5 NOV--This Day in US Military History

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:56:07 -0500

1915 – Marines under Major Smedley D. Butler captured the stronghold at Fort Capois, Haiti.

Butler led a reconnaissance force of twenty-six volunteers in pursuit of a Caco force that had killed ten Marines. Like the Cacos in the mountains, he and his men lived for days off the orange groves. For over a hundred miles they followed a trail of peels, estimating how long before the Cacos had passed by the dryness of the peels. A native guide they picked up helped them locate the Cacos’ headquarters, a secret fort called Capois, deep in the mountain range.
Studying the mountaintop fort through field glasses, Butler made out thick stone walls, with enough activity to suggest they were defended by at least a regiment. He decided to return to Cape Haitien for reinforcements and capture it. On the way back they were ambushed by a force of Cacos that outnumbered them twenty to one. Fortunately it was a pitch-black night, and Butler was able to save his men by splitting them up to crawl past the Cacos’ lines through high grass.
Just before dawn he reorganized them into three squads of nine men each. Charging from three directions as they yelled wildly and fired from the hip, they created such a fearful din that the Cacos panicked and fled, leaving seventy-five killed. The only Marine casualty was one man wounded. When he was able to return with reinforcements, spies had alerted the Cacos, and Butler took a deserted Fort Capois without firing a shot.

http://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/november-5/

November 5

5 November 1639 - 1st post office in the colonies opened in Massachusetts. 1653 - The Iroquois League signed a peace treaty with the French, vowing not to wage war with other tribes under French pr...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 6:29 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:29:29 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member, I enjoy these "this day in US military history" articles. This one prompted me to look up MAJ Smedley Butler (later Major General Smedley Butler). He was quite a renowned and decorated Marine:

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/major-general-smedley-butler

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Nov 6 at 2014 9:51 AM

SSG Maurice P. — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:51:28 -0500

1915 was the same year that he smedley butler won his 2nd congressional medal of honor...
pvt dan daly won his first in 1900 in china (boxer rebellion)and 1915 gysgt dan daly won his second CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR i think he was cheated in 1918 at belleau woods
during WW1 he got the navy cross instead of his 3rd medal of honor...