Harold C. Roberts Letters
Dublin Core
Title
Harold C. Roberts Letters
Subject
Letters written by Lt. Roberts (USMC) during his campaign in Nicaragua.
Description
This collection documents correspondence written between 1928 and 1929 by then Lt. Harold Cyrus Roberts (USMC) to his wife, Faith Newton Roberts, relating to his deployment in Nicaragua. Roberts details include numerous Marine Corps patrols in the mountains of Northern Nicaragua to combat Augusto Sandino and his rebels. The patrols triangulate within the mountain trails and farmland between Ocotal, Pueblo Nuevo, and Condega. Roberts describes the living conditions of the Marine Corps in Northern Nicaragua to include the social aspects of camp and his time at the Marine Corps Regimental Headquarters in Ocotal.
The letters in this collection are from before and after his time in the Coco River Expedition which ran from September to early November 1928. Letters pertaining to that experience are located in the Coco River Collection.
The letters in this collection are from before and after his time in the Coco River Expedition which ran from September to early November 1928. Letters pertaining to that experience are located in the Coco River Collection.
Creator
Harold C. Roberts
Publisher
Harold C. Roberts, COLL 2678, Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA.
Date
1928
Contributor
Jessica Carson
Language
English
Type
Letters
Coverage
Nicaragua
Collection Items
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 18 January, 1928
Two Page letter written by Lt. Roberts to his wife (Faith) letting her know he arrived safely in Corinto, Nicaragua by ship.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 23 January, 1928
Two page letter sent from city of Leon discussing the Regimental Headquarter move to Ocotal to be nearer to Sandino in Northern Nicaragua. Roberts also vents his frustration at the confusing orders and the slowness to leave the town of Leon.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 18 February, 1928
Eight page letter sent from the city of Condega describing Marine patrols on mountain trails and encounters with Sandino's bandits. Roberts wrote about the living conditions for Marine officers in Condega and includes a hand drawn blueprint of the…
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 21 March, 1928
Seven page letter sent from Esteli discussing patrols and information from other Marine Officers. Roberts wrote about aviation efforts in bombing Sandino.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 30 March and 6 April, 1928
One single page letter sent from Esteli discussing the political situation in Nicaragua. One three page letter from 6 April, 1928, also sent from Esteli, on Roberts being given command over a patrol in Pino. Roberts referenced buying a horse (Hodido)…
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 21 April, 1928
Three page letter sent from Managua detailing physical toll of patrols on the body: stiff back and bed rest for two weeks. Roberts also highlighted riding in a Fokker airplane and being given a spider monkey as a pet.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 31 May, 1928
Four page letter sent from Pueblo Nuevo detailing the rainy weather conditions and the types of bugs Roberts encountered. Envelope included.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 29 February, 1928
Four page letter sent from Condega detailing an ambush the day prior by Sandino. Includes a hand drawn map of the ambush (page 2). Five Marines KIA, 7 wounded. Envelope included.
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 4 March, 1928
Three page letter sent from Condego detailing an intelligence gathering patrol that Roberts led to Daraili in order to map the ambush he referenced in the 29 February 1928 letter. Includes descriptions of numerous animals and landscape in Nicaragua.…
Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 17 and 23 May, 1928
One two page letter sent from Pueblo Nuevo detailing a nine day patrol covering 112 miles. One two page letter discussed telegram intercepted from a woman in Honduras saying the bandits were on the border causing problems. Roberts also mentioned his…