Header image
PC28.05.06   hart

QUICK LINKS TO PREVIOUS & NEXT PC-DOCS

28.04.26 PEFLEY
28.04.28 MCQUEEN
28.04.30 ARNETT
28.05.06 HART
28.05.07 MERRITT
28.05.08 AIKEN
28.05.08 CLARK

28.05.06.   Hart, Patrol Report to Cusuli, Tuma

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

Tuma, Nicaragua.
May 6th, 1928.

From: Captain Franklin A. Hart, U.S. Marine Corps.
To: The Commanding Officer, Matagalpa and Jinotega Districts.
Subject: Patrol report to CUSULI, 27 April to May 5th, 1928.

     1.   In compliance with radio orders I cleared TUMA at 1300 April 27 with a patrol of two squads for CUSULI. My mission was to gain all possible information and reports upon possible location of a site for advance base operations.

     2.   I arrived at GUASACO at 1745 and spent the night at Senor Hasluns [Carlos Haslam, Alfredo Haslam]. I secured the services of Senors Alfredo and Carlos Hasluns as guides. At 0710 the 28th I cleared GUASACO over the PIS PIS trail for CUSULI. This trail is shown on the HAM MAP as passing over PENA BLANCA, but in reality passes about six miles to the east at LA TRONKA [La Tronca] mountains. The PIS PIS TRAIL is the only one in this section leading to PIS PIS and the coast; it is called PIS PIS TRAIL. We passed VIJAGUA [Bijagua], 20 miles from TUMA at 1045. There are three or four houses in this section. At 1300 I arrived at CACAO, 25 miles from TUMA, at this place a trail enters PIS PIS TRAIL from PENA BLANCA and the north to CUA. It was over this trail that the last group of bandits entered the PIS PIS TRAIL on their way to PIS PIS. I interviewed a Senor Jaquina [Señora Jarquín] who lives in one of the three houses of CACAO. She was present when the bandits passed. They made camp and remained at CACAO for one day and night. They were joined by a second group and proceeded toward PIS PIS. She rather exaggerated her statements regarding numbers and machine guns, stating there were 200 in the first later joined by 100 that was partly mounted. They had pack bulls and plenty of ammunition as she heard them fire their machine guns. Said she saw five machine guns. She heard them discussing their plans, one spoke of returning in about two months, another said they were returning via the RIO GRANDE to MATIGUAS, a third that they were going back to SEGOVIA via a short way to BOCAY.

     3.   Cleared CACAO 1415 for RANCH GRANDE and arrived 1745, 31 miles from TUMA. Made camp for the night. Fair camping place, good pasturage, one house, good water. At 0630 cleared for YAUSCA [Yasica], passed LOS CARPAS 0810, (34 miles from TUMA). There are two houses at LAS CARPAS. Both the owners were killed when the bandits passed this section. Senora Maria Amador, wife of Seperiano Fonseca [Seferino Fonseca], who was killed gave the following information. She stated the first mounted group passed on Wednesday the 4th, and the second group two weeks later. There was 150 all mounted in first group, about 200 in second, partly mounted. The second group killed her husband, also two other men, the Hernandez brothers. At [ p. 2 ] LOS CARPAS there enters a trail from the north, that passes about 10 miles from PENA BLANCA and goes to valley of the CUA and BOCAY. No bandits came over this trail.

     4.   At 1000 met one Augustine Flores of Vijagua, returning from CUSULI. Flores had been captured and taken by the bandits to CUSULI and was released by them on Tuesday the 24th when they all cleared for PIS PIS. He stated there was about 100 in the group, all armed, partly mounted and had three machine guns. He heard them address one as General Sandino. This group I found later was commanded by Irias [General Pedro Antonio Irías]. I sent Flores to the C.O TUMA with message. He was sent by C.O. TUMA to MATAGALPA. Arrived YAUSCA 1545 about 48 - 50 miles from TUMA.

     5.   YAUSCA is a section of about six houses, located on YAUSCA RIVER, small valley, all houses deserted, no food stuff available for man or beast. Good water available for temporary camp site. It was here at YAUSCA that the mounted group camped for a few days. Due to the fact that YAUSCA was deserted I was unable to get all the information I desired. It is located about 18 miles from the junction of the YAUSCA and TUMA RIVERS. Cargoes are carried and boat trip may be made in two and one half days to SARDINAL, which is one days pack from here. Many mosquitoes and no shelter available.

     6.   At 0645 April 30th cleared YAUSCA for GUASLALA and arrived 1230, 60 miles from TUMA. I made camp here due to the condition of the animals. Here I met three natives returning from PUERTO CABEZAS, where they had been working for the Braggman Bluff Lumber Co. They stated that on the 24th they had passed a mounted group of about 70 near LA CEIBA (in Pis Pis area) and at WAUNI on the 28th another group of about 70, mostly on foot. They did not see any machine guns. I kept these three men with me until I returned to TUMA.

