Arms of Guantanamo Bay

Arms of Guantanamo Bay - Year 1898

In the heat of the Spanish-American War, a battalion of Marines, led by Lt. Col. Robert W. Huntington, USMC, played a crucial role in securing Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This event marked a significant turning point in the history of the Marine Corps.

The battalion was personally organised by Marine Corps Commandant Heywood and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Four Hotchkiss 3" guns, known in the Navy as the "R.F.G" or "Rapid Fire Gun", were acquired for Company F for their deployment to Guantanamo Bay.

The Marines, under the command of Capt. George F. Elliott, were armed with M1895 Lee Navy rifles, while some of the Cuban allies were armed with Army .45-70 "Trapdoor" Springfield rifles from the small arms lockers of ships in the command of Capt. Bowman McCalla.

The Marines and Cubans, under the coordination of Lt. Col. Enrique Tomas of the 4th (Guantanamo) Regiment, army of the Cuban Republic, and McCalla, successfully defeated the Spanish garrison at Cuzco Wells at extreme distances. This victory resulted in scores of Spanish casualties and a loss of two Cuban allies.

Prior to this, the Marines had been practicing long-range aimed volley fire on board the USS Panther and at Camp Sampson. The Navy had begun rearming with bolt-action magazine-fed repeaters in .45-70 after abandoning its single-shot .50-70 M1870 Remington Rolling Block rifle in 1878.

The Trapdoor Springfield rifle served the Army well into the early 1890s. Interestingly, some of the Cuban insurrectos received M1888 Trapdoors, with their integral rod bayonets. The Cubans, after leaving Guantanamo Bay, carried a mixture of Trapdoors, M1893 Spanish 7 mm Mausers, and two obsolete Remington Rolling Blocks in .43 Spanish on the battlefield at Cuzco Wells.

The M1895 Colt machine gun, designed by John Moses Browning, was also used by the Marines at Guantanamo Bay and was nicknamed the "Potato Digger". The Marines, like their Army counterparts, carried the Trapdoor until it was replaced by the 6 mm Winchester-Lee after 1895.

The establishment of a coaling station at Guantanamo Bay was essential for the American fleet. With a nearby coaling station needed because the nearest one at Key West was on the other side of Cuba, the Marines ensured its successful operation.

The ability of the Marine Corps to organise, equip, and send a full six-company battalion of Marines to the theater of operations in a few short weeks proved crucial in establishing the modern Marine Corps. This event, along with the successful defence of Camp McCalla and Cuzco Wells, guaranteed a place for the Corps in America's military forces.

The Spanish-American War shifted focus to southeastern Cuba when Spanish Adm. Cervera brought his fleet into Santiago Harbor. Despite the shift, the Marines at Guantanamo Bay continued to fight as a combined arms team, with their own shore-to-ship communications, and with their own integral logistical support.

Unfortunately, the search results do not provide specific information regarding which Marines led the U.S. Marine company stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and involved in the defence of Camp McCalla. However, their bravery and strategic acumen are evident in the outcomes of the battles they fought.

Stephen Crane, the famed author of The Red Badge of Courage, witnessed the battle at Cuzco Wells and recorded the event. American Adm. Sampson established a blockade of Santiago Harbor to bottle up the Spanish fleet, further emphasising the strategic importance of Guantanamo Bay.

In conclusion, the Marines at Guantanamo Bay played a pivotal role in the Spanish-American War. Their ability to organise, equip, and fight effectively, along with their contributions to the establishment of a coaling station, ensured their place in America's military forces. The events at Guantanamo Bay marked a significant turning point in the history of the Marine Corps.