29 March 1922.  "Interesting Report Made By the Engineer don Camilo Castellón about the Limay-San Albino Road."  El Centroamericano, León, Nicaragua.

This newspaper article, published five years before Sandino's rebellion began, offers an exceptionally evocative description of the region of Las Segovias.  It therefore seems like a good place to begin these "Top 100" documents.  It also provides, as the headline promises, an interesting account of the building of the Limay-San Albino road in 1920.  Its author, Camilo Castellón, an engineer and landowner who lived for many years in the Segovian town of Pueblo Nuevo, was intimately involved in the road-building project.  He knew the region well.  (Right:  map showing the 100-mile route of the Limay-San Albino road)

 

In August 1928, more than six years after publishing this article, Castellón was seized and held for several days by Sandinista rebels under General Miguel Angel Ortéz.  After his ordeal he wrote a long and detailed account of his captivity, also reproduced in the Top 100 (here).  So even though this 1922 newspaper article is not an intelligence report, it is included here because of its vivid descriptions of the Segovian physical and human landscape, and because it provides a useful context for documents to follow.  (Left: photograph of Camilo Castellón, from Anastasio Somoza Garcia, El verdadero Sandino, Managua, 1926, p. 95)

 

An English translation follows the Spanish.  For a more detailed map of the road, on a digitized version of the 1934 US Army map that resulted from the US occupation, click here. 

 

 

