| |
None of the ten patrols
described on this page
resulted in a military encounter with the EDSN; all reveal something
important about the people and land the Marines were invading and
occupying. All also took place on the peripheral zones of Las
Segovias, thus offering an intriguing portrait of the social and
geographic boundaries of the still erupting rebellion.
28.04.18. Galt, patrol
report, matagalpa.
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH
REGIMENT
U. S. MARINE CORPS, MATAGALPA,
NICARAGUA.
18 April, 1928.
From:
First Lieutenant Alexander Galt, Marine Corps.
To:
The Commanding Officer, District of Matagalpa,
Fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps
Subject:
Patrol Report.
1.
In obedience to verbal orders from your office, I, on
April 10 took charge of a patrol of 30 men and proceeded
at 7 p.m. by truck to San Ramon. 5 miles proceeded
under charge of Sergeant Monteith to San Ramon the same
evening arriving about 9 p.m. I cleared San Ramon
at 8 a.m. and marched for six hours via Monte Grande.
At 2 p.m. the mules carrying spare ammunition and
rations gave out so I made camp on a hill beside a creek
about 3 miles southeast of Bavaria. This is the
end of the road which is rough trail from hereon.
This is a good camp site. As soon as lunch was
over I with ten men patrolled to the north returning
about 6 p.m. having found all quiet and visited Bavaria.
The following morning April 12 in order to lighten the
load on the mules and thereby gain speed I buried in
three holes about two hundred pounds of rations and
marched for 6 hours making better time than the day
before, but as the mules appeared exhausted I halted at
a small river called the Jicaro. Here I sent out a
small patrol who reported after 4 hours that all was
quiet and no signs of bandit activity. The
following morning April 13 I cleared camp with 18 men
who were in best shape physically at about 4 a.m. being
delayed until then by mist which made visibility too
poor to proceed. I left at the Jicaro river 8 men
under Sergeant Monteith, the mules, rations, and packs.
I arrived at Sebadilla about 10 a.m. and patrolled that
area. The country was very poor economically there
being few houses and they of very poor quality.
The natives were friendly and reported no bandit
activity. We slept that night at a native house
from whom I obtained rice and beans.
2.
April 14 I returned to the Jicaro river but as the cook
reported rations as too low to wait a day the patrol
rested for two hours and at 12 noon started for the camp
where I had buried the rations arriving about 5 p.m.
I found that two of the holes in which they were buried
had been found and cleaned out. April 15 I marched to
San Ramon and thence for Matagalpa being met by trucks
about four miles outside of that place.
3.
After passing a point about 12 miles east of San Ramon
the country through which I passed was in general thinly
inhabited and arid but small streams occur every few
miles that that camp sites are easily found. Food
appears to be scare, only one house being found in the
vicinity of Sebadilla where enough rice and beans for 20
men could be found. Live stock also appears to be
very scarce. The inhabitants all stated that there
had been no bandits in that vicinity for a long period.
/ s / ALEXANDER GALT
NA127/43A/20
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
The
rolling, arid, overgrazed, thinly populated, mostly
indigenous zone between Matagalpa & San Ramón; roads
good enough for truck traffic; not much EDSN support
here. |
| |
•
|
Poverty
ubiquitous, food scarce, livestock few, houses poor,
economic conditions poor. |
| |
•
|
Humorous
episode: burying 200 lbs. rations in holes in the
ground to save time; locals quickly find and take it. |
| |
•
|
Thick
night fog prevents patrolling. |
| |
•
|
"Friendly natives" in this zone: a public face, a
mask, rooted in long-term structural subordination in
hierarchical patron-client relations; outwardly
friendly, inwardly watching for a chance to dig up your
buried rations when you're not looking! No useful
information from locals. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.19. esau, patrol
report, matagalpa.
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION,
FIFTH REGIMENT, SECOND BRIGADE
MARINE CORPS, MATAGALPA,
NICARAGUA.
19 April, 1928.
From:
First Lieutenant George Esau, U.S. Marine Corps.
To :
The District Commander, District of Matagalpa,
Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
Subject:
Patrol Report.
1.
Cleared MATAGALPA for SAN ISIDRO, NICARAGUA, which an
eight man patrol, via truck, at 2100, 18 April, 1928.
