Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-07-31
BATTLE In CUBA JULY 18TH.
THE SPANIARDS UNDER GEN. CAMPOS
GAIN THE VICTORY.
Hard Fighting.

Hard Fighting.
A cable despatch to the New York
Herald, dated Havana. Cuba, July
23rd, says
General Campos started for Bay
amo on July Is with one battalion,
known as that of Isabel the Catholic;
three companies of the Sixth PENN
sular battalion, one company of en-
gineers, two companies of mounted
guerillas and one thousand two hun
dred men, commanded by General
SantOcildes.
Antonio Maceo, Bartolome Masso.
Rabi and other prominent insurgent
leaders, with force of seven thousand
men, were waiting for them and open
ed the battle on the road between
Bueycito and Di.tll.
The rebels had four hundred killed
and wounded. among them Brigadier-
General Rab. Colonel Machado, Cap
tain Belisario Ramirez, Commander
Moncada and three others.
General Santocildes, who was in the
vanguard, received two bullets in the
breast and one in the forehead He
was killed. Campos then took com
mand, and broke the insurgent ranks,
after which he formed his men into a
square, and marched thus distance
of two leagues to Bayamo. where he
now is. He carried with him the
bodies of General Santocildes and Ad-
jutant Sotomayor.
The insurgents had taken up posi-
tions and deployed their lines on a
stock farm. These positions were very
advantageous, and they continued the
fight for six hours. 1t ended at Malay
Creek. When the level ground was
reached the Spanish troops were
charged by force of more than three
thousand cavalry, under the command
of Maceo, while the rebel infantry at
tackled the Spanish rear guard, and
there the battle lasted five hours long
er.
HAND TO HAND FIGHT.
1t was hand to hand fight, the in
surgents' object being to break
Campos' square. Lieutenant Colonel
Vaquero YVES wounded, as were San
Martin, Lolo Benitez, Travesi, Captain
Tomas and two lieutenants. Seventy
soldiers were either killed or wounded.
The Spanish forces originally took
the road leading to PeralejO, before
reaching Bahatuaba Creek, instead of
following the road which it would
have been natural for them to take.
The person who acted as gnide to the
column was colored man, seventy
four years old, and having a good
knowledge of the locality.
The column, suspecting treachery
turned to the left, taking a path
through the woods, SO as not to be
obliged to cross the plain. This
changed the plan of the rebels, who
were stationed around the plain, in
tending to surround the column,
which, they thought, would have no
means of escape. Maceo's cavalry in
tended to cut the Spaniards to pieces
with their machetes.
The residents of Bueycito declare
that the voleys of musketry were
tremendous.
As soon as he understood the severi-
ty of the attack General Campos or
dered the government mules and
horses to be Killed and iEtrenchments
to be formed with their bodi's
The firing ceased at seven o'clock in
the evening. The General entered
Bayamo at nine O'Clock p. NJ, when
the battle WAS alb mt coming to an end
for want of am,nunitiOn
Campos, ring the battle, ordered
Lieutenant Colonel Lolo Benitez to go
to Bayamo to procure ammunition
with ten volunteer guerlllas, two OF
whom were killed just us they were
starting.
In Bayamo the people heard the fir
ing of the cannon, but supposed that
the troops engaged were the columns
of General Navarro. consisting of 5000
men.
GUAYAMO BURNED.
The rebel chief Mendieta burned
the town of Guayamo and the estate
known as Guayamito. The rebels also
burned "El Habanero." All the
wounded were gathered together, as
were the dead, and taken to Bayamo.
WHAT GEN. CAMPos SAYS.
In letter to Gen. Arderius, his SON
in-law, Gen. Campos says of this bat
tie, which he calls the battle of Valen
zuela:-
MY column Was commanded by the
unfortunate General Santocildes.-
When the latter was killed in action
took command The battle was hard
fought one. The field was most I'M
favorable for the operations of our
troops. The enemy numbered three
times more thon we did, was we'll sup
piled with ammunition and fought
skillfully. We were surrounded by
fire on four sides and there were two
moments of danger. The firing lasted
FIVE hours, and it was followed by an
other hour of fighting, in which our
rear guard was engaged.
Our losses in killed are the gallant
General Santocildes, his adjutant, Jose
Sotomayor, Captain Emzbio Tomaz
and twenty soldiers. and our wounded
were Lieut. Colonel Jose Vauquer,
Captain Luis Roller, First Lieutenant
Francisco Sanchez Ortega, Captain
Travesi and ninety-four soldiers. l
cannot ascertain the losses of the
enemy, but it is said that they are
over three hundred"
AS anticipated by all disinterested