The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-09-03
oRouTED By THE REBELS.

! oRouTED BY THE RE6ELs.
Complete Defeat of Balnaceda's Troops
at vina del Mar-Two of His Generals
| slain-Five Thousand Meet q Soldiers
Deeth-Surrender Of the City Of vaIp =
raae0-Chili's President-Elect q Fugitive
-Anlmaceda's Whereabouts UnknowD. 81
VALPARAISO, Aug. 29.-Balmaceda's s
power in Chilli is broken. His army
hasbeen crushed after five hours hard
fighting, and is scattered beyond all
hope of reorganization. The revolu-
tionAsts have taken possession of VAL
paraiso. The, future of Chilli for the
time was settled, and settled conclu-
sively on the hills to the east of this
city Friday by the grim arbitra-
meny of war. With Balmaceda
practically a fugitive, without re-
sourcesin men or money; with the prin-
cipal sseaports of the country in the
hands of the congressionalists, and a
consequent shutting off of all income
from customs receipts; with President
elect Vicuna a refugee on board Ger
man warship, and the country focking
en- masse to the standard of the In
vaders, it is matter Of only few
days when the capital will fall
into the hands of the revolutionary
leaders. A new government with pos
sibly Judge Bellsano Prats, head of the
last parliamentary cabinet of Balma-
ceda, or Manuel Jose Irrarazewal, head
of Conzass' cabinet at it's head, will be
formed and things will go along about
the same way in Chilli as they did be-.
fore January Z, when hostilities were
formally begun.
Gen. Canto and his army won Fri
days battle by, superior generalship,
good fighting, assisted by good fortune
in the killing of Balmaceda's generals,
and the consequent decentralization of
the army and the desertion of en-
tire regiments. Ever since the ar
rival of the congressional army at Vina
del Mar there has been a constant
series of maneuvers for position on the
part of both generals. Every day, and
nearly every hour of the day, there
have been skirmishes, in some in
stances amounting almost to battles.
In nearly all of these the opposition
has had the best of it. A close censor
ship of dispatches was established by
Balmaceda, however, and only an ink
ling of the reverses to his arms could
be got through.
Early Friday morning the boom Of
cannon announced to thepeople Of VAL
paraiso that movement beyond the
ordinary skirmishes had begun. The
occasional loud reports of the heavy
guns soon swelled into one continu-
Gus roar and then it was known that
the final decisive struggle, which, at
the cost of thousands of lives, per-
haps, was todecide whether Balmaceda
or the Junta was to be the ruling
power in Chilli had been joined. ;Ex-
element was intense in Valparaiso.
The streets were crowded with people,
women predominating, anxiously wait
ing for news and talking of the mo-
mentous contest which was in full
progress only few miles away.
Gen. Canto's position was on the hills
above the race track at Vina del Mar,
just outside, of the city. His raiders
had been getting bolder and bolder as
the time passed and have been making
excursions further into the country.
He had absolute control of the railroad
to Santiago and commanded the or
binary roads. Hence Santiago was
practically in a state of siege.
Affairs had come to such pass that
it was necessary for President Balma-
ceda to make some move, and little
after daylight Friday morning the word
was given to attack the position held
by the revolutionists, and led by
Gems. Barbosa and Alzerecca the
government troops left their breast
works and advanced on the enemy
under cover of heavy fire from
their batteries. The insurgents were
generally armed with Mann,icher rifles
and used smokeless powder. The gov
ernment troops were not so we'll armed
AS soon as the approaching column got
within range of the Mannlichers they
met a destructive fire from the in
trenched revolutionists. The Chill
ians are brave, however, whether
government troops or revolution
lists, and advanced with much
were soon near enough to do effective
work with their pieces and the engage
ment became general. Shot and she'll,
grape and canister and rifle bullets
tore through the ranks of the advanc-
ing troops until it became too hot, and
despite the officers they broke and re-
tired almost in panic. Officers
worked like beavers to reform their col
umns as soon as they got without the
range Of the deadly Mannlichers and at
last succeeded. -
Then came another attack. In steady
ranks the government troops started. on
double quick up into the torrent of
fire and lead which blazed from the
ranks of the insurgent army. Early
in the second charge Gen. Barbosa was
shot down and killed. The line wav-
cred. but kept on. Then Gen. Alzer-
ecca fell from his horse, wounded unto
death. He was removed from the field
and died within an hour.
Another break and then Gen. Canto
gave the order to charge, With wild
yell the congressionalist army left their
defenses and charged on the retreating
enemy. Their artillery poured deadly
fire into Balmaceda's army. The loss
of their general left them without a
leader, and ali the efforts .of
the subordinate officers to- rally
then. to meet. the onset of
Canto's regiments and squadrons was
Of no avail. ! The retreat became a
rout, the rout panic, and then came
utter Generalization. The government
cavalry made stand, but it was short
They were literally cut to pieces.
Volley after vol!ey was poured into the
demoralized mob Of Balmacedists.
Whole regiments which had not lost
their reglmental formation went over
to the victorious troops of Canto and
joined in the attack on their late COM
rades. These deserters were general
ly the volunteers who had been
impressed into the service by
Balmaceda since the commencement
of hostilities. Their sympathies ha We
all along been with the insurgents, and
they took this, the first opportunity, to