Arrived within about one and one half miles of SAN
ISIDRO at 2330: concealed truck in the brush by the side
of the road, detailed one guard plus truck driver to
guard the truck and proceeded on foot towards SAN
ISIDRO. Arrived on the outskirts at 2400.
Everything seemed quiet and after waiting about one half
hour proceeded through the town finally taking up a
concealed position in rear of Mr Huper's store. We
waited there until 0400, 19 April 1928 and as nothing
developed we returned to the truck and went to DARIO
arriving there at 0630. Left all of the enlisted
members of my patrol at DARIO, in accordance with verbal
instructions, and returned to MATAGALPA with truck and
arrived MATAGALPA at 1000 19 April, 1928.
2.
The area patrolled seemed perfectly quiet. I
interviewed a number of citizens at SAN ISIDRO,
including Father Picado and Juan Rodriguez, manager of
Mr. Huper's store at that place and was informed that
almost daily, rumors of bandits are spread in town.
They state that the Chief of Police and his soldiers
leave town nearly every evening and return the next
morning. The people I interviewed seemed very
suspicious of the actions of the Police officials.
I believe that the Chief starts these bandit rumors and
then leaves town in the evening with the apparent
intention of investigating these rumors. He
apparently starts these rumors for the purpose of making
the people believe that he is very much on the job.
It seems that all bandit rumors start at his office.
3.
Farther [Father] Picado recommended that the present
Chief of Police of SAN ISIDRO, Isidoro Gutierez [Ysidoro
Gutiérrez], be dismissed and that Columbine Gutierez be
appointed in his place. He believes that if this
change is made the daily rumors of bandits would cease
and that the citizens would not be all wrought up
continually by these wild rumors.
/ s / GEORGE ESAU
NA127/43A/20
See
PC28.04.05 Atkinson, La Trinidad
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Southern
boundary of Las Segovias; San Isidro politics tied in
with La Trinidad's. |
| |
•
|
Eight
man Marine patrol by truck, Matagalpa—San Isidro &
return. Midnight surprise occupation of the town.
Nothing happened. Interviewed Juan Rodriguez,
manager of Guillermo Huper's store in San Isidro. |
| |
•
|
Little
active popular support for EDSN from this point south. |
| |
•
|
Chief of
Police starts bandit rumors so he's busy all the time so
it looks like he's on the job? Seems unlikely.
More likely: busy looking after his and his patrons'
interests. |
| |
•
|
"Bandit
rumors" as a major problem. But why, if there's no
basis for them? Thus "banditry," as organized gang
violence, must have a history here, and be present here
— or else "bandit rumors" would have no purchase and be
ignored and not be a problem. Interesting
phenomenon. |
| |
•
|
Father
Picado of San Isidro - suggests to Lt. Esau that one
Gutiérrez replace another as chief of police; probably
tied in to the town's Conservative landowning elite,
part of their political circle. Some kind of
intense political struggle going on here. One of
the handful of priests in Las Segovias. |
| |
•
|
Use of
term "citizen" twice; a rarity in Marine-GN reports;
suggests some deference to local notables. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
pc-docs inventory on pc-docs home
28.04.19.
Marshall, report of patrol, richardson's ranch, jinotega.
|
Richardson's Ranch, Nicaragua.
19 April, 1928.
From:
Commanding Officer.
To:
Commanding Officer, Districts of Matagalpa and Jinotega.
Subject:
Report of Patrol.
1.
Accompanied by Major Larsen, U. S. M. C., I and
17enlisted men with 19 riding animals and 8 pack
animals, left Richardson's at 1030 and arrived Tuma
1500, 16 April, 1928.
2.
The same group left Tuma 0700, 17 April, 192, and
arrived Corinto 1615 same date. As I gave my map
to Captain Hart at Tuma - he not having a copy of the
last one issued - I cannot describe route in relation to
map. Route actually taken was as follows:
Proceeded south from Marine Camp at Tuma 1½ miles along
Tuma - Cuatros Esquinas Road; thence north-west to
Corinto via Coyolar and La Trampa. Total distance
estimated to be 23 miles. Distance from Marine
Camp, Tuma, to La Trampa estimated at 18 miles.
