Battle of Fort Dipitie
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Fort Dipitie, or the Battle of Grande Riviere, was fought in October 1915 during the United States occupation of Haiti. U.S. Marine
s and rebel Haitians — known as "Cacos" — fought at the Grande Riviere which resulted in the capture of Fort Dipitie.
Smedley Butler
was in command of a mounted reconnaissance patrol south of Fort Liberte, Haiti near the enemy held Fort Dipitie. While fording across the Grande at night, a force of over 400 rifle armed Cacos attacked the marines from three different positions. The Americans were shocked and returned a few shots before retreating to high ground a few hundred yards to the rear. During the retreat, the marines lost their only machine gun
when the horse it was being carried on got shot by a Caco rifleman. The Cacos followed up their ambush and attacked the marines again, and all night long the Americans held their ground. Cacos were reportedly terrible marksmen and throughout the battle only one marine was wounded. Later that night the Boxer Rebellion
veteran and Medal of Honor
recipient Dan Daly retrieved the weapon and killed three Haitians with his knife, an act which earned him a second Medal of Honor.
Major Butler planned to counter-attack at 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 headed for the river and the main body of the enemy. When they were sighted, the Cacos fled the field to their fort, but several did not escape and were killed by American fire. First Lieutenant
Edward Albert Ostermann
commanded one of the squads, he was also awarded the Medal of Honor for action in this engagement. Fort Dipitie was captured from the remaining Cacos and held and altogether about 75 of the Haitians were killed in action. 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 Riviere
, the engagement which ended the First Caco War.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
s and rebel Haitians — known as "Cacos" — fought at the Grande Riviere which resulted in the capture of Fort Dipitie.
Battle
On October 24, 1915, Marine MajorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Smedley Butler
Smedley Butler
Smedley Darlington Butler was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps, an outspoken critic of U.S. military adventurism, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S...
was in command of a mounted reconnaissance patrol south of Fort Liberte, Haiti near the enemy held Fort Dipitie. While fording across the Grande at night, a force of over 400 rifle armed Cacos attacked the marines from three different positions. The Americans were shocked and returned a few shots before retreating to high ground a few hundred yards to the rear. During the retreat, the marines lost their only machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
when the horse it was being carried on got shot by a Caco rifleman. The Cacos followed up their ambush and attacked the marines again, and all night long the Americans held their ground. Cacos were reportedly terrible marksmen and throughout the battle only one marine was wounded. Later that night the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
veteran and Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient Dan Daly retrieved the weapon and killed three Haitians with his knife, an act which earned him a second Medal of Honor.
Major Butler planned to counter-attack at 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 headed for the river and the main body of the enemy. When they were sighted, the Cacos fled the field to their fort, but several did not escape and were killed by American fire. First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Edward Albert Ostermann
Edward Albert Ostermann
Edward Albert Ostermann was a United States Marine First Lieutenant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the capture of Fort Dipitie on October 24, 1915 during the United States occupation of Haiti....
commanded one of the squads, he was also awarded the Medal of Honor for action in this engagement. Fort Dipitie was captured from the remaining Cacos and held and altogether about 75 of the Haitians were killed in action. Major Butler and his men returned to base at Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
a few days later, and in November went on to fight in the Battle of Fort Riviere
Battle of Fort Riviere
The Battle of Fort Riviere was the most remembered battle of the United States occupation of Haiti in 1915. U.S Marines and sailors fought at Fort Riviere against rebel Cacos.-Background:...
, the engagement which ended the First Caco War.