Fort Rivière facts for kids
Fort Rivière is an old, ruined fort high up in the mountains of Haiti. It sits on a peak called Montagne Noire, near the town of Saint-Raphaël. This fort is located in the northern part of Haiti, south of a town called Grande-Rivière-du-Nord. It's about 20 miles south of Cap-Haïtien. Fort Rivière was built by the French as a strong defensive structure. It became famous because it was the place where a group of Haitian rebels, known as the Cacos, were defeated on November 17, 1915.
Haiti's History in 1915
In 1915, Haiti was going through a very difficult time. There was a lot of political trouble and unrest. On July 28, 1915, soldiers from the United States Marines and sailors from the United States Navy arrived in Haiti. This event marked the beginning of a 19-year period when the U.S. Marines stayed in Haiti.
The Marines and sailors, led by Admiral William B. Caperton, quickly helped set up a temporary government. They also took charge of important services. These included the police, customs, schools, and hospitals. All these areas were managed by the Marine and Naval staff during the occupation.
The Marines also created a new police force to help enforce laws. This group was called the Gendarmerie d'Haiti. It was led by Marine non-commissioned officers, who were given special ranks as officers in Haiti. This force was meant to keep order and act as a military group. They were supported by the 1st Marine Brigade, which had many soldiers guarding ten towns.
The Cacos and the Conflict
Setting up a temporary government and a new police force did not make everyone happy. A group of rebels called the Cacos were not satisfied. They continued to fight in the villages and mountains in the northern part of the country. After a short break in fighting, the Cacos started their attacks again in October 1915. They targeted U.S. forces in towns controlled by the government. During this time, two Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly and Major Smedley Butler, became very famous. Both had already received a special award called the Medal of Honor for their bravery. They each earned a second Medal of Honor during this period.
On November 17, 1915, Major Butler led a group of Marines and sailors. They surrounded the last main hideout of the Cacos. This stronghold was Fort Rivière, located on a mountain south of Grand Riviere du Nord. At 7:30 in the morning, Butler blew a whistle, signaling his troops to attack. The surprise attack worked well, confusing the Cacos. Butler and his men crawled through a tunnel. They then fought the Cacos in close-up, hand-to-hand fighting. The Americans successfully captured the fort.
