Battle of Las Cruces (1928)
| Second Battle of Las Cruces | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars | |||||||
A plan of the battle by Merton Richal. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
United States Nicaragua | Sandinistas | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lt. Merton A. Richal | Col. Francisco Estrada | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
174 marines & national guard 1 field gun 1 mortar 2 biplanes | 400 guerrillas | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
8 killed 31 wounded: 326 | 20 killed | ||||||
The Second Battle of Las Cruces, or the New Year's Day Battle, was a major engagement during the American occupation of Nicaragua. It was fought on 1 January 1928, during an expedition to destroy a Sandinista fortress. A column of United States Marines and Nicaraguan National Guardsmen were attacked by a superior force of rebels entrenched on Las Cruises Hill and, after a long battle, the Americans and Nicaraguans routed the Sandinistas and captured their positions.