Battle of Fort Dipitie
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2014) |
| Battle of Fort Dipitie | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Fort Dipitie, Haiti | |
| Result | American victory |
United States
Cacos Maj. Smedley Butler unknown1 machine gun
1 fort
1 horse
325 prisoners
1 fort captured
The Battle of Fort Dipitie was fought in October 1915 during the United States occupation of Haiti. U.S. Marines and rebel Haitians — known as "Cacos" — fought at the Grande Riviere which resulted in the destruction of Fort Dipitie, an outpost of Fort Capois.[1]: 194–196
Battle
On 24 October 1915, Marine
The Cacos followed up their ambush and attacked the Marines again. All night long, the Americans held their ground. (Cacos were reputed to be poor marksmen and, indeed, only one Marine was wounded in the battle; altogether, about 75 Haitians were killed in the two-day battle.) Later that night,
Major Butler planned to counter-attack at first light on October 25. He told his men to charge as fast as they could and shoot everything around. The Marines divided into three groups and ran toward the river and the main body of the enemy. When they were sighted, the Cacos fled the field, into their fort; several did not escape and were killed by American fire. The Marines captured Fort Dipitie from the remaining Cacos and held it. Major Butler and his men returned to base at Cap-Haïtien a few days later, and in November went on to fight in the Battle of Fort Rivière, the engagement which ended the First Caco War.
See also
- Banana Wars
- Fort Riviere
References
- ISBN 0025882104
Bibliography
- "Haiti: US Navy Medal of Honor — Haitian Campaign, 1915". Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 15 July 2010. Archived from the originalon 8 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- Langley, Lester D. (1985). The Banana Wars: United States Intervention in the Caribbean, 1898–1934 Lexington: University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0-8420-5047-7