File No. 838.00/1328.
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Major Butler with 50 marines and sailors left Gonaives at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Poteau by wagon road. Half mile from town column fired on by Cacos from bush. Firing at two other points during advance. No firing by Butler’s forces except when fired upon first. One Caco killed. Force reached Poteau at noon overtaking Cacos force of five hundred with two hundred rifles. Held parley with General Rameau, who agreed to withdraw his forces from neighborhood of Gonaives and promised not to interfere with food or water supply or injure railroad or telegraph lines. Column returned along railroad arriving Gonaives 5 p.m. Tuesday. Found tracks and bridges slightly damaged. Engaged today in repairs damage to railroad caused by firing near Gonaives Monday. Vandergrift with 25 marines marched over pipe line at Lapierre repairing water main. Found no Cacos. Quiet during night and this morning. Patroling all roads within a radius of 5 miles.