Battle of Fort Dipitie

Part of the United States occupation of Haiti, First Caco War, Banana Wars

United States Marines and a Haitian guide patrolling the jungle in 1915.

Date	October 24–25, 1915
Location	Grande Riviere, Fort Dipitie, Haiti
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United States

Cacos

Commanders and leaders

Smedley Butler

unknown

Strength

41 marines

~400 infantry
1 fort

Casualties and losses

1 wounded

~75 killed
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.

On October 24, 1915, Marine Major Smedley Butler was in command of a mounted reconnaissance patrol south of Fort Liberte, Haiti, near the enemy-held Fort Dipitie. While fording the Grande at night, a force of more than 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 their rear. During the retreat, the Marines lost their only machine gun when a Caco rifleman shot the horse carrying it.

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, Boxer Rebellion veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Daly retrieved the machine gun and killed three Haitians with his knife, earning himself his second Medal of Honor. (First Lieutenant Edward Albert Ostermann commanded one of the squads; he, too, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic action in this engagement.)

Major Butler planned to counter-attack at first light on October 25th. 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.

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