El Centroamericano, León 22 de Marzo de 1922   Interesante Reportaje Hecho al Sr. Ingeniero don Camilo Castellon, Sobre La Carretera Limay-San Albino, Etc.        Respondiendo a nuestras preguntas el Ingeniero Castellón, se expreso así:        La carretera Limay-San Albino, es de 10 pies de ancho y tiene una longitud de cien millas; arranca de Limay, pasa por Pueblo Nuevo, Yalagüina, Totogalpa, Ocotal, Mozonte, "San Fernando," Suscayán y Ula.  El 5 de Enero de 1920 dimos principio a los estudios y localización de la ruta, partiendo el referido pueblo de Limay, y el 25 de Marzo del mismo año llegamos al mineral de San Albino con dicha operación, después de pasar por las poblaciones mencionadas, por Hatos, Valles, y Caserios, por Cañadas profundas, de salvar alturas considerables de diferente indole, tanto por su topografía fragosa, como por su vegetación, de cruzar montes, cerranías de gigantescos pinares, montañas virgenes, torrentes, malezas, páramos, pampas, arroyos, cañadas, ríos y riachuelos.         Entre el punto de partida y Pueblo Nuevo, por ejemplo, se dominaron las largas y empinadas cuestas de "Tranqueras" y de "El Cerco de Piedra" hasta llegar a los llanos del sitio "San Francisco," que están en la cima de la cordillera y que no es otra, dicho sea de paso, nada menos, sino la de los "Andes," pues en ese punto se dividen las aguas con rumbo a los océanos Atlántico y Pacífico.         Dichos llanos están a 3.600 pies sobre el nivel del mar y a 2.750 sobre el nivel del punto de partida de la carretera de que se trata.  Allí fué donde quedó vencida la primera dificultad técnica y práctica de la serie, que presentó todo el resto de la ruta de que nos ocupamos.  De los susodichos llanos se bajó a Pueblo Nuevo venciendo resistencias análogas a las anteriores.  Lo mismo, más o menos, sucedió entre Pueblo Nuevo y Ocotal, y entre esta ciudad y San Albino, en cuyo largo trecho se dominaron 103 incomodidades, entre cuestas grandes y pequeñas, resbaladeros espantosos, ríos y quebradas de aguas diamantinas, abundantes, que ora se deslizan mansamente sobre su lecho de gruesa y blanca arena, ora saltando bulliciosas sobre riscos y peñascos de cuarzo, de pizarra, o de granito.  Dos de ellas arrastran, aunque en pequeña cantidad, oro entre sus limpidas arenas.         Apesar de estar autorizados para usar hasta el 15% de gradiente máxima, en distancias cortas de 200 pies, esto sin embargo no se aprovecho, sino en rarísimos casos, con lo cual subieron de punto las dificultades, pues para vencer o dominar tales alturas, con pendientes moderadas, hubo necesariamente de aumentar la distancia, como paso entre el pie de la cuesta te "Tranquera" y los llanos de "San Francisco" y la descendida de allí hasta "El Paso del Mango," puntos de gran diferencia de nivel y relativamente cercanos.  Y así por el estilo sucedió el todo el resto de la línea.        El trabajo de construcción lo comenzamos el 26 de Enero, esto es 21 días después de empezados los estudios.  El primer campamento lo organimos en "El Carrizal" con todos los servicios, herramientas, instrumentos, útiles, explosivos y viveres indispensibles.  Las planillas quincenales subieron en algunos casos hasta ciento cincuenta trabajadores ("tarelleros" al día, o contratistas), fuera del movimiento de negociantes y de vivanderas ocasionado.  El trabajo fué interrumpido durante 15 o 20 días por causa de dos propietarios que se oponían al cruse de sus propiedades.  Esto fue en la construcción, pues durante los estudios no dieron nada.        Cuando esto sucedio nos encontrabamos en "San Albino" concluyendo el trazo; inmediatamente regresamos a reorganizarlo y el trabajo siguío su marca bonancible.        Se hacieron excavaciones de consideración, relienos, y un puente de solida y gruesa madera y las curvas, codos y tangentes, como las gradientes, de conformidad con las leyes de la técnica y con el contrato.  Se consumió regular cantidad de dinamita, mecha y fulminante, y eso le dara á Ud. una idea de la dureza del terreno con que se tropezó.  En la localización de la línea se cruzaron varias propiedades de particulares, situadas en terrenos propios, municipales ó nacionales.        La carretera fue construida a expensas de la compania del mineral "San Albino," compuesta de los Sres. Carlos Butters y O. W. Davenport, Gerente que fue del mineral "La Grecia," jurisdicción de Limay.  El Dr. Dn. Bruno Mierisch, apoderado del Sr. Davenport, fue quien me escribió para que le ayudara en el trazo y construcción de dicha obra.  El Sr. Ernesto Manchester ayudo eficazmente como cajero y en la construcción, dando y recibiendo tareas y contratos.  El Gbno. que presidio el Gral. Emiliano Chamorro, ayudo con diez mil dólares a dicha compañia, es decir, como con cien dólares por cada milla.  La compañia gastaría otro tanto.      El Gbno. comisionó al Ingeniero Alfonso Iglesias Tinoco para recibir las secciones de Limay a Pueblo Nuevo, y de este lugar a El Ocotal; y su servidor fue el comisionado para entregarlas y dar las explicaciones del caso.  El Sr. Iglesias se manifestó satisfecho del trabajo y así lo comunicó al Gobierno.        Mi amigo el Dr. Dn. Bruno Mierisch ha sido factor importantísimo en el desarrollo de esas empresas y trabajos.  Lo que cuestan las carreteras costeadas exclusivamente por el Gbno. en Managua, Chontales, etc., entiendo que puede saberse en la Memoria de Fomento presentada por el Ministro del ramo correspondiente al año de 1920.        