HEADQUARTERS

SECOND BRIGADE MARINE CORPS

MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

27 December 1927

 

B  -  2  REPORT

 

. . . (F)  MILITARY OPERATIONS: . . .

 

          On December 17th, Corporal Martin with a mounted patrol of nine enlisted Marines and a native guide cleared SOMOTO, for a period of three days, for the purpose of patrolling the area to the northwest.  At 1230, on December 18th, Corporal Martin, accompanied by two members of his patrol reported at SOMOTO with the word that his patrol had been attacked near MACUELIZE [Macuelizo], which is nine miles west of OCOTAL, by a force of approximately two hundred (200) well armed men, some of whom were wearing the uniform of the Honduranian troops.  In the early part of the engagement the patrol forced the enemy back to the village of MACUELIZE.  But, with their ammunition running low and under heavy fire Martin's men were forced to retreat unde down the RIO COCO; this move broke up the patrol and Corporal Martin, reporting in at SOMOTO stated that the six other men of his patrol had left for SOMOTO before him.  Later in the afternoon the native guide reported in at SOMOTO stating that the six other Marines, uninjured, were near the town of PARAISITE, about fourteen miles northeast of SOMOTO, and were requesting assistance.  A mounted patrol with Corporal Lukeshides in charge immediately left to re-enforce them.  Captain Peard also sent heavy re-enforcements direct to MACUELIZO, with Lieut. Wells, G.N., in charge.  (Upon the completion of their missions both of these patrols reported the patrolled area as quiet) at 1730, December 18th, five men of Corporal Martin's patrol reported in at OCOTAL without hats and mounts and stated that Private Callaway had been killed in action.

 

          At 1425, December 18th, Observation Squadron sent there planes to reconnoiter this area; upon the completion of their mission they reported that the area appeared quiet.  No bandit activity or groups were seen.  The people around the farms showed no fear of the planes even when they came down low.  The town of MACUELIZO is the only part of the area which could be called abnormal, as it appears nearly deserted, but, as it is the first time a patrol has been made in that direction it is not possible to say that this condition is only the ordinary or not. . . .

 

B-2 Report, 27 Dec 1927, Managua, pp. 3-4, NA127/43A/3

Ancillary Documents:

 

Statements of USMC Corporal Frederick F. Martin and Privates Gerald D. Kent, Wallace L. Jacobson, Edward J. Carter, Leo L. Lussier, George O. Smith, Leonard H. Taylor regarding the death of Private Calloway, Macuelizo, December 18, 1927.  All statements carry the heading "Marine Detachment, Somoto, Nic., 9 February 1928." 

*

STATEMENT OF CORPORAL FREDERIC F. MARTIN, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto, December 18, 1927.

 

          On December 17, 1927 I left Somoto with a patrol of nine men and one Native Guide for a four day patrol.  The first night out we camped at a ranch in San Luis and on the following morning proceeded to Macullizo where we were fired on by a large force of bandits well armed and organized.  After fighting them for about an hour and finding our rifle grenades defective we decided to withdraw.  Privates Smith, Taylor and myself stayed behind to cover the retreat of the remainder of the patrol where we intended joining them on the Somoto trail.  When we thought they were outside the town we mounted and started for the place we thought they were waiting for us but could not find them.  In the rear of us the bandits had both sides of the road covered and were trying to head us off.  They sniped us for about eight miles on our way to Somoto.  Private Calloway distinguished himself during the first attack and Private Carter did excellent work also.

 

                                                            / s /  Frederick F. Martin

                                                                        Corporal, U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE GERALD D. KENT, U.S.M.C.

relative to attack on a patrol from Somoto, Nic. December 18, 1927.

