QUILALI, Nicaragua,      4 January 1928.

    1.    At about 1230, January 1, 1928; while marching on Quilali, this expedition encountered bandit forces of Sandino, estimated at 350 to 450 strong, on the Sapotial [Zapotillal] Hill, about six miles NW of QUILALI. The action continued for about one hour, when the enemy was routed.
 
   2.    At the time of the encounter our force was proceeding along the trail in single file up the side of a mountain which was on our right or NW flank. A field which extended for a distance covering nearly the whole column on the right flank. The hill was covered with pinewoods and the field with heavy brush.
 
   3.    Our point had just turned a curve at the bottom of the above mentioned hill when Lieutenant Bruce (GN) observed a movement and started to draw his pistols, when the enemy opened fire with machine guns, rifles, pistols, and dynamite bombs, from points all along the hill and field on our right flank. There were also a small amount of the enemy on our left flank that opened fire on our left flank and rear guard. On the hill the enemy were well entrenched, behind parapets thrown up and behind pine trees. The bandit forces were well disciplined, and when Lt. Bruce was killed were able to rush our point and advance at the command of their leader, forcing our troops to retreat to a point 50 yards behind our Stokes Trench Mortar where they took a position in line with our machine gun which had jammed. There they established a skirmish line and held off the enemy until the machine gun was repaired and gotten into action again. The machine gun with the Stokes mortar, and the 37 MM gun, which fired from a position in the rear of the column gained fire superiority and routed the bandits.
 
   4.    Our forces took up a defensive position on the hill captured and awaited re-enforcements from QUILALI, which arrived at 1415, January 2, 1928.
 
   5. (a) Bandit leader unknown.
      (b) No Mounts seen.
      (c) Aerial assistance, none, but two planes appeared about ten minutes after the route of the enemy and strafed the hills and the woods in the vicinity.
 
CASUALTIES:
 
MARINES KILLED: BRUCE, Thomas G. 1st Sgt. (1st Lt GN)
 
MARINES WOUNDED SERIOUSLY: RICHAL, Meron A. 1st Lt.
POMORSKI, Edward L. Pvt.
 
MARINES WOUNDED NOT SERIOUSLY: HOOKS, Lee M. Pvt.
HENRY, Wallace Cpl.
 
GUARDIA NACIONAL: BRUCE, Thomas G. 1st Lt. Killed. [ p. 2 ]
 
BANDITS:
 
About 20 dead bodies were found near the place of attack.
 
PRISONERS: None.
 
   6.    Pack train was badly shot up and scattered. Animals lost in action: 15. Animals strayed from scene of action 3. Total number of animals brought into Quilali 99.
 
   7.    No loss of ammunition known at present. Both of Lieutenant Bruces pistols were captured by the bandits.
 
   8.    Lieutenant Richal was seriously wounded about twenty minutes after the battle started, Gunnery Sergeant E. G. Brown assumed Command immediately and retained same until the arrival of Lieutenant Hunts relief from Quilali.
 
   9.    Lieutenant Bruce was killed at the beginning of the action his body looted and mutilated by the bandits, but later recaptured by our forces and buried on the spot, Field Burial regulations complied with.
 
          Edward G. Brown
          Gy-Sgt. USMC.,
- - - - - - - - NCO in Charge - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 

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