Trail from Tuma to La Trampa is a fair trail for pack
animals. From La Trampa to Corinto trail is rough
and considerable difficulty would be experienced by pack
animals in passing over it after a three hour rain even
in the dry season. It is believed that only pack
bulls could pass from Corinto to La Trampa during rainy
season, and perhaps there would be periods when nothing
could be packed over this trail. La Trampa is a
settlement of six houses within a radius of one hundred
yards. Were the houses used exclusively by
Marines, it would shelter one hundred men. There
is a swift clear stream within a hundred yards of
shelter. There is abundance of pasturage there and
much cleared land surrounding the place. It is
excellently suited for defense, but as far as I could
see there are no main trails nearby other than the one I
traversed. I would class it to be very poor as an
offensive base. The trail I followed is south of
the Tuma River and is more than two miles distant
therefrom at all points along the route (except 1½ miles
at starting point. Had airplane communication at
1300.
3.
18 April, 1928, same patrol less Major Larsen and one
sergeant, left Corinto 0700 and arrived Richardson's
1915. Marched via La Trampa - Coyolar - Tuma Trail
to point 3 miles west of Tuma - Cuatros Esquinas Trail
(same route traversed April 17th). From there we
marched south on Coyolar - Cuatros Esquinas Trail and
joined the Tuma - Matagalpa Road at Cuatros Esquinas.
Trail distances estimated as follows: Corinto to
junction of Coyolar - Cuatros Esquinas Trail, 19
miles; from junction of Coyolar - Cuatros Esquinas Trail
to Cuatros Esquinas, 7 miles; Cuatros Esquinas to
Richardson's, 7 miles. Total day's march 33,
miles. The trail from Coyolar to Cuatro Esqunas
runs along the ridge of a high mountain, the grades to
and from which, are steep. This trail is the
roughest I have encountered in this region, being badly
cut up from pack animals. [ remainder not
copied ]
/ s / C. L. Marshall
NA127/43A/20
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Distances between settlements, conditions of trails
around Tuma-Cuatro Esquinos. |
| |
•
|
Description of La Trampa — six houses, lots of cleared
land. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.19. snead, report of patrol, tuma.
|
Marine Detachment,
U.S.S. ROCHESTER
TUMA, Nicaragua.
19 April 1928.
From:
Second Lieutenant L. D. SNEAD, U.S.M.C.
To :
The Commanding Officer.
Subject:
Report of Patrol
1.
A patrol of 1 officer and 48 enlisted men cleared here
at 1301 on 18 April 1928, proceeding to the junction of
the MUY MUY and TUMA Rivers and the vicinity of CACAO,
made thorough reconnaissance of the district, and
returned to this post at 1130, 19 April 1928.
2.
No news of any importance was obtained, and no bandits
were encountered, there being no rumors of bandits in
any of the sections covered, except a vague rumor at
SAVALEATA [Salvadora] that Sandino had stated some time
ago that he intended to establish a supply base there.
This rumor is not considered to be of any importance by
the undersigned due to lack of confirmation and the fact
that transportation in the district is possible only by
boat except in a southeasterly direction and the trails
in that direction are not passable during the rainy
season.
3.
The entire district covered is very sparsely settled not
more than one finca about every five miles and none of
size great enough to furnish any incentive to bandits
except at Savaleata, where there about 10 horses and 100
head of cattle. There are no stores or stocks of
merchandise of any kind in the entire district.
Nearly all of the district is virgin forest.
4.
A sketch of the trails and territory covered is
attached.
/ s / L. D. SNEAD
NA127/43A/20
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Far
eastern edge of settlement; confluence of Ríos Tuma and
Cacao. |
| |
•
|
Patrol
east by boat: 49 Marines from Tuma to Cacao and
return. |
| |
•
|
Conveys
a good sense of physical geography: one small
finca every 5 miles; no stores, stocks of merchandise,
livestock, except at Salvadora; nearly all "virgin
forest." |
| |
•
|
No EDSN
anywhere; only one vague "rumor of bandits" not
considered reliable. |
| |
•
|
Sketch
not found. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
pc-docs inventory on pc-docs home
28.04.23. Galt, report of
patrol, matagalpa.
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION,
FIFTH REGIMENT, SECOND BRIGADE
U. S. MARINE CORPS, MATAGALPA,
NICARAGUA,
23 April, 1928.
From:
First Lieutenant Alexander Galt, U.S. Marine Corps.
