Header image
PC27.11.12   harbaugh

QUICK LINKS TO PREVIOUS & NEXT PC-DOCS

27.11.07 BELLINGER
27.11.10 KEIMLING
27.11.11 BROWN
27.11.12 HARBAUGH
27.11.13 CRUM
27.11.14 DARNELL
27.11.19 WELLS

27.11.12.   Harbaugh, Report of Operations, Somoto

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Marine Detachment, Somoto, Nicaragua.
December [November] 12, 1927.

From:     The Commanding Officer
To:       Brigade Commander
 
Subject:  Report of Operations.

   1.    On November 11, 1927, at 2000, a patrol on foot left this post for Santa Isabel and Santa Lucia. Patrol arrived at Santa Isabel about 9:30 p.m., and proceeded to search all the houses, and down for arms and bandits. Nothing was found and the patrol at about 11:00 p.m., left for San Luica [Santa Lucia]; upon arriving at the edge of the town of Santa Isabel, the patrol run into a band of bandits numbering ten. Several of them were mounted, when the patrol halted or attempted to halt the band. They (the bandits) opened fire on the patrol, this fire was returned by the patrol with the result that one bandit was shot from his horse and killed, and several are believed to be badly wounded, but owing to the intense darkness and rain, it was impossible to chase them further, but from the blood found near where they went into the woods it is believed that as noted above three or more were hit.
 
   2.    The patrol arrived at Santa Lucia about 0150, searched all houses and the town, found no arms or bandits, but from the appearance of several shacks, there was evidence that same was occupied, and they were hastily evacuated. Patrol left there at 0230 and arrived back at Santa Isabel about 0430, found down practically deserted, proceeded back to Somoto, arriving here at 0700. One muzzle loading rifle (loaded) was captured, also the horse of the bandit that was killed, neither is worth much, the rifle was broken up by the undersigned and burned.
 
   3.    The patrol consisted of nine enlisted men in charge of Corporal George Lukshides.
 
               /s/ F. D. HARBAUGH
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RG127/212/1

Summary & Notes:

   At first read a brief, innocuous & routine sounding report ... but ...
   Glimpses of why Marines-GN soon hated & feared by campesinos & village folk:  entering villages in the middle of the night; rousting people out of beds and homes; searching "all the houses" in search of "bandits," guns, ammunition, and any other incriminating evidence.
   Unknown whether the "band of bandits" was Liberal, Conservative, or EDSN.

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

TOP OF PAGE