The US troops faced brutal conditions during the Spanish American War. They were unaccustomed to battle of this kind, taking place largely in jungles and heavily forested, humid areas, such as Cuba and the Phillipines. Many Americans died of disease, and there was a learning curve to adapt their tactics to the terrain.
In the end, the outcome was still victory, mainly due to the fact that the United States generally had the support of the local peoples in each theatre, and had a stronger supply line, due both to a stronger navy and, in the case of the Caribbean theater, much closer proximity to the campaigns.
