Battle of Telpaneca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Telpaneca
Part of the Occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars
Men of the 5th Marines garrisoning a Nicaraguan village.
Date 19 September 1927 Location Telpaneca, Nicaragua Result American-Nicaraguan victory
Belligerents
United States  Nicaragua	Sandinistas
Commanders and leaders
Herbert S. Keimling	Gen. Salgado
Strength
21 marines 25 national guard	200 guerrillas
Casualties and losses
2 killed 1 wounded	25 killed 50 wounded

The Battle of Telpaneca was a fight that happened in Nicaragua in 1927. It was part of a time when the United States military was present in Nicaragua. This period is known as the Occupation of Nicaragua.

What Was the Battle of Telpaneca?

The Battle of Telpaneca was a clash between American and Nicaraguan forces. They were fighting against a group of rebels. These rebels were loyal to a leader named Augusto César Sandino. The battle took place in a small town called Telpaneca.

The Attack Begins

The fight started very early in the morning. It was about 1:00 AM on September 19, 1927. Around 200 rebel soldiers attacked the town. Telpaneca was protected by a small group of soldiers. This group was called a garrison.

Who Was Defending Telpaneca?

The garrison was led by Marine First Lieutenant Herbert S. Keimling. His group included 20 American Marines. They were from the 5th Marines. There were also 25 Nicaraguan National Guardsmen.

The Fight in the Fog

The rebels began their attack by throwing a homemade bomb. It exploded near the Marine barracks, but no one was hurt. The explosion did wake up the sleeping soldiers. Soon after, the rebels started shooting their rifles. The soldiers quickly got ready to fight.

Charging Through the Fog

The rebels then tried to charge towards the barracks. A thick fog helped hide them. But the defenders shot back accurately. This forced the rebels to retreat. The battle became a skirmish, with both sides shooting from a distance.

The Battle Ends

The fighting continued until about 2:30 AM. At this time, the fog began to clear. The rebels then started to gather their injured and dead. Within another 30 minutes, the battle was over.

Who Won and What Were the Losses?

Lieutenant Keimling estimated that 25 rebels were killed. He also thought about 50 rebels were wounded. On his side, one Marine was killed during the battle. Another Marine later died from his injuries. One Nicaraguan guard was also seriously wounded. The American and Nicaraguan forces won this battle.

What Happened After the Battle?

The rebels lost one of their important leaders, General Salgado, in this battle. This defeat was one of many for Sandino's forces. Because of these losses, Sandino changed his fighting style. He decided to use guerrilla warfare. This means fighting in small, surprise attacks instead of large battles.