The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-16
NO QUARTER.
The Government Troops Routed
by Caceres.
rrARTTL CARNAGE.
A Hand-to-Hand Fight in the Streets
and q Very Disastrous
Bayonet Charge.

PANAMA, September 14.-The latest adj
vices from Lima give the details OF a battle
at Canta on the 18th ult. In the morning
of chat day a detachment OF Government
troops occupying the town OF Canta' Sixty
miles from Lima, in a valley running paral-
lei to that of the Rinca. was surprised by a
division of General Carceres army, ana AFTER
a sharp action of several hours was forced
to fly in disorder. The Government troops
operating against Canta were $50 men OF
the line, with one Gatling gun, iftycavalry-
men and1fifty mounted gen darmes, the
whole force being commanded by Colonel
Torres. Canta had been occupied for sew
eral days. the Monteneros or irregular rev
dictionary forces retiring on the approach
of this detachment. On Friday evening
news arrived OF the approach OF a consider
able division OF the enemy. and upon Col
onel Bustamente's advice it was decided to
defend the town. On Saturday at 7 a.. m.
the hills enclosing Canta were
OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY,
apparently !, 500 or 1000 strong, and with
about 200 cavalry. The latter were sta
toned at the outlets OF the valley, leading
toward the coast and interior, SO that from
the first Government forces were e~ffectually
corraled. Colonel Torres had placed his
men in the barracks situated in the princi-
pal square of the town, having also small
outlying squads outside the walls in the
suburbs. Caceres' cavalry, with small field
hullani, at 7:3O o'clock. and in a few mo-
ments the firing became general. The enemy
descended the hills and attempted to enter
the town, but were repeatedly driven back.
two hours the positions OF the combat
ants were unaltered, the fire being all the
time very heavy. At midday the defenders
of the place began to slacken their fire, for
their ammunition was rapidly becoming ex-
hausted, and for an hour they received
without reply the volleys of the attacking
party. At 2 O'Clock
A ATTEMPT WAS MADE
to drive the rebels from the town, which
they had then entered at the point of the
bayonet. This failed, and then their defeat
was accomplished. The fight was hand-to-
hand in the streets, no quarter being given,
and the most dreadful scenes of carnage
occurred. Houses, where some OF the de-
broker open, and all found within murdered
without distinction OF age. sex or character,
and then they were burned. A few Of the
most determined of the Government
cavalrymen headed by Colonel Peichas cut
their way through their opponents, and
made good their escape. Colonel Busto-
mente, to whose counsel the defeat was due,
seeing that all was lost blew his brains out
on the field Of action. Colonel Torres
escaped early in the fight, and the Govern
ment has named another officer to com
mand the dccemated "Cagamaric." OF the
0 or 600 men engaged on the Govern.
ment side probably 200 escaped by flying
to the mountains or following Pachasko.
They are still coming in in parties OF two
Or three. Very few prisoners were taken,
for, as has been stated
NO QUARTER WA GIVEN.
The Cacerists were commanded by
Colonel Morales B%ermudas, and it is stated
that Caceres, with his staff arrived at
Canta on the day after the battle. The
losses OF the revolutionary forces are not