Battle of Port-au-Prince (1920) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Port-au-Prince (1920) |
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| Part of the United States occupation of Haiti, Banana Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States Haitian government |
Cacos |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Lt. Gerald Thomas |
Benoît Batraville |
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| Strength | |||||||
| unknown | 300+ rebels | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 marine killed 6 marines wounded |
116+ killed "Many more" wounded and captured |
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The Battle of Port-au-Prince happened on January 15, 1920. It was also called "la débâcle" by some. This battle took place when Haitian rebels, known as cacos, attacked Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. This event was part of the Second Caco War and the time when the United States military was in Haiti.
Contents
The Attack on Port-au-Prince
Early in the morning, around 4:00 a.m., more than 300 caco rebels began their attack. Their leader was Benoît Batraville. Many of the rebels wore stolen uniforms from the Haitian police, called gendarmes.
The cacos marched into Port-au-Prince in lines. They carried flags and blew on conch horns. However, the city's defenders were ready for them.
Defenders Were Prepared
The American Marines and Haitian gendarmes in the city knew the attack was coming. A citizen had heard the rebels approaching and warned them.
When the cacos entered the city, they were met with heavy gunfire. The defenders used powerful Browning Automatic Rifles and machine guns. The rebels were forced to break their lines and hide in buildings. From there, they tried to shoot from windows and around corners.
One group of cacos attacked the city's poor neighborhoods. They set a whole block on fire. The flames lit up the entire area around the city.
Marine Patrol's Ambush
A group of ten U.S. Marines, led by Lieutenant Gerald Thomas, was on patrol. They met a large caco force near the waterfront. This rebel group was heading towards the National Bank.
Near the Iron Market, Lieutenant Thomas saw many rebels coming down the street. He quickly loaded his Marines into a truck. Their goal was to stop the caco fighters.
Setting the Trap
The truck drove past the market's arcades and iron-grilled buildings. Lieutenant Thomas saw flashes of rifles further up the street. He ordered his Marines to get off the truck. They moved into the dark arcade on the right side of the street.
The Marine patrol moved carefully, jogging from pillar to pillar. Lieutenant Thomas then saw the front of a caco column appear from a side street. He quickly told his Marines, hidden by the darkness, to get ready for an ambush.
The Battle Begins
When the Haitian caco rebels came within about 50 yards, Thomas and his Marines attacked. They opened fire with eight Springfield rifles and two BARs. This sudden attack caused many casualties among the caco rebels.
The surviving cacos quickly stopped fighting within ten minutes. They fled the city. However, seven of Lieutenant Thomas's Marines were hit. Two of them were seriously wounded.
Lieutenant Thomas sent the two badly wounded Marines back to headquarters in the truck. He then led the remaining seven Marines to a sugar company compound. Sadly, one of the seriously wounded Marines, Private Lencil Combs, later died from his injuries.
Aftermath of the Battle
According to one estimate, about one-fifth of the caco attackers were killed. Another report says 66 rebels died, with "many more" wounded and captured. Solomon Janvier, a leader of the attack from Port-au-Prince, was among the dead.
The cacos who survived remembered this battle as "la débâcle," meaning "the disaster." When daylight arrived, patrols moved east and north of the city. They found and killed more than fifty additional rebels.