 

          I was a member of a patrol with eight other marines, Corporal Martin in charge, that left Somoto for a town called Macullizo on December 17, 1928.  The first night out we stopped at a place by the name of San Luis at a ranch house.  The next day we left at about 6:00 A.M. for Macullizo and on arriving at the town we were fired upon and took cover and fought for about forty five minutes.  During this attack Corporal Martin and two other men became separated from the squad and were not missed until we were out of the town.  Thinking that they were still in the town, we returned and fought our way back in the town but could not find the missing men.  Private Calloway then took charge and we started for Somoto.  When we were about two miles from San Luis we were again fired upon by a large force of bandits that had us surrounded in a pass between the hills.  Private Calloway was shot at this place and he called Private Carter and told him to take charge of the squad and get out if possible.  Private Carter then took charge and insisted that we remain with Private Calloway until he died which we did.  Private Carter then took charge and led us up the side of a mountain under a heavy fire in the direction of Ocotal.  After reaching the top of the hill Private Carter conducted the squad into Ocotal and reported to the Commanding Officer at that place.  At all times during the firing, Private Carter was cool and used good judgment.

 

                                                                       / s /  Gerald D. Kent,

                                                                                 Private, U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE WALLACE L. JACOBSON, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto, Nic. December 18, 1927.

 

          Our patrol of nine men left Somoto at 2:00 A.M. on December 17, 1927 for a four day patrol.  We arrived at Macullizo at about six O clock A.M. December 18th and were attacked.  We fought at this place for about an hour and withdrew from the town.  We had not moved more than a quarter of a mile from the town when we noticed that Corporal Martin, Private Taylor and Private Smith were missing.  Private Calloway then said lets go back in the town for them.  We got back into the town but could not find the remainder of our force and withdrew again due to the heavy fire we were under.  We then started for Somoto and had gone about seven miles when we were again fired upon by a large force that had us well ambushed at a place we could not take cover.  Private Calloway was killed here and before he died he urged Private Carter to take the rest of us out the best way he could.  Private Carter refused to leave until he had died and then led us up the side of a mountain in the direction of Ocotal.  We followed Carters instructions at all times.

 

                                                              / s /  Wallace L. Jacobson

                                                                           Private, U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE EDWARD J. CARTER, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto December 18, 1927.

 

     I left Somoto with a patrol December 17, 1927 for a four days patrol in the direction of Macullizo.  We arrived at Macullizo on the morning of the 18th and was fired upon by a large number of bandits.  We fought here for about an hour and as the fire was very heavy and the bandits closing in on us from all sides we withdrew from the town.  Just after we got out of the town, we missed Corporal Martin, Private Taylor and Private Smith.  Private Calloway then took charge and we decided to go back into the town for the missing men.  We fought our way back into the town but could not locate the men and had to withdraw again.  We then started for Somoto and after we had gone in that direction for about six miles we were again hit by a large force of bandits who had us ambushed from all sides.  At this point Private Calloway was shot several times and killed.  Before he died he urged that we all make a get away but I was determined not to leave him until he was dead.  I placed him in an upright position by a tree and remained with him until he was dead.  I then took his rifle bolt and threw it away and led the men over the hill in the direction of Ocotal to which place we arrived that night about six O clock and reported to the Commanding Officer.

 

                                                                          / s /  Edward J. Carter

                                                                                      Private U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE LEO L. LUSSIER, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto December 18, 1927.

 

          I was a member of a patrol that left Somoto, Nic. December 17, 1927 to be gone about four days.  We had nine men with Corporal Martin in charge.  We stopped the first night out at a ranch house in San Luis and left the next morning at about six O clock for Macuillizo.  Arriving at Macullizo we were fired upon by a large force of bandits who were located on all sides of the town in the hills.  We returned the fire and fought them for about an hour but as they kept closing in on us we decided to withdraw from the town.  During this action, Corporal Martin and two other men became separated from the squad.  Private Carter told us then that we all stood a better chance by sticking together and we all agreed to return to the town and find Corporal Martin and the other two men.  Private Calloway being in charge at this time.  We fought our way back into the town but as the fire was too heavy to remain there and, failing to find Corporal Martin and the other men, we withdrew in the direction of Somoto.  On our way to Somoto we were again attacked by a large force of bandits who had us ambushed in a pass between the mountains.  At this point Private Calloway was shot.  We fought here for about thirty minutes.  Although Calloway did not die instantly he told us to seek our own safety.  Carter then took charge and placed Calloway beside a tree and remained with him until he died making the remark that we would not leave him there alive.  He then led us up the mountain side in the direction of Ocotal and we made our escape to that place.  It is my belief that if Private Carter had not taken charge of the situation when he did none of us would have gotten away.  He was cool and used good judgment at all times.