Para concluir, le diré sin temor de equivocarme, que la zona cruzada por la carretera "Limay-San Albino," es una de las más bellas y ricas del mundo.  Abierta al tráfico público como lo está ya (pues solo con destino á "San Albino," con maquinarias, herramientas, tuberias y otros útiles, han salido desde aquí más 300 carretas) puede allí encontrar lleno á sus aspiraciones en ese pedazo de "Paraiso Terrenal," el minero, el agricultor, el poeta, el filosofo, el artista, el profesional, el artesano y el proletario.        Los terrenos son propios para casi todos los cultivos del mundo, como por ejemplo, el trigo, el maíz, los frijoles, el café, el cacao, la caña de azúcar, las verduras de toda clase, el millon, las frutas, plátanos y bananos, así como también para la cria de animales de corral y ganados de asta y casco.  La Flora, Fauna, Mineralogía, Geología, Ethográfica y Paleantología, variada, rica e interesante:  se encuentran minerales de oro, plata, cobre, hierro, yeso, marmol, cal, pizarra, cuarzo, gránito legítimo, y no es remoto que también Lignito, Hulia y Antracita, plantas medicinales, texiles, de tinte, de construcción y para la ebanisteria; desde el terreno primario hasta el cuaternario y del de la época del "Mamohud" o del "Gran Elefante," hasta la del "Megaterium," focil restaurado por Cuvier.         Todo convida al trabajo en esa encantadora region, especie de Suiza por su topografía y panomaramas naturales:  su benigno y saludable clima; la riqueza y feracidad de su tierra, montes y montañas; de sus dilatadas cerranías de ocotes y de robles; de sus llanerías alrombradas de grama; de sus ríos y quebradas, de aguas puras, mansas o impetuosas, que en su interesante serpenteo muchas de ellas forman cuadros dignos del pincel de Rafael, de Greco ó de Velásquez.        Es, en fin, sin exageración, una zona en donde la naturaleza se presenta con toda su grandeza, con todo su esplendor; adornada con la variedad de sus aves de diferentes especies, gorgeos y plumajes; con los frios de la madrugada; los encantos crepusculares; los rigores de un sol tropical; los celajes de la tarde que matiza el sol poniente y con las estrellas de la noche; zona siempre acariciada, unas veces por el céfiro y otra por grandes aquilones.     TRANSLATION:   Interesting Report Made By the Engineer Sr. Camilo Castellon on the Limay-San Albino Road, Etc.          Responding to our questions, the engineer Castellón says the following:        The Limay-San Albino road is 10 feet wide and 100 miles long; beginning in Limay, it passes through Pueblo Nuevo, Yalagüina, Totogalpa, Ocotal, Mozonte, "San Fernando," Suscayan, and Ula.  On 5 January 1920 we began our studies to determine the route, departing the referenced town of Limay, and on 25 March of the same year we arrived at the San Albino Mine with said operation, after passing through the aforementioned populations, through cattle ranches, valleys, and hamlets, past deep canyons, clearing high altitudes of different kinds, as much for their rugged topography as for their vegetation, crossing mountainsides covered with gigantic pines, virgin mountains, torrents, thickets, moors, plains, streams, canyons, rivers, and creeks.         From the point where it leaves Pueblo Nuevo, for example, the large pine-covered peakes of "Tranqueras" and "El Cerco de Piedra" dominate, until one arrives at the plains of "San Francisco," which are at the top of the mountain range that is nothing less, say what you will, than an extension of the Andes, because in this village the waters divide in their paths toward the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.         Said plains are 3,600 feet above sea level and 2,750 feet above the level of the starting point of the road.  That was where the first technical and practical difficulty was surmounted, which occupied us for the rest of the route.  From said plains one descends to Pueblo Nuevo, overcoming obstacles analogous to those that came before.  The same, more or less, occur between Pueblo Nuevo and Ocotal, and between that city and San Albino, in whose long distance were overcome 103 inconveniences, among them steep slopes and shallow, frightful chutes, rivers and gorges of abundant diamond waters,  ...          The zone crossed by the Limay-San Albino road is one of the most beautiful and rich in all the world. . . . [In] its benign and healthful climate, the richness and fertility of its land, hills, and mountains, its vast groves of ocote pines and oaks, its plains filled with grasses, its rivers and ravines, its pure waters, . . . nature presents itself it all its grandeur. . . . The land is suitable for most any type of crop in the world, for example wheat, corn, beans, coffee, sugar cane, vegetables of all types, melons, fruits, plátanos and bananas, and much the same for breeding corral animals and horned and hoofed livestock.  The flora, fauna, mineralogy, geology, ethnography, and paleontology is varied, rich, and interesting: there are mines of gold, silver, copper, iron, chalk, marble, lime, slate, quartz, and real granite that is not too far distant, and also lignite, coal and anthracite, plants for medicines, textiles, dyes, construction, and for botany. . . .   [ in progress ]

