Santo Domingo Affair
Encyclopedia
The Santo Domingo Affair, or the Santo Domingo Crisis, refers to an incident in 1904 involving the United States
and insurgent forces of Carlos F. Morales in the present day Dominican Republic
. After the death of a seamen from USS Yankee
on February 1, the American navy launched a punitive expedition
which successfully routed the Dominicans from Santo Domingo
.
was widespread. In order to protect American citizens and their interests in these war zones, the United States Navy
patrolled the hostile coasts. Such was the mission of the auxiliary cruiser USS Yankee on February 1. At Santo Domingo the warship was observing the fighting between government and rebel troops loyal to Morales and General Juan Isidro Jiminez. The American captain decided to put some men in a launch
and send them ashore to make contact with the Dominicans but as the vessel drew away from Yankee, the launch was attacked by small arms
from the insurgents. Seaman
J. C. Johnston was mortally wounded and his death, combined with a few other outrages, was reason for exacting redress. Before this incident, rebels at the city of Santo Domingo fired on two American merchant ships and damaged property at the American-owned sugar cane plantations. USS Detroit
had also landed sailors and marines beginning in November of 1903, but they were withdrawn when the situation appeared to be stable. After the Yankee incident, President
Theodore Roosevelt
ordered the protected cruiser
s USS Columbia
and USS Newark
to proceed to the islands and demand an apology. The temporary commander of the Brazil Squadron
, Captain
Richard Wainwright, was placed in charge of the operation on board the Newark.
Wainwright arrived at Santo Domingo on February 10, finding that the USS Columbia had made it there first on February 8. The Columbia was under the command of Captain James M. Miller who was senior to Wainwright. Miller was anchored near the SS New York, one of the merchant ships attacked in November of 1903, by the Dominican cruiser
Presidente. On February 11, the launch from the Columbia was sent in towards the docks, flying the American flag and escorting the New York whose crew intended to offload their cargo. While doing so, the insurgents opened fire with their small arms and violated a pre-established armistice
. Several shots hit the steamer and a few grazed the navy launch but there were no casualties. Naturally the two vessels withdrew and Captain Wainwright was informed. The captain decided that after informing and receiving approval from his superiors, an amphibious assault and naval bombardment would commence. When the American consul and civilians living in the city were warned of the attack, Newark opened fire with her broadside at 3:25 pm, while the Columbia covered the landing. Ten minutes later the bombardment ceased and a force 375 Americans were heading to the beach. The landing party was under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander
James P. Parker, the executive officer
on the Columbia, the marines were led by Captain Albert S. Mclemore.
The landing was not unopposed, there were at least 100 armed rebels using the old Fort Ozama
as base. The Americans received some enemy rifle fire while still on the water and when they landed at 4:30 pm, they attacked and routed the rebels. At about the same time rebel fire was observed, by the remaining men on board Columbia, so Captain Wainwright ordered his gunners to open fire until 4:47, though the Newark continued the attack until 5:00. With the battle over, the Americans returned to their ships between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, having completed their mission. Carlos F. Morales, General Jiminez and Wainwright signed another armistice and later a peace treaty
which ended the hostilities. Only one American was hurt in the engagement when he accidentally fired his revolver into his foot, Dominican casualties are not known. The United States Marine Corps
maintains a small cemetery in Santo Domingo, the first man buried in it was Seaman Johnston as well as other men killed on the island during the Banana Wars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and insurgent forces of Carlos F. Morales in the present day Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. After the death of a seamen from USS Yankee
USS Yankee (1892)
USS Yankee was originally El Norte, a steamer built in 1892 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.. The ship was acquired by the United States Navy from the Southern Pacific Company on 6 April 1898. The ship was renamed and commissioned at New York on 14 April...
on February 1, the American navy launched a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
which successfully routed the Dominicans from Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
.
Affair
During the Banana Wars era, revolution in Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
was widespread. In order to protect American citizens and their interests in these war zones, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
patrolled the hostile coasts. Such was the mission of the auxiliary cruiser USS Yankee on February 1. At Santo Domingo the warship was observing the fighting between government and rebel troops loyal to Morales and General Juan Isidro Jiminez. The American captain decided to put some men in a launch
Launch (boat)
A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...
and send them ashore to make contact with the Dominicans but as the vessel drew away from Yankee, the launch was attacked by small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
from the insurgents. Seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
J. C. Johnston was mortally wounded and his death, combined with a few other outrages, was reason for exacting redress. Before this incident, rebels at the city of Santo Domingo fired on two American merchant ships and damaged property at the American-owned sugar cane plantations. USS Detroit
USS Detroit
USS Detroit may refer to:, a 12-gun ship, was captured from the British during the Battle of Lake Erie, 10 September 1813*Detroit, a screw steamer, was laid down at the New York Navy Yard in 1865 but canceled in 1866 and broken up on the stocks...
