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T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
CORINTO RANCH, NICARAGUA.
22 May, 1928.
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From: |
2nd Lieut M.A. Cramer, U.S.M.C. |
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To : |
The District Commander,
Matagalpa, Nicaragua. |
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Via : |
Commanding Officer, 45th
Company. |
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Subject: |
Patrol Report, Corinto - La
Virgen. |
1. At 1800 19 May, 1928 I
left CORINTO with a foot patrol of
myself and 16 enlisted men 3 pack
animals and 4 days rations under orders
which a copy is attached. At 1900 we met
a guide who offered to show us across a
shortcut to the bull cart road. Dropped
guide at 1930. At 2100 met Miguel Pere
[Miguel Perez] who offered to guide us
to ESPERANZO [Esperanza] in the dark.
Arrived and camped at ESPERANZO at 2300.
0615 20 May, 1928 left ESPERANZO bound
north. 0740 crossed TUMA river. 0930 saw
planes pass at some distance. 1030
planes found us on trail and dropped map
and message addressed to Lieut Claudes
patrol Signaled no to planes in effort
to indicate their mistake. Then they
dropped message asking if we were Lieut
Claudes patrol. Signaled no to planes in
effort to indicate their mistake. They
then dropped message asking if we were
Lieut Claudes patrol and they answered
No again. Planes scouted around a bit
and then shoved off. 1100 met a mozo who
had been shot as he claimed by Sandino
but his story indicated that he had been
shot by marines in the recent engagement
with Capt Hunters patrol. Gangrene had
set in the wound. Gave him a note to
marine doctor in JINOTEGA and
recommended his detention as a prisoner
in the note. 1345 arrived house of
Antonio Blandon who is the Jefe Politico
of LA VIRGEN. He corroborated rumors of
bandits in the district and declined to
act as guide into the part of the
community supposed to be occupied by the
bandits. His brother who was leaving the
country for JINOTEGA due to the bandits
menace led us to the house of GUTIERREZ
where we arrived 1445. Two people took
of [off] to the brush as we arrived, one
woman and three children were in the
house when we got there, on searching
the place about 5 pounds of black
powder, some home made fuses, many rifle
slugs, 6 antiquated guns, 2 daggers and
a Sandista [Sandinista] kerchief were
found. There were many signs of recent
occupation by a large number of people
such as about 20 drinking bowls in 2
stacks. Also found a National Colors of
NICARAGUA which had evidently been
captured by Sandinistas during the
revolution. In regards to this
NICARAGUAN flag as it was discovered
well hidden and had appearances of being
an issue flag we endeavor[ed] to inquire
about it but were given no answer at
all, so the flag was taken up and is
being forwarded with this report for
return to the proper authorities. As
pack mules were badly played out we
destroyed the guns and burned the powder
and fuses. The daggers were useless so
we destroyed them and 2 machetes. 1550
left GUTIERREZ place for CORINTO, 1810
arrived at BLANDONS where we spent the
night. 0730 21 May 1928, left BLANDONS.
1145 arrived at ESPERANZO. 1900 arrived
at CORINTO FINCA.
2. Weather: Varied, some
rain both on 20th and 21st.
3. Attitude of inhabitants:
Generally friendly and hospitable some
of them seemed frightened at first but
none of them antagonistic. Everyone was
working or going to or coming from work
until the immediate vicinity of LA
VIRGEN was reached. This community is
very [ p. 2 ] sparely settled and so
rugged and heavily vegitated that very
little could be observed off the trail.
4. Condition of Trails: Dry
and slightly mountainous to ESPERANZO
which is the limit of bull cart travel.
From ESPERANZO on the trail gets rougher
and more hilly to the TUMA river. The
TUMA ford is very wide and has a rough
rocky bottom (it could be crossed by
animals in fairly high water.) On
crossing the TUMA the trails continued
to grow more and more mountainous until
in the community of LA VIRGEN they are
very poorly kept and are very steep and
rough.
5. Camp Sites: ESPERANZO is
a coffee ranch with a two story living
house and other quarters where 50 men
could be housed under cover. There is
also ample pasturage and a fair water
supply. Jefe Antonia BLANDONS is only a
small place and a 16 man patrol fills it
completely. Has poor pasturage but
plenty of good water from a mountain
stream. Some native food obtained at
both places.
6. BANDITS. All information
indicates that bandits had been in LA
VIRGEN very recently and in large
numbers. But actual contact or positive
information as to direction of their
departure were unobtainable. One native
informed me that one group of 90 bandits
left LA VIRGEN, moving west, on Sunday
May 20.
7. Distance Traveled: From
CORINTO FINCA to LA VIRGEN estimated at
22 to 25 miles.
/s/ M. A. CRAMER,
2nd Lieut U.S.M.C.
127/212/1
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