Battle of Sapotillal

Battle of Sapotillal
Part of the United States occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars
Date8–9 October 1927[1]
Location
Sapotillal ridge, Nicaragua
Result

Sandinista victory

  • American-Nicaraguan rescue attempt fails.
  • Heavy casualties inflicted on the Sandinistas.
Belligerents
 United States
Nicaragua		 Sandinistas
Commanders and leaders
United States Lt. George J. O'Shea Nicaragua Unknown
Strength
9 marines
1 sailor
10 national guard[2]		 400 guerrillas (conservative estimate)[3]
Casualties and losses
2 USMC POWS Killed & 4 national guard killed[4] 40-60 killed[5]
1 captured[6]

The Battle of Sapotillal, or the Battle of Zapotillal or Zapotillo Ridge, took place on the 9 October 1927[7] during the American occupation of Nicaragua of 1926–1933 and the Sandino Rebellion. The battle was an unsuccessful attempt by American and Nicaraguan government forces to rescue two downed American airmen.

  1. ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 93.
  3. ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 95.
  5. ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  6. ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
  7. ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.