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Battle of El Bramadero

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Battle of El Bramadero
Part of theUnited States occupation of Nicaragua,Banana Wars
Battle of El Bramadero is located in Nicaragua
El Bramadero
El Bramadero
Battle of El Bramadero (Nicaragua)
Date27-28 February 1928
Location
nearEl Bramadero,Nicaragua
Result Sandinista victory[1]
Belligerents
United States Sandinistas
Commanders and leaders
United StatesLt. Edward O'Day[2]
(Initial force)
United StatesCap.William K. MacNulty[3]
(Relief force)		 NicaraguaMiguel Angel Ortez[4]
Strength
36 marines
one naval pharmacist
22 Nicaraguan"muleros"
99 mules[5]
(Initial force)
88 marines[6]
(Relief force)		 600 guerrillas
4+ machine guns[7]
Casualties and losses
5 marines killed(two died from wounds)
8 marines wounded, four"muleros"wounded
33 mules killed, wounded, or captured[8]		 10 killed
30 wounded
( "conservative estimate" for losses on 28 February 1928)[9]

TheBattle of El Bramadero,or theBattle of Bromaderos,took place between the 27 and 28 February 1928 during theAmerican occupation of Nicaragua of 1926–1933and the Sandino Rebellion. Thebattlebegan on the twenty-seventh when a convoy of thirty-sixMarines,oneAmerican navalpharmacist's mate,twentyNicaraguan"muleros," two Nicaraguan "'Jefe' muleros," and 99mules[10]led by First Lieutenant Edward F. O'Day moving along theYalí–Condegatrail was ambushed by a force ofSandinistarebelsled by Miguel Angel Ortez.[11]

The Sandinistas opened fire from all along the mule train's right flank at 1:30 PM, while some other rebels managed to seal off "the trail to the front and rear of the convoy."[12]These Nicaraguan insurrectionists were estimated to be "at least" 600riflesstrong, armed with "a minimum" of fourmachine gunsand "a large quantity" ofdynamitebombs.[13]The Marines fell back to a ridge on the left of the trail, "leaving three of their dead behind."[14]Theguerrillasadvanced on theAmericanposition and hacked open the heads of the dead Marines with theirmachetes.[15]At 8:30, the firing from the Sandinistas decreased as theinsurgentsbegan to withdraw, although about 200 of them remained to continue harassing the Marines.[16]Some of the guerrillas spoke "irregularEnglish"and taunted the Americans with" slurs and insults "during lulls in the fighting.[17]

At dawn of the following day, of the 28 February, a force of 88 Marines led byCaptain William K. MacNultyarrived on the battlefield to relieve O'Day's men, and they helped drive off the remaining Sandinistas.[18]All in all, the Marines suffered three killed, two died from wounds, and eight non-fatally wounded (in addition, four of their "muleros" were wounded).[19]One-third of their mules were killed, wounded, or captured.[20]Sandinista losses for February 28 were about 10 killed and 30 wounded (this was MacNulty's "conservative estimate" ).[21]

A "large part" of the rebel force at El Bramadero was recruited from nearby towns and villages, with these part-time guerrillas returning to their homes and regular occupations when fighting ceased, owner of LA PRENSA said he received a number of empty gasoline cans with marines heads inside.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  2. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 109.
  3. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  4. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 109.
  5. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  6. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  7. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  8. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  9. ^"McNulty / Atkinson, Report of Action at El Bramadero".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  10. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  11. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 109.
  12. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 109.
  13. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  14. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  15. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  16. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  17. ^"O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  18. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  19. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  20. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 110.
  21. ^"McNulty / Atkinson, Report of Action at El Bramadero".The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934.Retrieved23 October2015.
  22. ^Macaulay, Neill (February 1998).The Sandino Affair.Chicago: Quadrangle Books. pp. 110–111.

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