Battle of El Bramadero

Battle of El Bramadero
Part of the United States occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars, Sandino Rebellion
Date February 27 – 28, 1928 Location near El Bramadero, Nicaragua Result Sandinista victory[1]
Belligerents
United States	Sandinistas
Commanders and leaders
Initial force: Edward F. O'Day[2] Relief force: William K. MacNulty[3]	Miguel Angel Ortez[4]
Strength
Initial force: 36 Marines, one naval pharmacist's mate, 20 Nicaraguan "muleros," two Nicaraguan "'Jefe' muleros," and 99 mules[5] Relief force: 88 Marines[6]	"at least" 600 rifles, "a minimum" of four machine guns, and "a large quantity" of dynamite bombs[7]
Casualties and losses
three Marines killed-in-action, two Marines dead of wounds, eight Marines non-fatally wounded, four Nicaraguan "muleros" wounded, and a third of the mules killed, wounded, or captured[8]	10 dead and 30 wounded ("conservative estimate" for losses on February 28, 1928)[9]

The Battle of El Bramadero, or the Battle of Bromaderos, took place between February 27 and 28, 1928 during the American occupation of Nicaragua of 1926–1933 and the Sandino Rebellion. The battle began on the twenty-seventh when a convoy of 36 American Marines, one American naval pharmacist's mate, 20 Nicaraguan "muleros," two Nicaraguan "'Jefe' muleros," and 99 mules^[10] led by First Lieutenant Edward F. O'Day moving along the Yalí–Condega trail was ambushed by a force of Sandinista rebels led 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" 600 rifles strong, armed with "a minimum" of four machine guns and "a large quantity" of dynamite bombs.^[13] The Marines fell back to a ridge on the left of the trail, "leaving three of their dead behind."^[14] The guerrillas advanced on the American position and hacked open the heads of the dead Marines with their machetes.^[15] At 8:30, the firing from the Sandinistas decreased as the insurgents began to withdraw, although about 200 of them remained to continue harassing the Marines.^[16] Some of the guerrillas spoke "irregular English" and taunted the Americans with "slurs and insults" during lulls in the fighting.^[17]

At about dawn of the following day, February 28, a force of 88 Marines led by Captain William K. MacNulty arrived 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-in-action, two dead of 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 dead 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.^[22]

References

1. "O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
10. "O'Day, Report of Engagement with Bandit Forces, Condega (El Bramadero, 27 Feb 1928)". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
22. Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. pp. 110–111.