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T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
SIXTY-SIXTH COMPANY, FIFTH REGIMENT
SECOND BRIGADE. MARINE CORPS
ESTELI NICARAGUA
4 JUNE 1928
 REPORT
OF PATROL COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT ARCHIE
E. O'NEIL, USMC.
Left Esteli Saturday, 26 May, 1928, at 5:30 P.M., with
a mounted patrol of eight men, a
corporal and two guides. We took the
trail to Espinal, the frequented area of
the Alejandro Cruz and Marcelino
Hernandez group. Arrived about 11 P.M.
Leaving the mounts with a guard of two men, we visited
houses where bandits were supposed to be
and where they gathered when in the
valley. We had gathered information en
route that some of the group were in the
vicinity. We took as guide for the local
area, Julian Moreno, who, we had been
informed, was one of the group. Our own
guide assured us that it was Julian's
brother, Pancho Moreno, who was with
Hernandez; so we used him only to take
us to suspected abodes of bandits and
then turned him loose. We went to
several known houses but found nothing.
One home was that of Hernandez- the place in which he
lived when he came into the valley. His
family and effects were in this house.
The next morning we revisited this place
and vicinity, obtained the information
that three bandits, Alejandro Cruz,
Victor Cruz and Marcelino Hernandez had
been sleeping in Hernandez's house the
preceding night but had been forewarned
of the Marines entering the valley. I
set the house on fire, feeling justified
in so doing because it was the immediate
habitation of Marcelino Hernandez.
In Espinal we visited the house of Julio Royo. He is
alleged to be supplying the conservative
group under Alejandro Cruz and Marcelino
Hernandez with provisions and arms. We
took him with us to Trinidad, later
permitting him to report to Esteli
alone.
We proceeded to the vicinity of Trinidad, intending to
lay an ambush along the main road
generally used by bandit groups. We
learned that Marines from San Rafael
were in Trinidad so we went into camp
for the night on the outskirts.
Monday 28th May, we passed through Trinidad and took
the road toward San Nicolas, four
leagues to the northwest. About one
league from there we learned that a
bandit group had been operating on the
mountain flats, about one league and a
half away. I took a detail of seven men
and proceeded on foot. We found where
they had camped but learned that they
had gone toward Santa Cruz. We went on
into San Nicolas and found all quiet in
that area. We searched several houses of
families supposed to have arms. Arrived
back in camp at 3 A.M., 29 May.
On 29 May, we broke camp and went into Trinidad, where
we remained for the night.
 [p.
2]
May 30, we patrolled through San Lorenzo valley,
Licoroy, as far as El Hogado, near San
Lorenzo we set fire to the property of
Eduardo Joyo, one of Santa Maria
Sevilla's group. I did so on the
strength of information that I had with
me concerning various members of the
group and also on that of the three
native guides which I had with me at the
time. The house was uninhabited and in
all probability used as a bandit
hangout. The territory where it was
located was that in which Santa Maria
operated, close to Licoroy.
Thursday, 31 May, learning that Santa Maria Sevilla and
his group had surrendered their arms, we
broke camp and proceeded back to Esteli
by way of Trinidad and Santa Cruz.
Arrived in Esteli at 7:30 P.M.
-------------ARCHIE E. O'NEIL---------
RG127/43A/20
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