The Santo Domingo Affair, or the Santo Domingo Crisis, refers to an incident in 1904 involving the United States and Dominican militia forces in the Dominican Republic. After the death of a seaman from the USS ''Yankee'' on February 1, the U.S. military launched a punitive expedition which routed the Dominican forces.

Background

During the Banana Wars era, revolution in Central America was widespread. In order to protect American citizens and their interests in these war zones, the United States Navy patrolled the hostile coasts. Rebels in the city of Santo Domingo had previously 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 USS ''Detroit'' had also landed sailors and marines beginning in November 1903, but they were withdrawn when the situation appeared stable. On February 1, 1904, the auxiliary cruiser USS ''Yankee'' was on patrol off Santo Domingo, observing the fighting between government and rebel troops loyal to Carlos F. 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 when it drew away from ''Yankee'' the insurgents attacked it with

small arms A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...

fire and

Seaman Seaman may refer to: * Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew * Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies * Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name) * ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...

J. C. Johnston was mortally wounded. In response, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the protected cruisers USS ''Columbia and USS ''Newark'' to proceed to the islands and exact an apology. The temporary commander of the

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. When th ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Richard Wainwright, was placed in charge of the operation on board the ''Newark''. USS Colombia 1904

The incident

Wainwright arrived at Santo Domingo on the 10 February, finding that the USS ''Columbia'' had arrived on 8 February. The ''Columbia'' was under the command of Captain

James M. Miller James Monroe Miller (May 6, 1852 – January 20, 1926) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas. Born in Three Springs, Pennsylvania, Miller attended the district school and graduated from Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1875. ...

who was senior to Wainwright. Miller was anchored near the SS ''New York'', one of the merchant ships attacked in November 1903 by the Dominican

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

''Presidente''. On February 11, the launch from the ''Columbia'', flying the American flag, was sent in toward the docks escorting the ''New York'' whose crew intended to offload their cargo. As they did so, the insurgents violated a pre-established armistice by opening fire with their small arms. Several shots hit the steamer and a few grazed the navy launch but there were no casualties. The two American vessels withdrew. Wainwright, having informed his superiors and gotten their approval, launched an amphibious assault and naval bombardment after first warning the American consul and civilians living in the city. ''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 of 375 Americans headed to the beach. The landing party was under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander

James P. Parker Commodore James Philips Parker (25 September 1855 – 18 January 1942) was a United States Navy officer. His career included service in the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and the Santo Domingo Affair, and he was recalled ...

, the

executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...

on the ''Columbia''; the marines were led by

Albert S. Mclemore. At least 100 armed rebels were using the old Fort Ozama as a 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. When the men on board ''Columbia'' observed the gunfire, 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. Morales, Jiminez, and Wainwright signed another armistice and later a

peace treaty A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice, which is an agreement to stop hostilities; a surr ...

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. Seaman Johnston was the first to be buried there, followed by other men killed on the island during the Banana Wars.Ellsworth, pg. 69

Background

The incident

References

Bibliography

See also