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MARINE AND GUARDIA DETACHMENT, TELPANECA,
NICARAGUA.
11 December 1927.
From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Brigade Commander
Subject: Engagement with group of bandits at
Cuje, 11 Dec., 1927.
1. A group of some twenty-five bandits under one
Candelario Lopez was reliably reported by native
scouts in vicinity of Cuje, a little over a week
ago. The bandits moved to an unknown location in
the direction of Totogalpa last Tuesday, and
were not again located until December 10, when
they were reported in the house of one Perez in
the area of Cuje. A group in this same house was
attacked by the undersigned on October 30 and a
number of men still here were members of that
patrol and acquainted with the trails.
2. A combined patrol, 15 marines and 5 guardia,
left Telpaneca at 0045, December 11, under
command of Lieut. Satterfield, G.N.; there was a
moon until daylight and the patrol arrived at
the bandit position at about 0430 without
incident.
3. The bandits were divided between a group of
five houses and a separate house some three
hundred yards farther up the ridge line. The
patrol arrived from above these houses and seven
marines and one guardia with Cpl Tucker in
charge were left at the upper house, while Lt.
Satterfield continued down the ridge toward the
other houses with the remainder of the patrol.
4. The upper house was set some two hundred
yards off to the right of the trail and Cpl.
Tucker took his men into a position in the
clearing around the house flanking two opposite
sides of it at a range of about fifty yards. He
himself was on the right of it with a guardia,
while the remainder of the group was on a line
with him over to the left. The plan was for him
to wait until Lt. Satterfield opened fire on the
lower houses before attacking but circumstances
forced an abandonment of this plan.
5. A sentinel was sleeping alongside the house
in front of Tucker with a dog sleeping at his
feet. All Tucker's dispositions had been made
when the dog scented danger and awoke the sentry
by barking. For this indescretion the dog was
later killed. The sentry woke and seized his
shotgun. Tucker promptly killed him and the war
was on. There were some 25 bandits in this house
alone and they immediately rushed out to escape
by the trail on the opposite side of the house
from the marines, but Cpl Tucker with
considerable presence of mind, threw a nad
[hand] grenade over the house into the trail
which demolished one bandit and drove them back
into the line of fire of the marines covering
the other side of the house from Tucker. Three
more bandits were killed and three mortally
wounded by this rifle fire. Many more were less
seriously wounded as evidenced by trails of
blood down the side of the hill but the number
is of course unknown. The bandits scattered
rapidly into the underbrush and were pursued by
fire as long as they could be seen moving.
6. In the meantime, Lt. Satterfield had
continued down the other position and had just
entered the clearing where the buildings were
situated when the firing started above him. His
patrol was one hundred and fifty yards from the
house and visibility was poor on account of a
heavy mist. At the sound of firing, the bandits
rushed from these houses and began firing
aimlessely in the direction of the other house. There were some thirty or forty bandits in this
group, with many rifles and shotguns. The patrol
immediately opened fire but could not get close
with the enemy as they immediately took to the
underbrush. This group unfortunately escaped
with all their firearms and reached their horses
in a portrero at the foot of the hill. None were
observed killed here but an unknown number of
wounded is certain from bloody trails. [ p. 2 ]
7. Within ten minutes after the first shot there
were no more targets at which to fire, and the
engagements was finished. Three shotguns, two
rifles, and ten machettes were captured. All the
houses were found to be full of foodstuffs and
ammunition. Since the houses were a favorable
rendezvous for bandits, all but one were burned. The ammunition and foodstuffs were destroyed in
the fire. A large number of turkeys, geese,
ducks, pigs, calves and chickens were found
around the lower houses as well as two burros. One of these bandit burros was wounded, the
other was captured to bring fourteen turkeys
into Telpaneca for Christmas dinner.
8. The separate house was not demolished as one
woman was living there had been accidently
killed and a small boy wounded. These and the
three wounded bandits were left there with
several other women who were found in both
houses.
9. The patrol suffered no casualties. In all,
the bandits lost five killed, three mortally
wounded and many other wounded. None of the dead
or wounded were identified.
10. After destroying the bandits' stores, the
patrol began its return journey to Telpaneca. About a mile and a half from the scene of the
fight, on the side of a mountain, the patrol
stopped to rest. Raso Pedro Sabayos #208, GN,
was stationed in the rear as a march outpost.
One of the bandits, who had evidently followed
the patrol with the intention of revenging
himself, suddenly appeared on the side of the
hill above the trail at a distance of about 100
yards aiming his rifle. Sabayo immediately shot
him. He fell but rose again and started to run.
Tucker and Pvt Harris then shot him but he again
got up and ran, escaping with his rifle. The
alertness and prompt action of Raso Sabayos
undoubtedly saved the life of at least one of
the patrol. It is recommened that his action be
brought to the attention of the chief of the
Guardia Nacional for appropriate commendation.
11. The patrol reached Telpaneca at 1215 without
further incident.
12. The entire patrol conducted itself in a most
satisfactory manner, especially since half of
the marines were new arrivals in this post who
had no previous experience in this part of the
country. According to the patrol leader, Lt.
Satterfield, march and fire discipline was
excellent throughout. Cpl Tucker is especially
to be commended for his able and efficient
handling of the action described above. In
addition to the commandable [commendable] action
described above, Raso Sabayos had previously
distinguished himself in the action with Cpl
Tucker by his coolness under fire. He continued
firing steadily although he and Tucker were the
only targets of the two or three enemy firing
from the house.
/ s / W. S. BROWN
127/212/1
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