T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
55th Company 11th Regiment,
JINOTEGA,Nicaragua.
2 February 1928.
PATROL REPORT NO. 7
55th Company patrol No.7, consisting of
36 enlisted men, 2nd Lieut: Prentice A.
Shiebler commanding left Jinotega at
0500 February 19, 1928, to make contact
with a bandit group reported to be in
the vicinity of Montegrande.
This patrol made camp on a river about
12 miles to the southeast of JINOTEGA
and Monte Grande area, natives in that
area reported that Ferrero [Miguel Angel
Ortez] and Santa Maria [Santa María
Sevilla] with about 50 bandits had been
around that area since they left
TRINIDAD,and were about to move to the
southeast towards Naranjo but some of
them were still in TAMBORINDO
[Tamarindo].
This patrol left camp at daylight on the
morning of February 20th and proceeded
towards TAMBORINDO which was about five
miles down the river from our camp. At
every house along the trail the natives,
mostly women were frightened and all
stated that some of the bandits had just
passed by about an hour ahead of us. As
we arrived at TAMBORINDO I noticed about
6 horses outside of one house and
started towards it. Suddenly two men
were seen running from us and at the
same time four mounted men dashed across
the river and started off on the trail
south. One of these turned in his saddle
and fired at us. One of the others was
noticed to have a rifle slung across his
back. This patrol opened fire and
expended about 10 rounds of ammunition.
Two squads were sent in pursuit, and
further on in the bush two of the horses
were found. The saddle of one was cut as
if by a man's spur as he fell off to one
side. There were marks on the ground
which would have been made by a body
being dragged away. A hat and a bag
containing tortillas were also found. It
is believed that two men were hit by our
fire so as to cause them to fall from
their mounts and were subsequently
carried away by their comrades.
A careful search was made for some time
but no further evidence could be found.
Shortly afterwards Captain Hall's patrol
was signted,and he had with him the
Chief of Police of TRINIDAD [Carmen
Vílchez], this man recognized one of the
captured horses as his own property
which had been stolen by the bandits
when they were in TRINIDAD. Captain Hall
had a mounted patrol with him so he took
up the pursuit of the bandits after they
had scattered into the brush. This
patrol then returned to JINOTEGA,and
arrived at 1230 21 Feb 28. The terrain
in the above vicinity is very hilly,and
well covered with brush, affording
excellent opportuinity for concealment.
Before leaving this patrol was assured
by the natives that the bandits had all
fled to the south and southeast.
/s/ Prentice A.Shiebler.
Lieut: U.S.M.C.
127/220/6
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