had also landed sailors and marines beginning in November of 1903, but they were withdrawn when the situation appeared to be stable. After the Yankee incident, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
ordered the protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
s USS Columbia
USS Columbia (C-12)
The fourth USS Columbia was an unarmored protected cruiser in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I. She was the lead ship of her class of two cruisers; her sister ship was...
and USS Newark
USS Newark (C-1)
The first USS Newark was a United States Navy protected cruiser, the first modern cruiser in the US fleet.She was laid down by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 12 June 1888, launched on 19 March 1890, sponsored by Miss Annie Boutelle, the daughter of Congressman Charles A...
to proceed to the islands and demand an apology. The temporary commander of the Brazil Squadron
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Richard Wainwright, was placed in charge of the operation on board the Newark.
Wainwright arrived at Santo Domingo on February 10, finding that the USS Columbia had made it there first on February 8. The Columbia was under the command of Captain James M. Miller who was senior to Wainwright. Miller was anchored near the SS New York, one of the merchant ships attacked in November of 1903, by the Dominican cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
Presidente. On February 11, the launch from the Columbia was sent in towards the docks, flying the American flag and escorting the New York whose crew intended to offload their cargo. While doing so, the insurgents opened fire with their small arms and violated a pre-established armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
. Several shots hit the steamer and a few grazed the navy launch but there were no casualties. Naturally the two vessels withdrew and Captain Wainwright was informed. The captain decided that after informing and receiving approval from his superiors, an amphibious assault and naval bombardment would commence. When the American consul and civilians living in the city were warned of the attack, Newark opened fire with her broadside at 3:25 pm, while the Columbia covered the landing. Ten minutes later the bombardment ceased and a force 375 Americans were heading to the beach. The landing party was under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
James P. Parker, the executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
on the Columbia, the marines were led by Captain Albert S. Mclemore.
Fortaleza Ozama
The Fortaleza Ozama is a sixteenth-century castle built by the Spanish at the entrance to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and overlooking the Ozama River. Named after this river, the castle, also referred to as "La Fortaleza" or "The Fortress", is the oldest formal military construction still...
as base. The Americans received some enemy rifle fire while still on the water and when they landed at 4:30 pm, they attacked and routed the rebels. At about the same time rebel fire was observed, by the remaining men on board Columbia, so Captain Wainwright ordered his gunners to open fire until 4:47, though the Newark continued the attack until 5:00. With the battle over, the Americans returned to their ships between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, having completed their mission. Carlos F. Morales, General Jiminez and Wainwright signed another armistice and later a peace treaty
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
which ended the hostilities. Only one American was hurt in the engagement when he accidentally fired his revolver into his foot, Dominican casualties are not known. The United States Marine Corps
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...
maintains a small cemetery in Santo Domingo, the first man buried in it was Seaman Johnston as well as other men killed on the island during the Banana Wars.
See Also
- Mary Carver AffairMary Carver AffairThe Mary Carver Affair occurred in April of 1842 when the American merchant ship Mary Carver was attacked by Bereby warriors in canoes near the kraal of Little Bereby on the Ivory Coast...
- Rio de Janeiro AffairRio de Janeiro AffairThe Rio de Janeiro Affair refers to a series of incidents during the Brazilian Naval Revolt in January 1894. Following three attacks on American merchant ships in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, a bloodless naval engagement occurred between a United States Navy warship and an ironclad of Rear...
- First Sumatran Expedition
- Second Sumatran ExpeditionSecond Sumatran ExpeditionThe Second Sumatran Expedition was a punitive expedition by the United States Navy against inhabitants of the island of Sumatra. After Malay warriors or pirates had massacred the crew of the American merchant ship Eclipse, an expedition of two American warships landed a force that defeated the...
- First Fiji ExpeditionFirst Fiji ExpeditionThe First Fiji Expedition undertaken by the United States Navy occurred in October 1855 during the civil war on the islands. In response to the alleged arson attacks on the American commercial agent in Lautoka, Viti Levu, the navy sent a warship to demand compensation for the attack from King Seru...
- Second Fiji ExpeditionSecond Fiji ExpeditionThe Second Fiji Expedition was an 1858 United States Navy operation against the native warriors of Seru Epenisa Cakobau on the island of Waya in Fiji...
- Formosa Expedition
- Nukapu ExpeditionNukapu ExpeditionThe Nukapu Expedition occurred between October of 1871 and February of 1872 and was a British punitive operation in response to the murder of Bishop John Coleridge Patteson by the natives of Nukapu...