To:
The Commanding Officer, Third Battalion, Fifth Regiment,
Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps.
Subject:
Report of Patrol.
1.
In obedience to your orders dated April 19, 1928, I left
with a patrol of 8 men at 5.30 p.m., that day, and
proceeded via truck to a point on the road about 3 miles
west of Sebaco, arriving about 8 p.m. I then
marched via San Isidro to a point about 5 miles north of
that town, rested there two hours and then went to the
house of Alejandro Cruz ten miles east. This house
showed every indication of having been searched and
there were no people around. I then proceeded to
the house of Rizo about a mile away and there found
traces of very recent marine patrol activities; hard
bread containers and pork and bean cans in the yard,
etc. I then camped on a stream bed a mile away and
the next morning went to the house of Hernandez. I
had previously been informed by a native that Hernandez
had been gone for three days taking his rifle with him.
His mother, who was at his house, said, he had been gone
a long time and had his rifle with him. I found a
hand grenade, apparently very recently dropped in the
yard of this house.
2.
At 7 a.m. I left and proceeded to Chahuitilla arriving
at that point after about 7 hours actual marching time
in an easterly direction.
3.
I found all quiet in the area visited but this could
easily be accounted for by the fact that at least one
other patrol was about a day ahead of me and natives
also mentioned an [ ---li ] patrol in addition to the
one from Jinotega. The country in general is very
rough and rocky and water is scarce, the natives
depending on water holes in a dry stream bed and wells.
4.
Those natives whom I saw seemed friendly and glad to
give information about Hernandez, but either claimed not
to know Sevilla or else said that he was far away across
the mountains.
/ s / ALEXANDER GALT.
NA127/212/1
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Small
Marine patrol (9 men) into zone of ongoing
Liberal-Conservative gang violence. |
| |
•
|
Conservative leaders: Alejandro Cruz, Marcelino
Hernández (the latter's mother lives with him, was at
home when Marines arrived). |
| |
•
|
Liberal
gang leader: Santa María Sevilla. |
| |
•
|
Rizo? |
| |
•
|
Description of physical landscape: rough, rocky,
water scarce. Recall this is at the tail end of
the dry season. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.23. willis, report of
operation, leÓn.
|
HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF LEON
LEON,
NICARAGUA.
23 April, 1928.
From:
The District Commander.
To :
The Commanding Officer, Fifth Regiment,
Managua, Nicaragua.
Subject:
Report of operation of mixed patrol
1.
Under date of April 20th, the following report was
received by wire from the Commanding Officer of Marines
at SOMOTILLO:
"Contraband consisted of coffee and rope line from
Honduras. Driver and bull-cart resting at LA
HACIENDA SAN RAMON near PALO GRANDE when captured by
mixed patrol of six marines and two Guardia.
Cart was on journey to Leon. Cart and driver
turned over to Guardia here for further
investigation and awaiting instructions from Managua
McQueen."
2.
This information is furnished in compliance with
telegraphic instructions from your office.
3.
Attention is invited to the fact that the seizure was
made by a mixed patrol of Marines and Guardia. It
is believed that operations of this nature, carried on
by the Guardia, will eventually result in the
elimination of the Hacienda Rurales, and will bring
about very desirable results, provided the seizures in
each case are legitimate. It is believed that only
a sufficient number of marines should operated with the
Guardia to give them sufficient stamina for energetic
operations. That policy will be carried out by this
office unless instructions to the contrary are received.
/ s / L. S. WILLIS
NA127/204/3
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
McQueen
in Somotillo focusing on cross-border contraband, in
this case coffee; what's the reference to the "rope
line"? (Usually such "contraband" consisted of
illegal liquor or tobacco.) |
| |
•
|
Intriguing observation that the Guardia will eventually
displace the Hacienda Rurales, a kind of local police
force (under the authority from the Ministro de
Hacienda, charged with enforcing tax laws). Willis
essentially making predictions about impending
transformations in the Nicaraguan state, with the
Guardia displacing lesser entities with independent
authority to inflict violence. Prognostication
proved accurate. |
| |
•
|
"Nicaraguanization"
of the military already well underway. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.23. mcqueen,
report of patrol, san francisco de guajiniquilapa.
|
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
III Report of Patrol
ON April 21 Ascencion Benabides [Ascención
Benavides] a native from near Jocomico reported in at
the outpost at San Francisco and stated that a man by
the name of Santiago Tercero, Sr., had recently
threatened him (Benabides) with a pistol. At 1300
April 22, PFC Doyle and two men cleared San Francisco
for Jocomico to investigate the case. The patrol
found the Tercero house but Tercero, Sr. was not at
home. Members of his family declared that he owned
a pistol, but had not threatened any person with it.
