. Completing your impression is primarily
up to you and your own research, imagination,
ability to sew, and work with leather! There is a very
small handful of craftsmen that have started to
cater to our needs, but we are more than happy to assist you in completing your impression. Ultimately by portraying
the Spanish colonial infantryman accurately as a well quipped, well disciplined, and as a brave soldier it should give
the interested public a sense of pride in our own American troops that faced such a tenacious and determined foe.
Come relive history with us and have a great time doing it, Viva Espana!
Schedule of Events:
At this time the 1st Provisional Battalion has no scheduled events. During the 'Centennial' and the few years
following, Spanish-American War reenacting events were much more common. In recent years there has been a
steady decline, but we do hope for an upsurge in this small but quality time period in hopes of "dusting off" our
Spanish uniforms to fight another day! This time period still has several large American units in existence and we
hope that eventually they will hold events again and want Spanish troops to contend with!
Uniform & Gear:
The Spanish colonial tropical uniform was a blue & white pin-striped (the material was often called mil-rayas or
rayadillo) cotton sack-coat and trousers. A fatigue uniform of light blue denim was also used as was unbleached
cotton and a white drill service coat N.C.O.s and officers wore similar uniforms but with standing collars and hidden
buttons. Straw hats were worn by enlisted men while N.C.O.s wore a large "sombrero". Officers preferred a finely
made Panama hat or the standard army shako. Spanish soldiers are often seen with military boots but many wear
leather sandals. Infantry equipment generally consisted of brown or blackened Mauser clip-pouches, Y- straps,
leather wine-bag and canvas haversack with sling. The standard Spanish rifle was the 7mm M1893 Spanish Mauser
(our unit also allows the use of the 7mm M1895 Chilean Mauser) U.S. Army records show that captured weapons
included 7.65mm Argentine M1891 Mauser, .43 Remington rifles and 7mm Remington and Mauser carbines.
Links:
25th Rifle Battalion, Cazadores, "de la Patria" (A Spanish unit located in Illinois & Ohio)
de la Patria No. 25
4th Battalion Talavera Peninsula Infantry Regiment (A Spanish unit located in California & Nevada)
4th Talavera Bn
The Spanish American War Centennial Website! (site includes links to many other living history groups)
Centennial Website
South Carolina Volunteer Heavy Artillery (A new American unit forming in South Carolina)
Anderson's Heavy Battery
I hope to provide more links to sutlers and other units here soon!
The 1st Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico was enlisted in Spain and Puerto Rico in May of 1895. The ranks
included 900 officers and enlisted men. The Battalion would be under the command of both Lt.General Arsenio
Linares and after July 1st, 1898 under Maj.General Jose Toral in the Santiago Military District. The principal Spanish
defensive line before Santiago Cuba was along the ridge of San Juan Heights. The anchor of it's defense was the
blockhouse near it's southern end and this would be the focus of the American attack when it came. As fate and
history would have it, the 1st Provisional Battalion would find itself stationed here awaiting the inevitable U.S.
offensive! The now famous "Charge up San Juan Hill" was made July 1, 1898 the heavily outnumbered defenders
were pinned down by supporting fire from both Kettle Hill (now captured by the Americans) and U.S. Gatling Guns.
The Spanish inflicted heavy casualties on the American troops assaulting the hill but the weight of the U.S. attack
could not be stopped. The 1st Provisional Battalion retired from the heights with heavy losses towards Santiago de
Cuba into already prepared siege lines. The Spanish garrison would eventually surrender, and after the armistice
Spanish and U.S. troops openly fraternized. The 1st Provisional Battalion surrendered with all military honors and
were returned to Spain with their arms and colors.
Unit Location:
The geographic location of the unit is based mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region of the east coast, with members in both
Maryland and Virginia. We attend battle reenactments and living history events all up and down the eastern
seaboard. We are always looking for more quality events to attend, so please contact us!
Our Mission & About Us:
The unit was 'formed' in 1998 during the Spanish-
American War Centennial, but did not make it into
the field until for the first time at a small time line
event in Virginia late 1999. Myself and a few
friends wanted to bolster the small community of
Spanish colonial infantry reenactors in this
fascinating and turbulent time period. Finding
information on the Spanish Army of this era or time
period is difficult at best, and putting together a
historically accurate impression has been a difficult
challenge, but rewarding! For the Spanish
reenactor there are virtually no vendors or sutlers,
to speak of. Completing your impression is primarily
up to you and your own research, imagination,
ability to sew, and work with leather! There is a very
small handful of craftsmen that have started to
cater to our needs, but we are more than happy to assist you in completing your impression. Ultimately by portraying
the Spanish colonial infantryman accurately as a well quipped, well disciplined, and as a brave soldier it should give
the interested public a sense of pride in our own American troops that faced such a tenacious and determined foe.
Come relive history with us and have a great time doing it, Viva Espana!
Schedule of Events:
At this time the 1st Provisional Battalion has no scheduled events. During the 'Centennial' and the few years
following, Spanish-American War reenacting events were much more common. In recent years there has been a
steady decline, but we do hope for an upsurge in this small but quality time period in hopes of "dusting off" our
Spanish uniforms to fight another day! This time period still has several large American units in existence and we
hope that eventually they will hold events again and want Spanish troops to contend with!
Uniform & Gear:
The Spanish colonial tropical uniform was a blue & white pin-striped (the material was often called mil-rayas or
rayadillo) cotton sack-coat and trousers. A fatigue uniform of light blue denim was also used as was unbleached
cotton and a white drill service coat N.C.O.s and officers wore similar uniforms but with standing collars and hidden
buttons. Straw hats were worn by enlisted men while N.C.O.s wore a large "sombrero". Officers preferred a finely
made Panama hat or the standard army shako. Spanish soldiers are often seen with military boots but many wear
leather sandals. Infantry equipment generally consisted of brown or blackened Mauser clip-pouches, Y- straps,
leather wine-bag and canvas haversack with sling. The standard Spanish rifle was the 7mm M1893 Spanish Mauser
(our unit also allows the use of the 7mm M1895 Chilean Mauser) U.S. Army records show that captured weapons
included 7.65mm Argentine M1891 Mauser, .43 Remington rifles and 7mm Remington and Mauser carbines.
Links:
25th Rifle Battalion, Cazadores, "de la Patria" (A Spanish unit located in Illinois & Ohio)
de la Patria No. 25
4th Battalion Talavera Peninsula Infantry Regiment (A Spanish unit located in California & Nevada)
4th Talavera Bn
The Spanish American War Centennial Website! (site includes links to many other living history groups)
Centennial Website
South Carolina Volunteer Heavy Artillery (A new American unit forming in South Carolina)
Anderson's Heavy Battery
I hope to provide more links to sutlers and other units here soon!
| Viva Espana! |
| For more information or Contact: Patrick L. Hubble 1112 Harrison Street Lynchburg, Virginia 24504 (434) 847-4933 home (434) 665-2204 cell or e-mail at: patrick.hubble (at) yahoo.com mortician88 (at) hotmail.com |
This page was last updated March 2, 2008
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