Battle of Las Cruces (1928)

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.

Second Battle of Las Cruces
Part of the Occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars

A plan of the battle by Merton Richal.
Date1 January 1928
Location
Las Cruces Hill, Nicaragua
Result American-Nicaraguan victory
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
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