The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-05
o u B A..
The Battle of MelOnes Reported
by the Spaniards.
The Most Severe Contest in tho District Of Gil
bara-How the Insurgents Are Tracked and
What Happens to tho Trackers-0ne
Hundred and Fifty-two Officers and
Men Killed and Wounded-Pepillo
Castellanos Among the Dead

The following Is the semi Oficial Spanish account
OF the battle OF Meiones IN the district OF Gibara
undoubtedly the severest engagement that has
taken place in that jurisdiction and, dscOunting
from the natural desire to make as good story for
themselves as possible. shows that the insurgents
cope advantageousy with the disciplined spanish
army
TRACKING INSURGENTS AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
Colonel Federico EspOnda found himself on the
9th day of January in Jumicum In the command OF
a column composed OF eighty-seven men OF the
Tuhas gueras. the same number OF those OF Hol-
gum 1873 OF the regiment Espana, l44 OF the
Havana and l64 Of the battalion Of Matanzas,
forming total number of go cOmbatants. At six
in the morning he started on the march, follow
ing the tran OF the insurgents. and upon arriving
on the hill La yigia distinguished considerable
smoke, which gave him to understand the prOx-
unity OF those he had been following since the
day previous.
At eight O'Clock IN the morning, at the time of
the column coming through dense forest, the
advance guard Of
THE INSURGENTS OPENED FIRE.
Colonel Esponda Immediately ordered out his
nankers. and with the main body OF his column
and under great difficulties he took the direction
towards the River Meones. Here the insurgents
kept up heavy fire to prevent the column from
kept on, and crossed the river to find themselves
in a clearing before an extensive abatts OF trees,
and behind these a large intrenched encampment
occupied by the insurgents to the number OF 1900
or 1000 men,
CHARGING THE POSITION.
One hundred men of the regiment Espada, and
with the rest Of The column following charged the
positions OF the insurgents and took them at the
point OF the bayonet the insurgents leaving seven
n IT,
tie and horses
REPORT OF THE BATTLE.
The report says-In this rude combat. which
many misiortunes The valiant Esponda was
woGnoea t9e gaah' MAJOR Romance nar anu anu
men, watered the ground with their blood
The persecution was Kept up during an en-
tire hour and alterward we encamped close to the
river TO attend to the wounded and give the neces
sary rest to the soldiers. After the engagement
had apparently been concluded the insurgents re-
turned in large groups TO harass the troops. The
advanced posts of the camp answered their fire,
and very soon the firing became general.
Colonel Esponda, finding himself again attacked
with half Of his ammunition gone and the loss OF
eighty men between killed and wounded the lat
ter requiring the attendance OF part OF his fol ces
and examining with calmness the formidable posi-
tions which the enemy had In their rear. and the
advantages they might obtain II he again accepted
u combat, he concluded to commence the dlncult
movement OF his
IN the direction of Jumicum. embarrassed with his
wounded aud dead Half OF the column protected
the wounded, anu the rest, under the immediate
orders OF the brave EspOnda, protected TINS
hazardous movement depressing the enemy, who
boldly came upon US, it being necessary at one
time to make general charge with the bayonet,
close TO the position the enemy occupied, so as to
1ntlmidate them
A group OF the enemy's cavalry commenced
take up positions on the various heights OF the
road to repulse their attacks In these we suffered
loss OF Is.
OUR SITUATION WAS VERY CRITICAL
The enemy in considerable numbers, our ammuni
ton very scarce, the dead and wounded had to be
carried on shoulders, not single horse remaining
except the CHEERS. In this terrible moment APP
peared, at about half a leagues distance, the voun-
teer cavalry rom Fray BentO and, taking advan.
tage OF the enthusiasm this caused among our
troops, Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo gathered sixty
men oil his battalion and, marching 500 PAGES tow
ards the rear guard took up positions, imme-
dlately after the same was done by Lieutenant
Colonel Chavarri, who at the same time. was iO-
tageOusy placed In echelOn the entire column
treated nearly league. no echelon having at any
time more than 100 men and the rearmOst carry
ing dead and wounded plck-a-Dack.
The enehly, who still attempted several attacks,
was
SEVERELY PUNISHED
by the fire from the echelons. VINO allowed them
to come near, to make their aim more deadly, and
finally convinced OF his inability to conquer t nat
handful Of braves' he definitely retired, leaving
the column In position, from which 1t continued TO
Jumcum,
This day has been glorious one for the officers
and soldiers and Tor Colonel EspOnda, who nad
the honor OF commanding them.
suffered by our forces consist in five officers killed
and thirteen wounded; thirty-One killed and 1O3
wounded OF the troops Those OF the enemy, 1t
can be assured, have been 200 between killed and
wounded. among the former the insurgent Chief,
PepIllo Castellanos. who, with several Others
carried away by the troops and identified after
wards.
The foregoing is a verbatim translation, which,
while acknowledging defeat, still maintains
that the insurgents ''must" have suffered most.u
The Insurgents undoubtedly can tell different
story.