A fighting knife was found on the person of the son of
Tercero so he was taken to San Francisco for
questioning. On April 23, Tercero reported in with
a Colt. 38 cal Police Model pistol, which he stated he
had bought in Honduras for the sole purpose of turning
it in, and that he intended to prefer charges against
Benabides for falsely accusing him of owning a pistol
and threatening Benabides with it.
On April
22 a patrol of four men left San Francisco to patrol in
the NE direction. On arriving at La Herra,
situated on the west bank of the Rio Negro, about 12
miles north of east of San Francisco, a house was found
containing five loop-holes and a supply of water
containers and six saddles. No arms were found.
One man present stated the saddles belonged to men who
were working in the vicinity of La Herra. About
five or six good grails converge to this house. It
is being carefully watched by patrols from San
Francisco.
Active
patrolling is being carried out from San Francisco and
to date there has been no information concerning the
smuggling of arms across the border. Only one case
of unauthorized possession of arms has been noted; that
contained in this report.
/ s / J. C. McQueen
NA127/205/2
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Part of
larger Marine-GN effort to disarm the civilian populace,
monopolize violence-making capacities by the state. |
| |
•
|
Some
kind of personal conflict between Tercero and Benavides. |
| |
•
|
Ridiculous claim by Tercero: he bought the pistol
in Honduras so he could turn it in in Nicaragua. |
| |
•
|
"Loop-holes"? |
| |
•
|
Arms
smuggling from Honduras: no concrete information
received (in fact brisk and ongoing). Locals
pretty adept at hiding their arms from snooping
Marine-GN patrols. |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.26. pefley, report of patrol, darÍo.
|
Dario, Nicaragua
26 April, 1928.
From:
Second Lieutenant AP Pefley, U.S.M.C.
To:
The Commanding Officer
Via:
Commanding Officer, Dario
Subject:
Report of Patrol
1.
At 0600, April 23, 1928 I with eight men left Dario to
patrol the region around San Isidro. At the river
"Viego" [Viejo] we turned off the Real de la Cruz road
toward San Isidro. Traveled all day mapping the
main road and investigating side roads. Ambushed a
cross roads about four miles outside of San Isidro at
night. Entered San Isidro early in the morning
interviewing the shop-keepers and many natives.
All reported that they had had no trouble with bandits
and were not molested. Left for San Isidro after
making a map of the town, and proceeded toward Real de
la Cruz and Mangas. Unable to find road indicated
on map to these places; natives all saying we were on
the only road to Real de la Cruz. Proceeded South
and mapped a short distance in both directions on the
Leon-Matagalpa road. Entered a small village
called Jicote and camped for the night. Proceeded
back to Dario the following day arriving at 1600.
2.
The natives in this region seem very friendly especially
when treated properly and [ p. 2 ]
assured that the marines mean them no harm. The
store keepers in San Isidro and the natives along the
road all reported that everything was quite [quiet],
that they were not molested by bandits. There are
many comparative prosperous places along the Sebaco road
which bandits could loot were their motive purely
plunder.
3.
Conclusions:- It seems as though banditry in the
San Isidro region is more of the nature of a private
feud. On 13 April the bandits came to Sebaco took
a prisoner and robbed a store (other stores were not
bothered). That night my patrol missed them by an
hour. From information from a reliable native,
this gang lives in the hills south of Esteli. If
their motive was solely robbery, I do not believe they
would come all the way to such a poor place as Sebaco.
The
region around San Isidro is very sparsely populated,
water is scarce, and the few natives living in this
section seem peaceful and are friendly when given to
understand that the marines are in their country to
protect them from bandits.
The
country is dry, very dusty and in places rocky.