 

                                                                       / s /  Leo L. Lussier,

                                                                                   Private, U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE GEORGE O. SMITH, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto December 18, 1927.

 

     I was a member of a patrol that left Somoto December 17, 1927 for a four day patrol with Corporal Martin in charge.  On the following day, early in the morning, we arrived at Macullizo and were fired upon by a large force of bandits.  We fought them for about an hour but as our rifle grenades failed to go off and they were closing in on us from all sides we had to quit the town.  We thought we would all come together on the Somoto trail but after we got out of the town we found that only Corporal Martin, myself, and Private Taylor was present.  Thinking they had gone on to Somoto we proceeded to that place and found that they had not returned.

 

                                                                      / s /  George O. Smith

                                                                                  Private, U.S.M.C.

 

---

 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE LEONARD H. TAYLOR, U.S.M.C.

relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto December 18, 1927.

 

     I was a member of the patrol that left Somoto December 17, 1927, Corporal Martin in charge for a four day patrol.  On the second day out we arrived at Macullizo early in the morning and on entering the town we were fired on by bandits.  We fought them for quite a while killing and wounding several but as they kept closing in on us we had to leave the town.  In leaving the town, Corporal Martin, myself and Private Smith became separated from the other members of the patrol and could not find them on the Somoto trail where we expected to meet them.  We returned to Somoto and found that the remaining six had not returned.

 

                                                                          / s /  Leonard H. Taylor

                                                                                     Private, U.S.M.C.

 

 

NA127/204/3

 

 

DIVISION OF NUEVA SEGOVIA

OCOTAL , NICARAGUA

 

                                                              19 December 1927

 

From:          Lieut. D.E.Wells, G.N.

To:              The Division Commander.

 

Subject:       Patrol, report on.

 

     1.          Cleared Ocotal  on 18 December 1927 at 7:15 p.m. with Dr. Townsend, twenty marines, one guardia and native guide.  Arrived in the vicinity of Macuelizo a 4:00 a.m. on 19 December 1937 [1927].  At 5:30 a.m. we took up a position overlooking the town.  We entered the town shortly afterwards as there did not appear to be any one there.  We found one old lady was the sole inhabitant.  She said fifty or sixty bandits had been there the day before and had left in the afternoon.  She did not know whether there were any Honduranian soldiers among them or not.  Three houses contained beds and other furniture and showed signs of having been occupied frequently.  We departed at 7:30 a.m. for Amatillo and when about two thousand yards from there were could see the people running towards the top of the mountain.  There are about ten houses at Amatillo scattered over the side of a mountain.  At one house there was a woman and three daughters.  She said the men seen running from her house were bandits; that a large group of bandits had camped on top of the mountain the night before and had started towards Honduras early the morning.  About one mile from there, on our return to Ocotal, we saw several barricades built of rocks.  These were on top of a mountain and had been built within the last couple of days.  We did not see any of the large group of bandits reported in that vicinity the day before.  We reached Ocotal 720 p.m. on December 19 1927.

 

     2.           This patrol went out with the idea of staying several days and living off the country.  This was impossible as there is nothing to be had in the way of food stuffs with the exception of cattle.  There are many cattle scattered over this area.

 

     3.          From what we could learn all of the people living in this area are bandits but are active only when a large group comes over from Honduras or some other place.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D.E.WELLS - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

NA127/43A/20

 

 

MARINE DETACHMENT, JICARO, NICARAGUA

23 December 1927.

 

From:          Sgt. F. G. Smith, U.S.M.C.

To:              The Commanding Officer

 

Subject:       Report of contact between a patrol from Jicaro under my charge

                   and bandits on 5 December 1927.

 

     1.     On 5 December, 1927, I received verbal orders from Lt. Waterman to take charge of a patrol of 10 marines and 10 Guardias and proceed by the road to Ocotal to meet the bull cart train coming from San Fernando.

 

     2.     We cleared Jicaro at 0805 and passed thru SUSU CAYAN at 1000.  We had just passed a ranch called San Pedro at 1040 when we heard a bomb explode.  Very soon after this a guardia fired a shot at a man he saw in the underbrush.  Immediately after this a bomb was thrown in the road in front of us and everybody took cover except one guardia who was killed.

