The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-04
THE BATTLE DECISIVE.

Over BaImaceda In Chin-The Latter a
Fugitive - Complete Rout of Govern
ment Forces.
VALPARAISO. Chilli, Aug. 2s.-Balma-
ceda's power in Chilli is broken. His
army has been crushed after five hours
hard fighting and is scattered beyond
all hope of reorganization.
The revolutionists have taken pos
session of Valparaiso.
The future of Chilli for the time has
been settled, and settled conclusively,
on the hills to the east of the city by
the grim arbitrament of war.
With Balmaceda practically fugi-
tive, without resources in men or
money; with the principal seaports of
the country in the hands of the con-
gressionalists, and consequent shut
ting off of all income from customs re-
ceipts; with President-elect Vicuna a
refugee on board a German warship
and the country foclxing en- masse to
the standard of the invaders, it is only
matter of few days when the capitol
will fall into the hands of the revolu-
tionary 'eaders.
Gen. Canto and his army won
yesterdays battle by superior general
ship, good hard fighting. assisted by
good fortune in the killing of Balma-
ceda's generals and the consequent
Generalization of the army and the
desertion of entire regiments
Early yesterday morning the boom
of cannon announced to the people of
Valparaiso that movement beyond
the ordinary slzirmishes had begun.
The occasional loud reports of heavy
guns soon swelled into one continuous
roar and then it was known that the
final, decisive struggle, which, at the
cost of thousands of lives, perhaps, was
to decide whether Balmaceda or the
junta was to be the ruling power in
Chilli, had begun.
Gen. Canto's position was on the hills
above the race track at Vina del Mar,
outside of the city. His raiders had
been getting bolder and bolder as the
time passed and had been making ex-
cursions further into the country. He
had absolute control of the railroad to
Santiago and commanded the ordinary
roads. Hence Santiago was practically
in 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 yesterday morning the
word was given to attack the position
held by the revolutionists, and led by
Gems. Barbosa and Alzerraca, the gov
ernment troops left their breastworks
and advanced on the enemy under
cover of a heavy fire from their bat
teries
AS soon as the approaching column
got within range of the rifles of the in
surgents a destructive fire was opened
by the intrenched revolutionists. The
government troops advanced with much
steadiness to the attack. They were
soon near enough to do effective work
with their pieces and the engagement
became general. Shot and shell, grape
and canister, and rifle bullets tore
through the ranks of the advancing
troops until it became too hot and de-
spite the efforts of the officers they
broke and retired almost in a panic.
Then came another attack. In steady
ranks the government troops started on
a double-quick up into the torrent of
fire and lead which blazed from the
ranks OF Lno lnSurRenC army.
Early in the second charge Gen. Bar
bose was shot down and killed. The
live wavered but kept on. Then Gen.
Alzerreca fell from his horse wounded
unto death.
Another break and then Gen. Canto
gave the order to charge. With wild
yell the congressionalist army left
their defense and charged on the re-
firing enemy.
The fighting lasted little less than
FIVE hours, and its desperate character
may be judged by the fact that fully
5, 900 men were killed and wounded.
Shortly after noon the victorious
army began to enter the captured city
from the hills to the southeast
During the afternoon such of the gov
ernment troops as were in the city, or
who came in, gave up their arms and
most of them were paroled. Guards
were stationed in the streets to see that
the crowds of disbanded soldiers and
the dangerous classes did not make
trouble.