Walking in the footsteps of history
Local author and historian, Robert N. Macomber returned from a historical expedition to Santiago de Cuba this past August, researching the battlefield sites of the Spanish-American War for his upcoming novels about that conflict.
His trek to eastern Cuba will be repeated for an upcoming Military History Expedition in March 6-11, 2017, which is open to anyone interested in walking in Theodore Roosevelt’s footsteps.
Macomber’s “eyeball recon” research included exploration of El Morro Castle, the Siboney invasion beach, the Guasimas battlefield and the American Army’s route of approach to Santiago. He hiked across the battlefields of El Caney, Kettle Hill and San Juan Heights. He worked with Cuban scholars comparing period maps, logs and recounts of what is termed in Cuba as the Spanish-Cuban-American War.
He summarized the experience in his own words.
“This journey was a step back in time,” he said. “It’s an area of Cuba less travelled by tourists and important for those enticed by the war which made America a global power. I had to see the vistas, smell the air, feel the terrain and meet the locals in order to make it come alive in my books. Now I’m excited to share this with those curious about the Spanish-American War.”
The author added with emphasis, “Remember The Maine!”
For additional information about Macomber and his books, please visit www.RobertMacom-ber.com.