The Spanish-American War, which spanned four months from April to August of 1898, was the result of expansionist and imperialist sentiments that were becoming popular in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The war was a reaction against reported Spanish colonial brutality in Cuba. Americans rallied behind the idea of liberating Central American colonies from the oppressive control of the Spanish. The war resulted in the United States gaining control of former Spanish colonies, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Many of the articles presented in this scrapbook reflect the patriotic fervor of the time.

The Third Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was composed of twelve companies from northwestern Wisconsin and was under the command of Colonel Martin Moore of La Crosse. The regiment prepared for duty in the Caribbean at Camp Thomas on the Chickamauga battlefield in Tennessee and then later at Charleston, South Carolina. Along with the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Wisconsin were the first American troops to land at Ponce, Puerto Rico where they helped take Coamo. Throughout their service, the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment lost a total of thirty-five men—all but two of them perished due to disease. The regiment returned to Wisconsin in October 1898. (From the Wisconsin Veterans Museum http://www.wisvetsmuseum.com/researchers/military/Spanish_American_War/?ID=56)