They sustained themselves by banditry, but also acted as mercenaries in the employ of any revolutionary faction that wanted to threaten the National Palace, often changing sides abruptly to work for the highest bidder.

The Cacos had threatened the Haitian government three times in 1914, prompting President Oreste Zamor to request military assistance from the United States.

[2] On 22 October 1915, Colonel Littleton Waller, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, dispatched Major Smedley Butler on a reconnaissance mission, with orders to make a large circular sweep around Fort Liberté, in the mountainous jungle of northeastern Haiti, to root out any Cacos insurgents.

As the Marines forded the Grande Rivière du Nord in total darkness near Fort Capois, they were ambushed by some 400 Cacos with rifles and machetes.

[3]Facing a large enemy force and having lost all their pack animals and provisions in the river, the Marines spent a tense night on the defensive in the jungle.

The Marine force was divided into three squads, led by Captain William P. Upshur, First Lieutenant Edward A. Ostermann, and Gunnery Sergeant Daly, with each attacking from a different direction.