Santo Domingo Affair The Santo Domingo Affair , or the Santo Domingo Crisis , refers to an incident in 1904 involving the United States and insurgent forces of Carlos F . Morales in the present day Dominican Republic . After the death of a seaman from USS " Yankee " on February 1 , the American navy launched a punitive expedition which successfully routed the Dominicans from Santo Domingo . Affair . 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 . Such was the mission of the auxiliary cruiser USS " Yankee " on February 1 . At Santo Domingo the warship was observing the fighting between government and rebel troops loyal to 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 as the vessel drew away from " Yankee " , the launch was attacked by small arms from the insurgents . Seaman J . C . Johnston was mortally wounded and his death , combined with a few other outrages , was reason for exacting redress . Before this incident , rebels at the city of Santo Domingo 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 USS " Detroit " had also landed sailors and marines beginning in November 1903 , but they were withdrawn when the situation appeared to be stable . After the " Yankee " incident , President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the protected cruiser s USS " Columbia and USS " Newark " to proceed to the islands and demand an apology . The temporary commander of the Brazil Squadron , Captain Richard Wainwright , was placed in charge of the operation on board the " Newark " . Wainwright arrived at Santo Domingo on February 10 , finding that the USS " Columbia " had made it there first on February 8 . The " Columbia " was under the command of Captain James M . Miller 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 " Presidente " . On February 11 , the launch from the " Columbia " was sent in towards the docks , flying the American flag and escorting the " New York " whose crew intended to offload their cargo . While doing so , the insurgents opened fire with their small arms and violated a pre - established armistice . Several shots hit the steamer and a few grazed the navy launch but there were no casualties . Naturally the two vessels withdrew and Captain Wainwright was informed . The captain decided that after informing and receiving approval from his superiors , an amphibious assault and naval bombardment would commence . When the American consul and civilians living in the city were warned of the attack , " 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 were heading to the beach . The landing party was under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander James P . Parker , the executive officer on the " Columbia " , the marines were led by Captain Albert S . Mclemore . The landing was not unopposed , as there were at least 100 armed rebels 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 . At about the same time rebel fire was observed , by the remaining men on board " Columbia " , so 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 , having completed their mission . Carlos F . Morales , General Jiminez and Wainwright signed another armistice and later a peace treaty 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 , the first man buried in it was Seaman Johnston as well as other men killed on the island during the Banana Wars .