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21 June 1927.   Statement of Charles Butters on Sandino's Return to San Albino Mine in Late May 1927.

In mid-1926 Sandino returned from exile in Mexico and went up to the San Albino Mine in the northeastern Segovias, owned by US citizen Charles Butters, where he got a job as a pay clerk.  As the civil war between Liberals and Conservatives heated up in the summer and fall of 1926, Sandino organized the nucleus of what later became his Defending Army.  In late October 1926, Sandino and the mine workers rose up in rebellion against the Conservative regime dominated by Emiliano Chamorro and Adolfo Díaz.  In early November, Sandino's Liberal rebels attacked the Conservative garrison at El Jícaro.  Over the next seven months, as civil war ravaged the country, Sandino emerged as one of the top Liberal generals, at one point commanding upwards of 1,000 troops. 

 

When the Liberal Commanding General José María Moncada (at the behest of ousted Liberal President Juan Bautista Sacasa) signed the Espino Negro Accord (or Treaty of Tipitapa) on 4 May 1927, Sandino became the only Liberal general not to to disarm.  Instead he and a small number of followers headed back up to San Albino Mine to begin their rebellion against the vendepatria (country-seller) Moncada and the US Marine intervention. 

 

The following account is by the mine owner, Charles Butters, on Sandino's return to the San Albino Mine in late May 1927.  It offers not only a concrete narrative of events, but insights into the discourse used by Sandino to mobilize followers, the nature of his nationalist message and vision, and how that message and vision resonated among Segovianos.

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6 December 1927.   L. J. Matteson on Sandino's Seizure of San Albino Mine in June 1927.

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23 February 1928.  Statements of Prisoners Anastasio Rugama and Eudovio Cornejo, Sandinistas Captured in Jinotega. 

In February 1928, after the Marine offensive at El Chipote, the Sandinista rebels abandoned their 'mountain fortress' and swept south through the rich coffee districts of Jinotega before heading east to raid the US-owned mining companies of the Atlantic Coast Region.  The following account summarizes the intelligence gleaned from two Sandinistas, captured by the Marines, who were recruited by Sandino's forces as they traversed Jinotega's coffee districts (the area circled on the map to the right, just east and north of the city of Jinotega). 

 

Their accounts, like all such prisoner statements, must be read mindful of their likely desire to minimize their allegiance to the rebel cause.  This report, filtered through interrogators, nonetheless helps us to better understand the character of the still-forming rebellion; the intersection of Sandinista and Liberal-Conservative political struggles; and the emerging relationship between Sandinistas and Jinotega coffee workers.  In later years, such workers would comprise the backbone of the Sandinista movement in Jinotega -- the "hottest" zone of rebel activity in the peak years of the rebellion (1930-32).

 

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH REGIMENT SECOND BRIGADE MARINE CORPS MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA. 23 February 1928.   From:          The Commanding Officer, Fifth Regiment. To:              The Brigade Commander.   Subject:       Apprehension of Sandinistas.   1.     Two prisoners named EUDOVIO CORNEJO and ANASTACIO RUGAMA were apprehended by First Lieutenant Orr's patrol on the coffee finca Fundadora on the early morning of 22 February.  This patrol was sent out from Major Rockey's battalion.  These prisoners were turned over on the same date to the Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, at Matagalpa, and are at present in close confinement in the native Cuartel.   2.     These prisoners gave the following information.  They joined Sandino upon his visit to the Fundadora finca, being promised a rifle, a mount, much loot and a life of ease.  They deserted him at Santa Elena, a days march from Las Cuchillas, on the morning of the 17th of February because they were given neither rifle nor mount and were forced to keep up on foot with Sandino's mounted column.  A Francisco Castrilla, of Jinotega spoke to the coffee pickers encouraging them to join Sandino's ranks.  The Jefes [Chiefs] under Sandino were Carlos Salgado, Montoya, Giron and Joaquin Lobo.  The latter makes Las Robles his headquarters where he is playing both political sides but working in Sandino's interests.  (Request Major Rockey be advised of this by plane.)  They also state that Sandino is going to the east coast via the same route taken by him during the revolution, the Rio Coco to Puerto Cabezas where he will obtain arms and men, and from where he can communicate with his friends abroad.  Sandino has with him, they estimate, two hundred armed men and two hundred unarmed, mostly mounted.  His ammunition supply appears to be scarce.  He succeeded in recruiting many natives in the Matagalpa Coffee Region but had no rifles for them.  They know of ten men who joined from the Fundadora.  Planes passed over them several times when they were ordered to hide in the heavy brush and were told not to fire on the planes.  Both prisoners claim to have seen two machine guns with Sandino's troops; one large and one small; also, one pack mule carrying ammunition for machine guns.  Both prisoners state that there is a group of fifty outlaws operating out of PASO REAL, northeast of Jinotega, at night.   3.     In the event of trial the following witnesses may be called: First Lieutenant William W. Orr Pompilio Reyes Mr. Frankel, - Fundadora. 4.     It is recommended that I be authorized to send these prisoners to Managua for confinement in the Penitentiary. --- /s/ --- B. S. Berry M28.02.23 RG127/220/2

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20 March 1928.   Interview with Jerónimo Ríos, Trader Familiar with Trails from Matagalpa to East Coast.

This intelligence memorandum summarizes the information gleaned from a trader who made regular circuits between Spanish-speaking Western Nicaragua and the mostly Indian and Creole zones of the Atlantic Coast Region.  This was just as Sandino and his men, hundreds strong, were traveling east on their way to raid the mining districts of the East Coast.  The report sheds light on the Marines' ignorance of the physical geography of Nicaragua; the social and physical geography of the vast sparsely inhabited zones east of Matagalpa; the ambivalence of East Coast Indians toward the rebellion; and the antagonism between property-owners like Rios and the Sandinistas, among other things.

