Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-02-17
FIGHT WITH MACHETTES.
Insurgents BraVely but UnsucceSS-
fully Attack a "Square' OF
Spanish Troops.

Havana, Feb. PA dispatch re-
ceived here from Santa Clara, capital OF
the province of that name, from Gen.
Oliver, the Spanish commander in that
district, announces a serious defeat OF
the insurgents under Serafin Sanchez
and Mirabel, two of the most importa mt
insurgent leaders outside of the province
of Havana.
The following details of the engage
ment have been received here. Gen.
Oliver, hearing that Sanchez and Mira
bel, at the head of a numerous force of
insurgents, were moving on CamaJuanl,
ordered Col. Lopez at the head of SUI
cavalry and infantry to leave Remedies,
northeast of Camajuani, where the
troops were in garrison, and to engage
the enemy. The. Spanish troops let
Remedies at o'clock in the morning
date not given, supposed to be Monday
and arrived at Cana juani at 8 O'Clock
the same night The troops were
aroused at an early hour the next morn
ing and left Camajuani, going in the di-
rection of Palo Prieto, where the adj
vance guard of the insurgents were sta
toned. The latter opened fire upon the
troops as soon as the soldiers were well
within range.
For some time the Spaniards did not
reply, wishing to get within better shoot
ing distance before engaging the insur
gents. When the Spanish column was
well in hand and in battle formation
Col. Lopez ordered the attack to com
mence. This was done with effect, a
sharp and well directed fire being kept
up by the troops until the advance guard
of the insurgents retreated upon its main
body, after having replied vigorously
The Spaniards continued to advance over
difficult ground the insurgents sharp
shooters keeping uD ha-rassing fire as
they retreated.
But when the troops reached large
open space of territory, having high
ground to the right and left front, the
insurgents suddenly appeared in strong
force to the right and left of the troops
and another body of the enemy, after
wards ascertained to be a strong rein
forcement of insurgents under Leoncic
Vilad and Betancourt, moved up to Col
Lopez's force in the center. Col. Lopez
was thus in danger of being surrounded
e5rce of Insurgents. To his right and
on his left were the main bodies OF
the attacking insurgents under Sanchez
and Mirabel. They were composed OF
mounted and dismoun+ed men III about
equal numbers. But the center force OF
the insurgents was mainly infantry.
Under these circumstances Col. Lopez
OFuorou Tie lIOOpo W 1OILI oQudAC
This was done with great GOODNESS under
the fire of the enemy and eventually the
insurgents charged upon the square from
three sides with machettes, the rear OF
the Spanish column being somewhat pro
tected by a stone wall and natural de
lenses, in the shape of thick brush wood
and a ravine difficult to cross.
The insurgents charged with the great
est courage in spite of the fire of th<
troops, waving their machettes in tho
air and cheering for Cuba. Their frs
attack was repulsed, but they were no
long in returning to the charge with the
same gallantry. This time the insurgents
reached almost up to the Spanish square
But once more they were driven back
this time in disorder. The insurgen1
leaders made another attempt to rail-!
their forces and small body of insur
gent cavalry was led to the attack fol
the third time. But when about 6
dozen of their horses had been sho
down it threw the whole force into con
fusion, the insurgents retreating for good
after, however, keeping up for nearly
an hour a scattering fire which was
severe enough to prevent the troops from
pursuing the enemy.