Cuban War of Independence Santiago, and established a base. The port of Santiago became the main target of naval operations. The U.S. fleet attacking Santiago needed shelter from the summer hurricane season, thus nearby Guantánamo Bay, with its excellent harbor, was chosen for this purpose and attacked on June 6 (1898 invasion of Guantánamo Bay). The Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898 was the largest naval engagement during the Spanish–American War, resulting in the destruction of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron (Flota de Ultramar). Resistance in Santiago consolidated around Fort Canosa, All the while, major battles between Spaniards and Americans took place
USS Santiago de Cuba (1861) elusive Southern warships. On 21 June 1863, "Santiago de Cuba" overtook "Victory" off Palmetto Point, Eleuthera Island, ending a long chase after the British steamer had slipped through the blockade off Charleston with a cargo of cotton, tobacco, and turpentine. On the 25th, she took steamer, "Britannia", in the same area. On 15 July, she boarded steamer, "Lizzie", east of the Florida coast and sent the prize to Key West, Florida for trial. Late in the year, "Santiago de Cuba" sailed north for repairs and decommissioned on 30 December 1863. Overhaul completed, the side wheeler recommissioned on 6 June 1864