 

 

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICTS OF MATAGALPA AND JINOTEGA MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA 20 MARCH 1928   INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM:        A native by the name of JEREMOIS RIOS, a trader, was questioned at Matagalpa, on 16 March 1928, and gave the following information.        Rios purchases merchandise such as coffee, clothing, and food stuffs at Managua and Matagalpa and sells his wares on a trail leading to the East Coast, Prinzapolca, and on the East Coast.  The trail followed is called the PICADO REAL.  It takes him eighteen days from Matagalpa to reach the East Coast traveling at the rate of six leagues a day by pack animal during the dry season and from twenty-two to twenty-five days in the wet season.  There are some large fords encountered during the rainy season at the RIO GRANDE.  There are boats a available at these places to transport travelers which have a capacity of four.  The fords at the rivers IRAS and UANI have boats with a capacity of ten.  There are only Indian settlements along this trail.  The Indians he claims are very friendly and do not discuss Sandino.  He heard nothing about the possibility of Sandino coming in their direction and heard nothing while on the East Coast about Sandino coming there for arms or other aid.  He reports that to him everything appeared quite [quiet] at PUERTO CABEZAS.  He only feared Sandino when he approached TUMA as he had heard that some of Sandino's men had been near there, the trail otherwise seemed peaceful.      He states that this trail is over very rugged country and very mountainous, at times, the rivers are high.  The timber along this trail is considered the best in Nicaragua.  The only food which can be brought on this journey is food beans, and rice, corn can be purchased for the pack animals.  He states that there are no mosquitos until reaching the East Coast.  Shelter can be procured for at least twenty men at the villages.  These shelters are the straw hut variety.  Rios is making another trip in May.  This month is still dry in the area passing over, July being the most rainy month.  Rios owns a small piece of land one half mile south of Matagalpa. A. C. Larsen M28.03.20a RG127/209/1

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20 March 1928.  Report of Anonymous Spy on Mission to Darailí and San Rafael del Norte.

Darailí was a good-sized ranch and coffee farm in a strategically important location at the crossroads between the Ocotal and Jinotega districts.  It was owned by Moisés González, an elderly Liberal who supported Sandino during the civil war and for about the first ten months or so of the rebellion (May 1927-March 1928), until the polarizing dynamics of the war compelled him to choose sides.  Soon after this report was written, González switched sides and allowed the Marines & Guardia to station troops at his ranch.  For the rest of the war he was on the Sandinista "hit list" as a traitor.  The report, written soon after the Sandinista victory in the Battle of Bramadero near Darailí, offers insights into the rebellion's material circumstances; political identities and layers of truth and deception; the sophistication of at least some early Marine-Guardia efforts to gather intelligence; and some the politics involved in the growing rebellion. 

 

Managua, Nicaragua. March 20, 1928.          On the 15th of March I arrived in Pueblo Nuevo having passed through Condega.  I stayed at Bej. Almendarez Calderons' house.  He told me that the machine gun and 5000 rounds of ammunition that Lopez Irias had hid had been given to Sandino by Calderon.        With the information that Moises Gonzales would be able to see me through to Sandino, I left for Daraili on the 16th, arriving there ahead of Lieut. O'Day's detachment which was coming from Condega.        I presented my forged credentials and Mexican propaganda.  Moises Gonzalez then told me that he has one son, Reinaldo, and three nephews now with Sandino; that Louis Espinoza was another nephew.  Gonzales, Jr. was to come to Managua to get Medical supplies for the wounded during the Daraili skirmish, but to avoid suspicion from Lieut. O'Day it was decided to send me after them.  Carlos Quezada, who led the attack on O'Day's column was wounded through the groin and is probably dead now.        Gonzales informed me that Sandino's main problem was ammunition shortage.  Food also is very scarce.  Gonzales said Sandino's strength is now 600 men.        I left Daraili for San Rafael and there spent the night at Blanca Sandino's house.  She told me that Sandino had been very sick at hacienda La Rica near Yali and had been cared for by Father Morales from Yali.        Gonzales informed me that the Chinamen Benjamin Lau (Esteli) and Agustin Chan (Jinotega) are aiding Sandino through their fincas.  Chan has given mules and some supplies. [no signature]   M28.03.20c RG127/220/5

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