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Gavino Bucardo, 'first class fighting man', goes home to plant a crop

     This brief report on an interview with a rebel soldier on leave from the army highlights several key features of the year-old rebellion.  For one, its ranks were filled with campesinos (rural folk), whose livelihoods depended on planting and harvesting corn, beans, and other staple crops.  Thus, the ranks of the rebel army would shrink with the coming of the spring rains.  The "oath" refers to the Marine & Guardia practice of compelling former rebels to pledge their allegiance to the constitutional government in Managua.
 
     Gavino Bucardo's comments about "Jiron" (General Manuel María Girón Ruano) are also noteworthy.  In the war's first year Girón ranked among Sandino's top commanders (on the discipline exercised by Girón's troops at Bonanza Mines in April 1928, see above; on his growing estrangement from Sandino, and capture and execution by the Marines & Volunteers, see below).  The rebels' impoverished material circumstances as described here also accord with much other evidence.  Finally, the Marine & Guardia's failed efforts to persuade Bucardo to ally with them illustrate core campesino values of autonomy and independence, and underscore the polarizing dynamics of the war, with both sides growing increasingly insistent that, for non-combatants, there was no viable middle ground.  (Photo:  unknown Sandinista soldier, detail of photo of Gen. Manuel María Girón Ruano and members of his general staff, April 1928, US National Archives; full photo appears below).


HEADQUARTERS FIFTH REGIMENT AND
SECOND BRIGADE MARINE CORPS
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA
8 October 1928

B-2 REPORT
FROM: 0000 1 October 1928
To: 2400 8 October 1928

[ p. 7] ... Two bandits surrendered at Jinotega 14 September and gave following information:
 
Gavino Bucardo, with a house in San Esteban, north of Jinotega. A fine upstanding Indian and first class fighting man. Soldier of Jiron. Left about July 4 or 5 by permission to plant a crop. Says any soldier of Jiron can get this permission. Says Jiron is a good commander. Took oath, but says does not want to be guide for us as they will kill him if they see him. Says Jiron had one Lewis and one Thompson when he left, with about 100 men, four to eight rounds of ammunition each. Bucardo looks to be a type of man that if we can get him on our side will be of much use. At present has no intention of helping us. Brought in by Toribio Chavarria, bull-cart contractor.


IR28.10.08: 7, RG127/43A/3

 

 

Gen. Manuel María Girón Ruano and members of his general staff, April 1928, US National Archives

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