On the first of may, 1898 the very first fight amongst Spanish and American soldiers occured, U.S. Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic men vanquish the Spanish armada at Manila Bay in the Philippines. On the 22nd day of June , 1898, The United States of America troops arrived in Cuba. July 1, 1898: U.S. powers overcame the Spanish at the Battle of San Juan Heights.