How the US Took Guam Without a Single Battle In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Guam changed hands in one of history's strangest military encounters. When the USS Charleston arrived and opened fire on Spanish fortifications, the garrison had no idea their nations were even at war. Instead of fighting back, the Spanish governor apologized for not returning what he thought was a ceremonial salute. The island's defenders had no gunpowder, no working weapons, and no clue that a conflict had e