The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-12-19
THEY FOUG1H 1t CLOSE. QUARTERS.
NO SHAM THIS TIME.
spsniards and cubans Fight Q Genuine
Battle.

The fight near Minas proves to have been
real battle.
In the thickest Of II the Cubans stood
breasts with the enemy and welded their
machetes with deadly effect, while the Span
nrds defended themselves with their bay
onets.
The disparity between the forces In num-
bers was great. Some reports say there
were 800 insurgents In the attacking party.
Adv ices are that there were at least 800.
The correspondent in Puerto Principe
sends the following details OF the engage
ment which took place at the Congreso
sugar estate, n few miles from Minas, the
halfway station on the railway from Puerto
Principe TO Nuevitas;
"1n tire morning OF December 9a party OF
II Spanish soldiers left Minas with 20 OF the
battalion OF Corona, with carts TO secure
fodder. There were IL Of the engineer bat
talon and some infantry OF the battalion OF
Puerto Rico, together with some drivers and
two guides. Captain Borrego, Of the Corona
battalion, was in command. assisted by three
lieutenants.
These II spaniards passed small fort
yarrisoned by dozen soldiers under a leu
tenant and reached n field OF heavy grass
Thcreupon tine commander threw out pickets
toward the thicket which extended on two
sides Of the field and proceeded 10 cut grass
"The pickets were suddenly driven In by a
charge OF 200 insurgent cavalry and infantry,
who furiously assailed the little party Of for
ayers.
A squad Of Agramontes cavalry led by
LapeZ Prccio attacked on the right while the
left was assailed by squadron of Camagney
cavalry under Major Caballera.
Soon the lighting was hand-to-hand. the
insurgents attacking with machetes, the
Spaniards defending with bayonets. The
carts ~ rallying points.
The conflict was short. sharp and decisive.
The SpaDiards made desperate resistance,
but they were armed with old-fashioned
Remington rifles. and consequently had not
the advantage OF their Mauser quick frers.
They fell like leaves before the wind, over
weighed 10y vastly superior numbers.
Captain Borrego and three private soldiers
escaped TO the rear. Eleven soldiers and the
two guides reached Fort senado. One lieu
tenant and % soldiers were killed on the
field, and Spaniards were wounded. Two
lieutenants and 2l soldiers we taken prison.
ers.
The insurgent loss was heavy. Colonel
Oscar primelles Lieutents Recio and Espin-
oso were killed. Major Castellanos was
was wounded. Colonel Primelles belongs to
a distinguished Cuban family In Camaguey
and was a physician before the war, He was
shot and was twice prodded by a bayonet
welded 10y soldier Of the Puerto Rico bat
tallion.
The prisoners were sent by the insurgents
TO Mnas with letter from Jose Maria Rod
rigueZ. who commanded the insurgent force
stating that the Spanish defense was heroic
and he took pleasure in returning the sur
vivors. The prisoners say they were treated
respectfully.
General Rodriguez formerly was chief OF n
staff under General Gomez. He IL small
man and lame In consequence OF a wound
raaaiyaI In tha fnrnnar r,4Nnlntfnn IIa
lied the insurgents In Santa Clara province
He assumed command in Puerto Principe
province when General Gomez went to Santa
Clara