 

     3.     This guardia's name was Raso Marcos Fonseca #39.  After the others had taken [cover] he remained standing in the road and was immediately killed by a bullet thru his chest from rifle fire of the bandits that commenced immediately after the explosion of the second bomb.

 

     4.     The Marines and Guardia took advantage of what little cover was available.  We were in a position in the shape of a V and were being fired on from two hills and a valley.  It is estimated that about 40 bandits made the first attack but they were soon reenforced and the began to close in from all sides.  We drove them out of the valley, by which they were endeavoring to get closer to us, by rifle grenades.  The guardia were driven back from their position, but soon held the bandits in check.  The fighting lasted in this place for about one hour and twenty five minutes, the bandits throwing a lot of dynamite bombs as well as firing their rifles.  We decided to fight our way to a hill so rushed one in our rear.  We gained this and the enemy withdrew, not attacking anymore.

 

     5.     In the first part of the battle Pvt M. Brown's B.A.R. failed to extract and the empty cartridge could not be taken from the chamber.  He therefor put his B.A.R. and belt on the ground removing the trigger group and crawled over to the dead guardia to get his rifle.  Pvt Brown buried his trigger group.  The bolt of one Springfield broke near the end, another failed to extract, and two others were put out of commission by projectiles becoming lodged in the barrel due to faulty powder.  All of this happened in the first part of the fighting.

 

     6.     After the fighting was over Raso Valentin Galeno [Valentín Galeano] #5 could not be found.  He later reported back to Jicaro.

 

     7.     The bandits were all similarly dressed, wearing brown uniforms which afforded them excellent concealment in the underbrush.  They seemed to be well armed with rifles and had a great many dynamite bombs which they threw often but which had no effect on our men.  One of their leaders spoke English very clearly and could be heard to curse the Marines at different times saying "Kill those damn marines".  I estimate that they had about 200 men.  We know of 8 that were killed and saw several of our rifle grenades explode right where there were others so estimate about 30 bandits killed.

 

     8.     The Marines and Guardia on this patrol fought well and were calm during the entire fight.  The guardia were inclined to fire too much at random but they all fought well.  Discipline was excellent.

 

                                                                     Fred G. Smith

NA127/212/1

                                                                  Quilali, Nicaragua.

                                                                     January 31, 1928

                                                                     [actually December 31, 1927]

 

From:          Commanding Officer, Special Expedition against Chipote.

To:              The Brigade Commander.

 

Subject:       Engagement with bandits.

 

     1.          At about 0930, January December 30, 1927, while marching on Quilali, this expedition encountered a bandit force of Sandino, estimated at 400 to 500 strong on the Camina [Camino] Real, about 1500 yards south of Quilali.  The action continued on for about one hour and twenty minutes when the enemy was driven off.

 

     2.          At the time the enemy force was encountered, this force was marching single file on a narrow trail along the side of a mountain with the Jicaro river on our left (west) flank.  The mountain sloped at an angle of about 45 degrees and the slope from the trail to the river 100 feet below us was about the same.  The river at this point was about 200 feet wide and made a sharp turn to the west, and side of the mountain, and a hill directly ahead flanking the trail at the bend was covered with woods and extremely heavy underbrush.  A sketch, showing the general situation, not to scale, is enclosed.

 

     3.           As our point passed point "A", a midway point to "B", it observed suspicious movements at point "B".  Fire was immediately opened by enemy from point "A" and "B" all along the line "C", and from across the river from point "E", with machine guns, automatic rifles, rifles, pistols, dynamite bombs, and unidentified weapons sounding similar to our trench mortars and mountain batter guns.  Enemy guns and riflemen were cleverly concealed; the riflemen being along the barbed wire fence on the mountain slope, each man being ab behind an individual barricade of rocks piled around tree stumps about 15" high and wide.  Fire was opened simultaneously from all points by the enemy on discovery of this point at "B", but it is believed that this was not in accordance with his plans as our examination of the trail north of "B" disclosed that he had prepared positions along the trail thru a banana grove, and it is believed that it was his plan to allow the advance guard to enter the trail in the banana grove, and strike the entire column simultaneously.  The discipline maintained, the morale, and the accuracy of fire of the bandits, as well as the tactical disposition of their troops were far above anything displayed by them in any of their actions heretofore in this section and leads to the belief that they are receiving training from sources other than Nicaraguans because of the up-to-dateness of their tactics.  All enemy seen were garbed in clothing similar to our summer field in color.  No prisoners could be captured because of the superiority of the enemy's position and the fat that they removed their casualties with them.  [ p. 2 ]

