The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-06


mez was to proceed to Camag uay as
general-in chief of the army. Before
the landing of Generals Maceo and
Gomez the majority of those in arms
were co1ored men, but immediately
after, the proportion of white began
to increase, and altnoug h in the prov.
ince of Santiago the colored element
preponderated in the rank ahd file, the
great majority of the officers were
white, while in Camaguey, on the
contrary, the army unde: Gomez from
the beginning was composed almost
exclusively of whites. On the 25th OF
July, the expeditions commanded by
Roloff, Sanchez and Rodriguez landed
in the province of Santa Clara not far
from Trinidad.
From this moment the success OF
the revolution was entirely assured.
Maximo Gomez established his head
quarters not far from the city of Pue.
tro Principe, end devoted himself
with great energy to the organization
of the army, and to devising gener,
al plan OF campaign. The first en-
counter between the Spanish army
and the Cuban forces took place in
the province of Santiago at Los Ne
gros. The Cubans were led by Jesus
Rabi, now a brigadier general, and
although the Cubans were very poor
ly armed, the Spanish forces were
routed. The second encounter was
at Ell Guanabana,. the Spaniards com
manded by Santocides and the Cubans
by General Moso The Spaniards
were again routed, having lost zoe
men. The Cuban loss was 35. The
rext important move made by the
Cubans was the Simultaneous attack
on the villages Ell Cristo and Ell Caney.
and railroad train carrying arms and
ammunition. Both villages were cap
tured by the Cutans and the barracks
destroyed. The train was also cap
tured with 200 rifles and 10000 cart
ridges. These operations were direct
ed By Gen. Maceo. Next came the at,
tack and capture of the fort of Ramon
de las Yaglas, where the Cubans took
possession of $50 rifles and 80, 900 cart.
ridges. Shortly after they attacked
and captured the port OF Campechuela,
which they held for two or three days;
Another important er counter was that
of Yuragnanas, where the Spaniards
were routed, leaving on the field n
dead, arms, ammunition and baggage.
After some Other minor encounters,
about the mid lie of July the impor.
tant battle of Peratejo was fought.
The Spaniarus were commanded by
Gen. Campos himself and the Cubans
by Gen. Maceo. The former was at
terly routed, losing over 400 men,
among them one of their generals,
Fidel Santocides, and Martinez Camp
pos himself came very near falling
into the hands of the Cubans. Next
came the capturer of Baire by the
Cubans. Afterwards came the battle
of Descanso del Muerto, where, the
Spaniards suffered heavy losses and
abandoned arms, ammunition and
baggage.
1.-The increase in number during
August and September of the army
under Gomez in Camaguey, and in
the army in Santa Clara commanded
by Roloff, Sanchez and Rodriguez, en-
couraged General Gomez to prepare
an important movement toward the
west, and he announced that by Christ
mas he would be with his army near
Matanzas and Habana. At the same
time he issued an order to all the
planters of Santa Clara. Mantanzas
and Habana forbidding the grinding
of sugar cane this year. Gen. Marti'
nez Campos then answered that the
sugar crop would certainly be gather
ed this year, and he would see to it,
promising that by the last of Decem-
ber there would not be single rebel
left in Santa Clara province. About
the beginning of October, General
Gomez began to prepare for his march
to the west, and ordered General Ma
Geo to join him as soon as possible.
Some weeks later it was reported by
the Spaniards that General Maceo was
dead; then that his army had been
dispersed, and later that nobody knew
where he and his army were. At that
time General Maceo was going over
the distance of 300 miles at forced
marches to join General Gomez. They
met about Placeta, in the province of
Santa Clara, and continued their
westward march, carrying before
them everything which obstructed
them in their forward movement, and
by Christmas eve both generals were
establishing their headquarters with
in a few miles of Matanzas and da,
bana, while Gen. Campos was flying
to Habana, as he said, to direct opera
tions from the capital. When Gen.
Martinez Campos entered Habana on
the 25th of December he did not know
where his army was, as all communl'
cation between himself and the vari'
GUS divisions had been cut off by the
Cubans. Gomez's promise had been
made good, while General Campos, as
he himself declared in his speech at
Habana, had been entirely undone by
those of whom he had spoken so light,
ly."
Since that time the Cubans have
had one triumph after another. Gen.
Maceo invaded the province or Plnar
del Rio, and oman. % took possession,
of Mantua, the most western town OF
the island. From Nov. 3, when he
started from Holguin, on Jan. % ne
had marched, fighting nearly every
day against the Spanish troops, 37S
Spanish leagues, and had captured
from the enemy three cannons and
about 3, 900 rifles and 80, 900 cartridges,
He had only 80 men killed and l6C
wounded. From Feb. to March Is