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spy report on moisÉs gonzÁlez & his coffee finca darailÍ (march 1928)

 
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Spy report on Moisés González & his coffee finca Darailí

     Darailí, a good-sized ranch and coffee farm strategically located at the crossroads between the Ocotal and Jinotega districts, was the property of 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.

     This anonymous spy's report, written soon after the Sandinista victory in the Battle of El Bramadero near Darailí (see PC-Docs, here) 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 of the political complexities 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

Ancillary Documents:   Photographs of Darailí

"Daraili with old glory in foreground".  House of Moisés González, Darailí Coffee Farm.  This and photos below, with captions, from the collection of Carl P. Eldred, Personal Papers Collection, Marine Corps Research Center (MCRC), Quantico, VA.

"View of barracks with flag pole and trail to Condega in foreground."


"View in rear of barracks with trays where the coffee is dried in the sun.  The double deck tower is the old lookout station and machine gun emplacement."

"The machine gun emplacement with overhead cover.  Built of 2 tiers of 12 inch logs with earth between and 15 inches of sand and gravel on top."

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