Colt Machine Gun at Guantanamo, June 1898


During a recent search for Marine Corps related Spanish American War photos, I found this.

 

It shows a M-1895 Colt Machine Gun at Guantanamo in June of 1898.

Upon further review, it may be of more significance than I first thought.

My conjecture is that the gun and 0331 sitting on the chassis seat are reinforcements from USS TEXAS, and that the other men in the photo are Marines from Huntington’s Battalion, and Cuban rebel forces wearing Navy whites. 

 

IMHO, this is the assembly area for the attack on Cuzco Wells on the 14th of June, 1898. Cuzco Wells was the pivotal battle in the After the Marines drove the Spanish from Cuzco, fighting for Guantanamo ceased. 


Analysis:


Location: Fisherman’s Point. Guantanamo, Cuba. 


Date: 14 June, 1898.

 

Description: Staging area, Captain George Elliott’s attack on Cuzco Well.

 

Searching the internet a few years back, I found this photo from the Marines battle for Guantanamo in June of ‘98 interesting. Further review shows it may be more significant than I thought. 

 

Looking for photos of the M-1895 Colt Machine Gun used by the Marine Corps, Army, and Navy in 1898. For the sea services it was chambered in 6mm, same as the Lee-Navy Rifle of 1895. The first machine gun in U.S. service, the Colt-Browning M-1895 was an air cooled, belt fed, gas operated, lever action weapon firing fully automatic from a robust tripod, or limber. The gun weighed in at 35 lbs, and the tripod 56. 

 

This photo is of note for many reasons. The gunner on the seat of the tripod is dressed in a blue shirt, light blue kersey trousers*, khaki leggings and a garrison cover with the stiffening ring removed. Other Marines in shot are dressed in tan linen tropical uniforms purchased for the war with Spain, with blue garrison covers which offered little shade from the Cuban sun. The other men in the shot are most likely Cuban rebels, led by LtCol Enrique Thomas, wearing sailors’ uniforms that Captain Bowman McCalla, USN, gave them on June 12th. 

 

Any Marines wearing the blue uniforms are most likely from the Marine detachment from USS TEXAS, who landed along with two Colt Machine Guns as reinforcements when Huntington’s Marine Battalion came under fire on the 11th.

 

Given the way the Cubans and Marines are assembled, I have a feeling this shot was taken by any one of several correspondents that had embedded themselves with Huntington’s Battalion. Traveling on private yachts leased by their newspapers, the press breathlessly reported on the first land battle of the war. I wonder if the lone unarmed figure in khaki in the back center of the shot, carrying a musette bag may be another journalist. 

 

My guess is that this shot was taken before Captain George F. Elliot led his force composed of C and D Companies from Camp McCalla to Cuzco Wells, on the morning of the 14th. A Spanish attack prevented them from setting off before 9am, just as the heat of the day was building, leading to the force suffering several heat casualties.


Expecting a quick battle, the Marines travelled light, wearing their personal web gear, and only carrying one issue canteen. They did carry three of the Colt machine guns, towards the front of the column. 

 

If I’m correct, and this is a photo of staging before an attack, it’s been taken at the beach at Fisherman’s Point. I’m comfortable it’s not before the attack on the 24th because that attack occurred before dawn. 

 

The Marine attack on Cuzco Wells decided the battle for Guantanamo in 1898. Along with naval gunfire, the Colt Machine Guns helped tip the balance in favor of the Marines at Cuzco Wells. After the Marines defeated the Spanish there, fighting for Guantanamo ended. 

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