The hill near Santiago taken by U.S. forces on July 1, 1898, beside San Juan Hill was Kettle Hill.
Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill were two heights forming the San Juan Heights east of Santiago de Cuba. American troops attacked them during the opening phase of the campaign to capture Santiago, a key Spanish stronghold in Cuba. The assault on Kettle Hill involved the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry—the Rough Riders—alongside regular cavalry, including the 10th Cavalry, whose soldiers were largely Black veterans known as Buffalo Soldiers.
The Rough Riders and Buffalo Soldiers became central to the popular memory of the battle, but the victory was a combined effort involving several U.S. infantry and cavalry units. Lieutenant John H. Parker’s Gatling guns also provided powerful support, firing thousands of rounds against Spanish positions.
A common mix-up is treating San Juan Hill as the name for the entire elevation. Strictly, Kettle Hill was the neighboring rise; together they made up the San Juan Heights. Theodore Roosevelt’s fame from the battle also sometimes obscures the important role played by regular Army units.