There are few places suitable for camps. The roads
are lined with thick underbrush. Very little of
the soil is cultivated.
Respectfully Submitted,
/ s / AR Pefley
2nd Lieut.
NA127/43A/20
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Mapping
patrol from Darío to San Isidro; Marines busily engaged
in mapping the roads, towns, etc. |
| |
•
|
No
reports of banditry in San Isidro. |
| |
•
|
Natives
friendly "when treated properly" and "when given to
understand that the marines are in their country to
protect them from bandits." |
| |
•
|
Interesting observations on banditry being about more
than plunder; "more in the nature of a private feud."
Here Pefley conflates "private feud" and disputes over
access to state offices. He's right that banditry
in the zone is about more than plunder, but wrong to
frame it as a "private feud." |
| |
•
|
Gang
living in hills south of Esteli; either Liberal or
Conservative (probably Conservative). |
| |
•
|
Sébaco:
"such a poor place." |
| |
•
|
Description of physical environment, social geography:
dry, dusty, rocky, scarce water, little cultivated soil
(this was cattle ranching country). |
PC-docs Inventory in excel file •
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28.04.28. mcqueen,
report of patrol, somotillo.
|
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Marine Detachment, USS Cleveland
Somotillo, Nicaragua.
From:
0000 - 22 April 1928
To:
2400 - 28 April 1928
I. Report of Patrol:
At 2300 24th of April,1928 1st
Sergeant Stock and four men and pack train of five mules
cleared Somotillo for San Francisco. Arrived there
at 1145 April 25, 1928. Cleared San Francisco at
1600 April 16, 1928, for La Jita, a small ranch house
where a bandit by the name of Bacadano [Verbónico
Vaquedano] was supposed to be recovering from wounds
received at Ocotal. Arrived at La Jita at 2000
April 26, searched houses in that vicinity but no trace
was found of this man. Natives reported that he
was in Nueva Segovia. Cleared La Jita at 2100
April 26, and patrolled to the border of Nueva Segovia
and returned to La Jita at 0730 April 27 and cleared
that place at 0900 same date for a patrol north to the
Honduras border to a mountain named Grande Pinas and
returned to San Francisco at 0800 April 28, 1928.
Cleared San Francisco at 1600 April 28 for Somotillo and
arrived there at 0015 April 29, 1928.
At 0400 April 24 Corporal Bell and four men cleared the
outpost at San Francisco on a patrol to the north and
east of that town. Returned at 0800 April 25.
II Intelligence
Report:
(A) San Francisco and vicinity.
1. Area quiet.
4. Food good.
2. People friendly.
5. Forage scarce.
3. Water excellent.
6. Pastures good.
7. Trails bad.
(B) Area in vicinity of Nueva Segovia border.
1. Area quiet.
4. Food good.
2. People friendly.
5. Forage scarce.
3. Water excellent.
6. Pastures good.
7. Trails fair.
(C) Area in vicinity of Honduras border north of
San Francisco.
1. Area quiet.
4. Food scarce.
2. People friendly.
5. Forage scarce.
3. Water fair.
6. Pastures poor.
7. Trails very bad.
/ s / J. C. McQueen
NA127/205/2
|
|
Summary & Notes |
| |
•
|
Verbónico Vaquedano, local outlaw (association with EDSN
never clear) |
| |
•
|
Searching houses in La Jita; how did locals feel about
snooping Marine patrols? |
| |
•
|
Nueva
Segovia Dept. presented as though it had a clear border
from León Dept. |
| |
•
|
Intelligence report: going through the motions;
hard to imagine more cursory summaries. |
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28.04.30. arnett, report
of patrol, matagalpa.
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HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION,
FIFTH REGIMENT, U.S. MARINE CORPS
MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA
30 April 1928.
From:
Captain Roscoe Arnett, U.S. Marine Corps.
To :
The District Commander, District of Matagalpa.
Via :
The Commanding Officer, Third Battalion, Fifth Regiment,
Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
Subject:
Report of Patrol.
Reference:
Confidential orders and indorsement thereon dated April
12, 1928.
1.
In obedience to reference (a), I left Matagalpa at 0730
on 24 April 1928, with 10 men, 2 pack mules and 5 days
rations. I proceeded in the direction of Fundadora.
