, 1885-09-15
POOR PERU.
Report of a Desperate Battle
Near Lima.
Three Hundred Postmasters
Appointed Yesterday.
Register ROsecrans Finds a
Splendid Reason.
pesperate BattIe Near Lima.

Desperate Battle Near Lima.
PANAMA, Sept l4.-The latest advices
from Lima give details of a battle at
Canta, on the 18th ult. On the morning
of that day u detachment of government
troops, occupying the town of Canta,
sixty miles from Lima. in Il valley run
ming parallel to that of Rimac, was sur
priscd by a division of Gen. Caceres's
army, and after a sharp conflict of several
hours was forced to fy in disorder. The
government troops operating against
Canta were $50 men of the line, with one
G%attling gun fifty cavalrymen and fifty
mounted gensdearme, the whole force
being commanded by Col, Torres, Canta
being occupied for several days, the Mon
t%oneros, or irregular revolutionary forces,
retiring on the approach of this detach-
ment. On Friday evening news arrived
of the approach of a considerable division
of the enemy, and upon Col Bustamente's
advance, it was decided to defend the
town. On Saturday at ! a. m, the hills
enclosing Canta were occupied by the
enemy, apparently |, 800 or 1000 strong,
and with about 200 cavalry. The latter
were stationed at the outlets of the
valley leading toward the coast
and to the interior, so that from
the first the government forces
were effectually corralled. Col. Towers
had placed men IN barracks situated in the
principal sduare of the town, having also
small outlying squads behind some of the
walls in the suburbs. Caceres's artillery,
four small Geld pieces, opened fire from
the hill at Huayacanai at half past seven,
and in a few moments the firing became
general. The enemy descended the hills
and attempted to enter the town, but
were repeatedly driven back. For two
hours the positions Of the combatants
were unaltered, the fire all the time being
very heavy. At midday the defenders of
the place began to slacken their fire, for
their ammunition was rapidly becoming
exhausted, and for an hour they received
without reply the volleys of the attacking
party. At two O'Clock a desperate at
tempt was made to drive the rebels from
town, which they had then entered at the
point of the bayonet. This failed, and
the defeat was accomplished. The fight
was hand to hand in the streets, no quar-
ter being given, and the most fearful
scenes of carnage occurred. The houses
where some of the defeated soldiers had
taken refuge were broken open and all
found within were murdered. without
distinction of age, sex or character, and
then were burned. A few Of the most
determined of the government cavalry
men, headed by Col. Pachas, cut their
way through their opponents and made
good their escape. Col. Bustamente, to
whose counsel the defeat was due, seeing
that all was lost, blew his brains- u on
the field of action. Col. Torres escaped
early in the fight, and the government has
named another officer to command the
decimated "Cagamaric. Of the 500 or
600 men engaged in the government side,
probably 200 escaped by flying to the
mountains, or following Pachas. They
are still coming in in parties of TWO or
three. Very few prisoners were taken,
and as far as has been stated no quarter
was given. The Cacerests were com
manded by Col. Morales Bermudas, and
it is stated the Caceres, with this stat,
arrived at Canta the day after the battle
The losses of the revolutionary forces are
not known, from the fact that the Caga-
marica battalion was decidedly the finest
in the government service. The partisans
Of Caceres here arc iubilant over his sue
cess. The 8, 200 soldiers in the garrison
at Lima are not at al affected by the re-
verse and the officers are confident Of their
loyalty. In case of an attack on the city.
energetic precautionary measures are be-
ing taken. The church towers are occu
pied at night by strong d%etachments of
rihemen and the project has a notice Of
fering a reward OF from fifty to one thous-
and silver soles to anyone who may de-
nounce the existence of conspiracies or
aid the police in their efforts. The gov
eminent force has been withdrawn from
Chossica and is now stationed at Santa
Clara. fifteen miles nearer to Lima.
Nothing positive is known regarding the
whereabouts Of Caceres,