The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-13
The Cuban Insurgents Defeated
by the Spaniards.
THREE BRILLIANT CHARGES
Great Loss to the Cubans in
Killed and Wounded.
THE BATTLE LASTED ALL DAY
Reinforcements are Arriving From
Spain and Extensive Operations
viii be inaugurated Against
the insurgents.

the insurgents.
Havana, Feb. IA dispatch re-
ceived here from Santa Clara, capital
OF the province Of that name, from Gen
eral Oliver, the Spanish commander in
that district, announced a serious de-
feat Of the insurgents nder Seraffn
Sanchez and Mirabe1 two of the most
important insurgent leaders outside
Of the province of Havana. The fol-
lowing details of the engagement have
been received:
Gen. Oliver hearing that Serafin
Sanchez and Alirabel at the head of
numerous force of insurgents were
moving on Camaiuani, ordered Col.
Lopez, at the head Of 500 cavalry and
infantry, to leave Remedies, northeast
of Camaiuani, where the troops were
I'll garrison, and to engage the enemy.
The Spanish troops left Remedios at
o'clock in the morning (date not
given, supposed to be Monday and
arrived at Camaiuani at o'clock the
same night. The troops we're aroused
and left Camaiuani, going in the direc
ton of Palo Prieto where the advance
guards of the insurgents were station
ed 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 shooting distance be
fore engaging the insurgents. When
xasaII IN hand
and in battle formation, Col. Lopez
ordered the attack commenced. This
was done with effect, 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 grounds, the insurgent
sharpshooters keeping up harrassing
fire as they retreated. But, when the
troops reached a 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, afterwards
ascertained to be a strong reinforce
ment of insurgents under Leotcio
Vidal and Betancourt, moved up on
Col Lopez's force in the centre. Col.
Lopez was thus in danger of being
surrounded by much superior and
well armed force of insurgents. To
his right and on his left were the main
bodies Of the attacking insurgents un-
der Serafin Sanchez and Mirabel. They
were composed OF mounted and dis
mounted men in about equal numbers.
But the centre force of the insurgents
was mainly infantry.
Under these circumstances Col.
Lopez ordered the troops TO form
square. This WAS done with great
e0o.ness under the fire of the enemy,
and eventually the insurgents chaTg-
ed upon the square from three sides
with rnachefes the rear of the Spanish
column being somewhat protected by
a stone way and natural defenses IN the
shape of thick brushwood ard i ravine
difficult to cross.
The insurgents charged with he
greatest courage, III spite of the fire
of the troops, waving their machetes
In the air and cheering for Cui5a. Their
first attack was repulsed; but they
were not long i'm returning TO the
charge with the same gallantrY. This
tine the insurgents reached almost up
to the Spanish square. But once more
they were driven back, this time in
disorder The insurgent leaders made
another attempt TO rally their forces,
and a small body Of insurgent cavalry
was led to the attack for the third
time. But when about dozen Of their
| horses had been shot down, throwing
them into confusion, the insurgents
retreated for good after keeping up
for nearly an hour a scattering fire
which was severe enough to prevent
the troops from pursuing the enemy.
III was not until o'clock in the af-
ternoon that firing ceased and fatigue
parties were sent out to gather up the
| insurgent dead and wounded while the
Spanish cavalry pursued the retreat
ing bodies of the enemy, The soldiers
found 48 dead insurgents on the field
| and it was estimated by fairly accurate
count that the enemy carried away
| 130 wounded men in addition to num-
ber of their wounded who fell too close
TO the Spanish square TO permit 81 their
| friends carrying them off.
The troops lost Major Tones, Ser
geant Otero and four soldiers Killed
and had lieutenant, one sergeant ana
so soldiers wounded.
The insurgents in this province yes
terday, made a daring attack upon
body OF 40 recently modified troops
who were on their way from San
Nicolas to Havana The insurgents
were under the leadership Of Perez and
MARTINEZ, but, they were compelled to
| retreat when a detachment Of the ba-
tallion Of volunteers was sent against
| them. The enemy retreated to Chica-
chica.
A column Of troops, commanded by