Arriving within about 7 miles of Fundadora I left the
main road going East into the valley between the
Matagalpa - Fundadora and Matagalpa - Old Jinotega road.
Searched all houses in this valley from this point
North. At 1500 this date at Ocotal Espeso I found
a sick man, a stranger in the valley, well dressed and
answering somewhat to the description of Sandino.
Leaving my patrol as a guard I hired a horse from one of
the farm houses and returned to Matagalpa, with
information obtained, to check up on the sick man's
statement relative to receiving treatment from doctor
Reatt of Matagalpa and to ascertain the nature of his
illness;; also to obtain witnesses as to his identity as
I believed the man too sick to move, especially should
he not be the man wanted.
2.
After reporting to my Commanding Officer and obtaining
all information available I spent the night in
Matagalpa, returning to Ocotal Espeso accompanied by Mr.
G. Huper who volunteered to assist me in the
identification of the sick man. After questioning
the man and residents in the valley, some of them being
well known to Mr. Huper it was decided that the man in
question was a law-abiding citizen.
3.
The day of 25 April 1928 was spent in this same valley.
Among the houses visited was Mariano Castro; Utio
Castro; E. Benedido Castro [Benavides Castro] and
Mariano Uvedo, all ex-soldiers of Sandino, so I am
informed. All claimed to have been soldiers of
Moncada but stated that they had been home for over two
months. The appearance of their places, truck
gardens, repair of houses and fences and clearing of
land indicated that work had been in progress for some
time.
4.
The night of 25 - 26 and 26 - 27 April 1928 was spent at
Fundadora. The day of 26 April 1928 visited area
West of Fundadora and South of the Fundadora - Jinotega
trail. This took me to the house of Juan Uvedo
[Juan Ubeda] where I could again look into the valley
visited two days previous. Search with field
glasses showed work in progress that had been previously
observed. At the house of Juan Uvedo there
was found four (4) revolvers .32 caliber and four (4)
pistols 25 caliber automatic all in unserviceable
condition due to missing parts and rust. [ p. 2 ]
Condition plainly indicated that they had not been used
for a long time passed. There was also found spare
parts for fire-arms, about 100 empty brass cartridges
cases for various caliber pistols and rifles and two
brass tubes one inch in diameter and six inches long
plugged at one end and with powder vent in the other,
presumably a home made bomb. All contraband taken
and while returning through virgin forest pistols and
revolvers dismounted and parts thrown into inaccessible
places along with the spare parts, empty cartridge
cases, etc. I was informed that this man
manufactured contraband liquor and it is my opinion that
the weapons mentioned were taken in payment for liquor.
5.
The day of 27 April 1928 was spent between La Fundadora
and Aran Juez travelling via Aurora - Pariso [Paraiso] -
Laguna Verde and visiting houses along inland trails.
6.
On 28 April travelled from Aran Juez to Matagalpa via
Encuentros - Harmonica - San Louis [San Luis]. San
Louis is owned by a brother-in-law of Sandinos.
7.
Abundance of water was found everywhere. The
valley visited the first two days contains very little
food for animals except shelled corn. Quite a few
vegetables are grown here. Oranges out of season
now and bananas just coming in. All natives very
friendly and willing to assist in every way.
Gladly gave food, and services as guides without mention
of reward, payment, however, was made in cash in each
instance. To the East and South of Fundadora there
is plenty of water, food and shelter for men and
animals. All places visited appeared quiet and
were reported as such. No knowledge of any
disturbance in the past two months.
/ s / R. ARNETT
NA127/43A/20
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Summary & Notes |
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Description of "sick man" encountered on the trail,
suspicion he might be Sandino; merchant Guillermo Huper
offers to help, comes along, identifies the man as an
honest citizen. |
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Former
Liberal Moncadistas questioned in Ocotal Espeso re their
association with Sandino: 3 Castros and 1 Ubeda.
Reasonable investigation into their recent activities;
judged not involved with Sandino. |
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Firearms
found, but rusty and missing parts; continuing effort to
disarm the civil populace. |
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Contraband liquor suspected. |
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Finca
San Luis owned by a brother-in-law of Sandino: one
of the Arauz brothers. Pedro Antonio Arauz? |
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Friendliness of natives: cash paid for services
rendered. |
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No
recent disturbances reported. |
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