The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-14
GOMEZ DESCRIBES A BATTLE.
How With an Inferior For0e the Gu
bans Won 1T Saratoga.

How With an Inferior For0e the Cu-
bans Won 1T Saratoga.
New York Sun
Senior Teu,as Estrada Palma the Cuban
delegate IN this cssy, has received the fol-
lowing letter from Gen Maxine Gomez.
the commander-in-chiaf OF the patriot
army:
Carvat& Canaguey June T.
Men ard ammunition IN large quantities
have been cent from Santa Clara 10 Gen.
Antonio Maceo. With my headquarters
a. the Valley OF Manajanabo I was able 70
protect the advance OF the convoy. which
was several times attacked by the enemy
In the first days Of the march. bat fortu-
nateiy their plans were defeated and our
brave lieutenant general IS not now IN
want Of anything. Soon after this start
ed on my way to this province IL order TO
continue my work of organization and pre-
pare everything for the summer campaign.
50 as not TO leave the enemy ore mo-
ment's rest before the campaign Of next
winter which VIII be active in the ex-
tregne IN every portion OF the island
On May Is crossed the trccha OF Moron.
and had scarcely concentrated a part Of
the troops. when on the eth OF this month
I opened the campaign with an important
combat at the estate Saratoga On the
eve of that day. while encsmped at the
above mentioned place, / heard that a
strong Spanish column had arrived AT
Nirta Hermosa. AT dawn / advanced to-
ward them, but on my approach they
slipped past my left wing. and | had 90
countermarch on their trail. They had
finally eDcansped IN the buildings al Sara
toga
At o'clock in the afternoon we were
face 10 face. and the firing began. I had
been Informed that the enemy had over
900 OF their best cavalrymen. and ordered
two sections OF my cavalry, under Lieut..
- L. O.. A e. 500 q ~
Gonzalez Gaiunga, TO advance, and they
did II with such resolution and impetuos-
sty that ] could not hep remembering the
briEtant days of our cavalry In the ten
years war. Seeing that the enemy did not
repulse the attack with their cavalry. I
ordered halt. 80 as not 10 expose my
men 20 the firing OF the Spanish infantry
and artillery. Then / ordered my infan-
try TO attack, protected by small sections
OF cavalry. and the fight became general.
Ny forces occupied the same position,
close to the enemy, throughout the night.
The Spanish fire was incessant from the
entrenchmenty they had made and also
from neigh; were they had placed two
cannon. AT late hour left on the SPOT
only the forces whsch were TO continue
the attack, and took the remainder TO
convenient place where they might rest
and be ready to resume fighting when nee
essary. For not a moment did the firing
stop during the night.
On the morning OF the tenth all my
forces were again before the enemy, and
the struggle became more and more fierce.
Toward noon I advanced against their
main body, and in a desperate attempt 20
escape our deadly fire they tried TO break
through our lines and retreat, or perhaps
IL was 10 save the center OF the column
that they allowed some Of their soldiers 10
be sacrificed. Be Il this or the other tho
fact Is that they advanced with trernen-
dous impulse, and X was with difficulty
tina. I cou,d prevent them reaching the
road by which they could make their re-
treat. Each side then recovered its former
positions, and the engagement continued
without remarkable incident. except that
the Spanish were compelled TO expose
their center 70 a fire which they couldn't
return. The firing was kept up ar that
day and night, cur position being always
the most favorable, both for infiictlng dam
age TO the enemy and escaping the force
OF their volley~.
on the nth. st . o'clock in the morning,
the Spanish column. which had been rein
forced during the night by detachment
or 100 men, resolved at any cost to break
through our lines and they finally sue
ceeded In doing 80. thanks TO their er1p4-
rior numbers. also TO the fresh condition
or their reinforcemenfs. ard especially 70
the fatigue OF any small column, which
consisted Of only GO men. who had been
hghting forty hours against q larger and
better equipped force.
AS soon as the Spanish column began It's
retreat detached two troops OF cavalry
TO follow II. and 50 the column was har-
assed almost until the outskirts OF tho
city OF Puerto Principe were reached
According TO trustworthy sources the
Spanish scss WAS more than 30 rnen We
had eleven killed and thlrtv-one wounded.
Thus has the summer campaign been in
augurated in province which the Spanish
government believed TO be reduced 70 sub
juga.ion. From this and from the ir,port-
ant engagements which have taken place
lately In Pinar del Rio you may fudge of
the strength Of the revolution
II I receive from abroad the resources
that we need, the success OF our next win
ter: campaign win be decisive
~