Battle of Puerto Plata

The Battle of Puerto Plata was fought on June 1, 1916, between Dominican rebels and U.S. Marines during the Banana Wars.

Battle of Puerto Plata
Part of the Banana Wars
Date June 1, 1916 Location Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Dominican rebels
Commanders and leaders
Roscoe Bulmer Captain Hirshinger †	General Rey
Strength
133 2 machine guns	500
Casualties and losses
1 killed, several wounded	1 fort captured

Battle

On June 1, 133 Marines from New Jersey and Rhode Island landed near Puerto Plata to assault Fort San Felipe, held by 500 rebels. The initial plan was for a surprise dawn attack, but Major Charles Hatch reported that the rebels were warned and American nationals evacuated before the assault. The rebels, fortified in the fort and nearby buildings, vowed to resist the landing.

As the Marines approached, they faced heavy sniper fire from the waterfront. With casualties already mounting, the gunboat Sacramento opened fire with its small cannon, which helped suppress enemy fire. However, the Marines encountered more trouble when their steam launch ran aground near the shore, forcing them to wade through the surf under fire. Despite this, they reached the beach and stormed the fort, taking it at bayonet point.

The rebels retreated through the town, maintaining harassing fire again the Marines. The gunboat provided artillery support as the Marines advanced uphill, eventually forcing the rebels to abandon their position at a hospital, which had been fortified. The battle resulted in several casualties but successfully secured the fort and the surrounding area.

References

Bibliography

• Musicant, Ivan (1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish-American War to the Invasion of Panama. Macmillan Publishing Company.