[1]: 357–359 It was fought near Mount Kilambe at the Agua Carta, a river in Sandino territory, as part of the American occupation of Nicaragua and a long lasting civil war.

[2][3] Following America's return to Nicaragua in 1926, the United States Marines took command of the Nicaraguan National Guard to fight Sandino's rebels and an occupation began which lasted for several years.

In early September, First Lieutenant Chesty Puller discovered a trail which seemed to be the route used by the rebels in their southward thrusts.

Chesty Puller returned to Jinotega and with Gunnery Sergeant William "Ironman" Lee organized a strong force of forty guards for a raid like patrol against the rebels.

Lieutenant William A. Lee using a Lewis machine gun kept the enemy pinned down while the Nicaraguan guard worked their way up the slope opposite the rebel ambush party.