Santo Domingo Affair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santo Domingo Affair |
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| Part of the Banana Wars | |||||||
 "After the first shot has been fired. USS Columbia" |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Dominican Republic |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Richard Wainwright Albert S. Mclemore |
Carlos F. Morales Juan Isidro Jiminez |
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| Strength | |||||||
| Land: 80 marines 250 sailors Sea: 2 protected cruisers 1 auxiliary cruiser 1 steamship |
100 militia 1 fort |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed 1 wounded 1 steamer damaged 1 launch damaged |
unknown 1 fort captured |
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The Santo Domingo Affair was a short conflict in 1904. It involved the United States military and local forces in the Dominican Republic. The trouble started after a sailor from the USS Yankee was killed on February 1. The U.S. military then took action, defeating the Dominican forces.
Why the Conflict Started
During a time called the Banana Wars, many countries in Central America were having revolutions. The United States Navy patrolled the coasts to keep American citizens and their businesses safe.
In Santo Domingo, rebels had previously shot at two American merchant ships. They also damaged property at American-owned sugar cane farms. The USS Detroit had even sent sailors and marines ashore in November 1903. But they left when things seemed calm.
On February 1, 1904, the ship USS Yankee was watching the fighting near Santo Domingo. This was between government troops and rebels. The American captain sent some men in a small boat to talk to the Dominicans. But as the boat left the Yankee, rebels shot at it. A sailor named J. C. Johnston was badly hurt and later died.
Because of this, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt ordered two large ships, the USS Columbia and USS Newark, to go to the island. Their mission was to get an apology. Captain Richard Wainwright was put in charge of this operation.
The Incident Unfolds
Captain Wainwright arrived in Santo Domingo on February 10. The USS Columbia had already arrived on February 8. The Columbia was anchored near a merchant ship, the SS New York. This was one of the ships attacked by Dominicans in 1903.
On February 11, a boat from the Columbia, flying the American flag, went towards the docks. It was escorting the New York, which planned to unload its goods. But the rebels broke a peace agreement. They started shooting with small guns. Several shots hit the merchant ship, and some hit the navy boat. Luckily, no one was hurt.
The two American ships then pulled back. Captain Wainwright told his leaders what happened and got their permission to act. He warned American citizens in the city. Then, he launched an attack from the sea and land.
The Newark started firing its guns at 3:25 PM. The Columbia helped by covering the landing. Ten minutes later, the firing stopped. A force of 375 Americans headed to the beach. This landing party was led by Lieutenant Commander James P. Parker. The marines were led by Captain Albert S. Mclemore.
About 100 armed rebels were using the old Fort Ozama as their base. The Americans faced some enemy gunfire while still on the water. When they landed at 4:30 PM, they attacked and defeated the rebels.
When the men on the Columbia saw the fighting, Captain Wainwright ordered his gunners to fire until 4:47 PM. The Newark continued firing until 5:00 PM. After the battle, the Americans returned to their ships between 9:00 and 10:00 PM.
Later, the leaders of the Dominican forces and Captain Wainwright signed a new peace agreement. Only one American was injured during the fight. The number of Dominican casualties is not known.
The United States Marine Corps has a small cemetery in Santo Domingo. Seaman Johnston was the first person buried there. Other American service members killed during the Banana Wars were also buried there later.