 

     4.     (a)  Bandit leaders unknown.

             (b)  No mounts seen.

             (c)  Aerial assistance - none of our planes were present during engagement but two planes arrived immediately after, strafed the hills in the direction given by us and departed.

 

     5.     CASUALTIES:

 

              Marines:-

 

(a)  KILLED:     HEMPHILL, John W.      1st Sgt.  (Lt. GN)

                          THIEIHART, Adolph          Cpl.

                          GOLDSMITH, George E.   Pfc.

                          WATSON, Grady W.         Pfc.

                          CROSSON, Estler              Pvt.

 

(b)  WOUNDED, seriously-

     

                          LIVINGSTON, Richard         Captain

                          CORYALL, Fred                    Gy-Sgt.

                          COLLINS, Robert H.              Pvt.

                          TURNER, Charles E.               Pvt.

                          COYNE, Berhnard W.            Pvt.

                          SMITH, Leonard J.                 Pvt.

 

(c)  MINOR WOUNDS - Fragments of bombs, etc.

 

                         MINNICK, William T.             Lt. (MC) USN

                         ROOS, Otto N.                       Sgt.

                         GOULD, Moses, J.                 1st Lieut.

                         FIELDS, Scott                         Sgt.

                         NEEL, John W.                       Cpl. (Lt GN)

                         LEACH, Anthony J.                Cpl.

                         BRANDENBURG, Raleigh R. Pfc.

                         DOWD, Thomas F.                 Pfc.

                         BLANCHARD, Harry M.       Pfc.

                         LITTLE, Jacob                        Pvt.

                         FITZPATRICK, Arthur L.       Pvt.

                         NEWBURGER, Albert H.       Pvt.

                         ENDRESS, Clifford C.            Pvt.

                         MERCHANT, William C.        Pvt.

                         HUSKA, Paul                          Pvt.

                         SMITH, Glenn                         Pvt.

                         WALKER, Edgar, B.               Pvt.

 

                              GUARDIA -

 

(a)  KILLED:    HEMPHILL, John W.              Lt. (See above under Marines)

                         HERNANDEZ, Enriques         Cpl. #356

 

(b)  Wounded seriously:-

 

                        GARCIAS, Louis C.                Pvt. # 49

                        GUTIERREZ, Policarpo           Pvt. #355

                             (not expected to live)  

                             [ p. 3]

 

(c)  WOUNDED, not seriously:

 

                       NEEL, John N.      Lt.  (See above under Marines)

 

                         NATIVE GUIDE:

                     

                         Killed:  SALINI, Ramon.

 

                         BANDITS:

 

                                       Losses unknown, but believed to be heavy.

 

                        PRISONERS:

 

                                       None.

 

(6)   Medical Officer considers it necessary that all listed as seriously wounded be evacuated immediately because of lack of facilities for proper care.

 

(7)   Pack train badly shot up and scattered, report of losses of stores and animals will follow later.

 

(8)   No losses of ammunition or weapons known at present.  Check up being made.

 

(9)   Check of ammunition expenditures being made.

 

(10)   Further details later.

 

(11)   Dead will be buried here.

 

(12)   Captain Livingston was wounded immediately after action started and the undersigned has assumed command pending arrival of Lieutenant Richal.

 

                                                    M. J. GOULD,

                                                    1st Lieutenant, USMC,

                                                                 Commanding.

 

Sketch of Scene of Action

Capt. Livingston's Column

30 December 1927.

 

NA127/212/1 and /113C/12

See also Neill Macaulay, The Sandino Affair (Duke 1985), pp. 99-100.