What was the decisive land battle of the war in Cuba?

The decisive land battle of the war in Cuba was the Battle of San Juan Hill. Fought on July 1, 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, it was part of the American campaign to capture the Spanish-held city and its surrounding heights.

American infantry, cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers, Cuban allies, and Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders attacked fortified Spanish positions on San Juan Hill and nearby Kettle Hill. The assault was costly, but the American victory secured the high ground overlooking Santiago. The Spanish army was then placed under much greater pressure, helping lead to the city’s surrender on July 17.

The name can cause confusion because San Juan Hill was one part of the larger Battle of San Juan Heights, and the Battle of El Caney occurred on the same day. The Siege of Santiago was also crucial, while the Battle of Santiago de Cuba was the war’s decisive naval engagement. For a question specifically asking for the decisive land battle in Cuba, however, Battle of San Juan Hill is the standard answer.