QUILALI PATROL
2 November, 1927.

From:           Second Lieutenant C. J. Chappell.
To:               The Commanding Officer, Fifth Regiment.
Via:              The Division Commander, Ocotal.
 
Subject:        Operations report.
 
   1.      On October 24, I received orders by plane at 1200 to execute. At 1500 a patrol of one Second Lieutenant, one doctor and twenty four enlisted marines and one guardia lieutenant with fifteen enlisted guardia left Jicaro with seven days rations. The patrol reached Jicarito at 2130 and camped for the night.
 
   2.      The following morning the patrol cleared Jicarito at 0700 arriving near Antonio Lopez's ranch at 1000. The planes directed me to remain there until that afternoon, at Lieut. Gould's patrol was still two miles south of Quilali. At about 1630 the planes dropped a message that Lieut. Gould would reach the scene of the crash that night. As I had heard several dynamite bombs exploded ahead of me, I thought it unwise to travel that night and made camp on a hill for the night.
 
   3.      On October 26 we left for the scene of the crash at 0730. After having travelled about one mile, a bomb was exploded about 800 yards ahead. I had the point proceed very cautious and attempted to cross the saddle on the ridge that we were following. On arriving at the bottom point we reached an open area which lay between us and a very steep hill covered with thick brush and large timbers. Sergeant Shumate with the point discovered bandits on this hill and opened fire before attempting to cross this open area. This drew the bandits fire and they opened up shouting for Sandino, Sacasa and Chamorro. I moved my men into position and a short fight took place. About this time several bombs were fired in our rear followed by rifle fire and yelling. To cross the open area in front and take the hill, could not be accomplished without a great number of casualties and the loss of our animals. To remain in our position where we were located and allow the enemy to hold the hill in our rear, would mean the same result as we had no other cover than light brush. We forced the enemy to the rear and took the hill, losing several animals. To move further to the rear would place us in the same position as before, so I took a position on this hill to wait for the arrival of the planes. Immediately on reaching this hill, a machine gun opened fire on us from our right front where they had been waiting for us to attempt to cross the open area and take the hill on our front. As the enemy was now about 500 yards distance, their fire was high and we had no trouble in fortifying our position.
 
   4.      At about 1030 all fire had ceased except a few occasional shots and on the approach of the planes the enemy kept quiet and tried to hide. I displayed my panels and the planes opened fire and dropped bombs on the enemy. As the planes gave me no formation in regard to the location of Lieut. Gould's patrol, I decided to remain until that afternoon as I was not certain of the correct trail. [end ]
 
 

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