     7.   0715 May 1st cleared for CUSULI and arrived at PAPIA 1000 (six miles from GUASLALA) where I decided to have mounts and pack animals. I left six men in charge at PAPIA and proceeded with the remainder for CUSULI, arriving there at 1230, about seventy-two (72) miles from TUMA. CUSULI is a clearing in a small valley of two small knolls, there are three houses. The CUSULI RIVER passes through the valley and cargoes carried on the river. Senor Peralto [Peralta] the owner of a small ranch there states that the first group passed on Holy Saturday, the second group arrived on the 23rd and made camp for two nights and a day. There was about 100 under command of General Irias. He heard no plans other than they were to join the rest at PIS PIS. CUSULI is a junction point of several roads, one leading to CUICUINA and the MACANTACA plains, a- [ p. 3 ] nother to PIS PIS, third to BOCAY; fourth to MATIGUAS with is about obsolete as it has not been used in years. You may reach EL GALLO by boat in six days. A pair of leggins was found where the bandits camped with the name B. J. S. Godwin inside. Malarial mosquitoes here. Cleared 1600 and arrived PAPIA 1800 where camp was made for night. PAPIA IS NOT SUITABLE FOR A CAMP SITE DUE TO MANY MOSQUITOES AND STINGING KNATS.

     8.   By camping at PAPIA I was able to reach YAUSCA in one day, thereby saving a day in time. Left PAPIA 0630 May 2nd and arrived YAUSCA at 1445. At GUASLALA met a mozo who stated that he lived near YAUSCA and that he had several drinks of corn whiskey with the Sergeant Major of the second group who told him that General Irias was in command, they were going to PIS PIS for supplies and ammunition, but did not know exactly where they were to get it. They were very short of both and their plans hinged on their success. He stated that Sandino and his staff remained in the mountains of SEGOVIA. That in all there was not over 300 men on this expedition.

     9.   Cleared YAUSCA at 0630 May 3rd and arrived RANCHO GRANDE 1400, cleared RANCHO GRANDE 0630 May 4th, arriving GUASACA 1600 and cleared there 0700 for TUMA in morning 1130.

     10.   The PIS PIS TRAIL leads from TUMA on a roughly northeast direction to the PIS PIS mining area and the coast. It is the only trail leading from here to the coast and is intersected by the following trails from the north. Trail from JINOTEGA enters at GUASACA. Trail passing PENA BLANCA from north enters at CACAO. Trail from valley of CUA and BOCAY enters at LOS CARPOS, passing about 10 - 12 miles from PENA BLANCO. The PIS PIS TRAIL after leaving VIJAGUA is merely a path through virgin forest, over steep mountains, rocky, muddy and rooty with many logs fallen across the trail. It is the worst I have seen and I imagine from the present condition that it will be practically impassable during the raining season. Estimated time to pack supplies to YAUSCA during rainy season will be from four to five days from TUMA and from TUMA to CUSULI five to seven days. The trail is completely covered from aerial observation except at the sections mentioned where there is a house and small clearing. There are very few houses, practically all deserted, only four occupied from VIJAGUA to CUSULI distance about 50 miles. There is no local food stuffs. Considering the above I found no place that I consider suitable for the location of advance Base Headquarters, or for camp site for any length of time.

     11.   The places passed and distances from TUMA are as follows; GUASACA 12 miles, VIJAGUA 20 miles, CACAO 25 miles, RANCHO GRANDE 31 miles, LOS CARPOS 34 miles, YAUSCA 48 miles, GUASLALA . . . [remainder not copied]

[/s/ F. A. Hart ]

127/43A/20

Summary & Notes:

   Long arduous exploratory patrol into the eastern wilderness that failed in its basic mission: to find a suitable place to serve as "advance base headquarters."  Marines still very much getting the lay of the land.
   Coffee growers & British citizens Carlos & Alfredo Haslam serve as guides.
   Se
ñora Jarquín at Cacao, living at one of the village's three houses, saw the rebels traveling eastward and provides (exaggerated?) information.
   Seferino Fonseca and María Amador husband & wife at Las Carpas (village of 2 houses); is this coincidence? (Carlos Fonseca Amador).  Seferino (and two Hernández brothers) reportedly killed by EDSN.
   Three "natives" returning from Bragmans Bluff Lumber Co. in Puerto Cabezas witness EDSN passage, provide information to Marines; similar intelligence during this same period provided by Joaquín Alvarez in
top 100, p. 8.
   Leggins of B. J. S. Godwin?  Name not in USMC casualties.

   Nice description of Pis Pis Trail, physical and social geography of these zones.

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

TOP OF PAGE