The battle occurred at Las Trencheras, two ridges, which had been fortified by the Dominicans and long thought to be invulnerable, since a Spanish army had been defeated there in 1864.

There the Dominican troops had dug trenches on two hills, one behind the other, blocking the road to Santiago.

The Marines came under heavy but inaccurate rifle fire, which caused some casualties.

They rallied there briefly, then broke and had to retreat again as the American field guns resumed their shelling of the hill.

Within 45 minutes from the opening artillery shots, the Marines had forced the Dominicans to fall back.