The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-05
One Hundred and Thirty Dead Horses.
Many Guns and Some Ammunition
Left on the Field.
GENERAL LUQUE WOUNDED
AND THIRTY OF HIS SPANISH SOL
DIERs SLAIN BY THE ENEMY.
Desperate hut Unsuccessful Charge Of
the IDsurgcnt Cavalry-Atrocitics
Committed by the Troops.

HAVANA, Feb. A report has been re-
ceived that an important engagement has
taken place at Consolation del Sur. east o.
the city of Pinar del Rio, between the Span
ish forces under General Luque and nsur-
gents under Antonio Maceo. The loss of the
insurgents is reported to be sixty-two killed
and over two hundred wounded.
A report received from the province or
Santiago de Cuba says that the column un>
der command of Colonel Tejeda, numbering
eight hundred men. had fight at Ojocci-
nado with the bands OF Jose Maceo, Boune
and Borrero. which had acted escort for
the insurgent government. Their position
and camp were taken. and they were forced
to retreat, leaving seventeen killed, with
arms and a quantity of ammunition.
A detailed official report says the battle
was fiercely contested and the advantage is
claimed to be all on the side of the Spanish
as a result. But it is significant that Ma
ceo's forces, instead of being turned back
to the westward, proceeded on their way
towards Havana province after the Rattle
The following points are gathered from the
official report of the engagement: General
Luoue left the city of Pinar del Rio at
o'clock on the morning of Feb 2 Sunday,
in search of an gagement with the main
force of the insurgents, who were known TO
be in that district. General Luuue had the
advantage OF the directions Of a skilful
guide, who was apparently posted as to the
whereabouts of the insurgents, and agreed
to lead them to the camp occupied by the
insurgent leaders-Msceo, Miro. Zavas, Chi
| leno and Solomaor. At o'clock in the even
! ing the Spanish columns arrived at Arroyo
| de Aqua, and here they rested on their
| arms until midnight of Sunday, when they
| took.u their line of march again. following
! the direction of the railroad which runs be-
tween Consolation del Sur and Paso Real.
AT o'clock yesterday CMonday) the Span
| ish had arrived at the farm of Candelara
| on their way to San Diego de los Banos,
but they turned south again towards La
Horra Dura, and, continuing their march,
! they met the insurgents about o'clock in
| the afternoon at the town of Paso Real.
| An attack was Immediately opened on the
| insurgents in the town. They held their
position with the greatest tenacity, making
their defense in the village itself from the
vantage grounds Of the houses and the walls
of the streets. From these points it was
Z found difficult to dislodge them, though a
| fire was directed on them from all Sides
|
The Spanish formed for regular and
systematic attack, the vanguard of the
| columns under Colonel Hernadez charging
their position by the left flank. while the
| center and read guard of Spanish under
the direct command of General Luque forced
themselves into the central street of the
village and attacked by the right flank,
charging with vigor and determination
Seeing their position thus imperiled and
| themselves in danger of having their re-
| treat cut off, the insurgents made q rapid
retreat to the extreme western limits of the
| village doing some fighting during the re-
| treat. Here they formed their lines for a
| further stand against the attack of the
| Spaniards. volley from the rifles of the
troops failed to break the lines OF the in
surgent forces. They were given a second
| volley, but still they stood their ground
and even in the face of third volley of
| rife bullets they refused to bulge an inch
| and obstinately maintained their formidable
! line.
| The Spanish cavalry was then ordered to
charge and it swept down with great valor
on the devoted bands led by Lieutenants
Herrera and Berenguer The insurgents
were unable to stand this onslaught. Their
formation was broken and they were put
4
cavalry sabres. They were pursued by the
| Spanish cavalry outside the limits of the
village. but the pursuers were here met by
! a force of insurgent cavalry numbering q
thousand and the pursuit was checked.
The insurgents cavalry made stand and
met the attack OF the Spanish, covering
| the retreat Of their friends and stubbornly
| refusing to give way in face OF the Spanish
fire until the Spanish infantry came up
Meanwhile the Cubans had worked their
way into the Gale Real and once more
made vigorous stand against the on
| slaught of the Spanish troops. The battal-
ion OF San Quintan advanced on them, but
| it was only after repeated volleys had been
fired into them that their position was
taken and the village was in possession of
the Spanish. Still the insurgents did not
abandon the field, but only gave back be-
fore the troops and prepared to make last
stand in a palm grove about three kio-
metres distant. Here they formed line
of defense again, the center being further
advanced than the hanks. and awaited an
attack.
INSURGENT CAVALRY CHARGE.
The line OF the troops was formed by two
companies of the battalion Of Sabaya and
one company of the battalion of Galicia on
the left wing under Colonel Hernandez, a
battalion and three companies OF the San
Quintin Regiment, with the colonel in COM
mand, but under the immediate orders of
Gen. Luque. for the center. and one COM
pany of the Scarf Regiment. and two of the
Alfonso Trece. under Lieutenant Colonel
Y.de Fonso Frances. on the right wing.
The artillery under Lieutenant Scion was
placed between the center right wing and
opened fire upon the enemy at distance
of six hundred yards. The insurgent cav
airy did not attempt the near approach OF
the Spaniards. but dashed down the de-
ciivity out Of the palm grove and charged
full on the Spanish formation with what
the official terms a savage valor. These in
trcpid horsemep threw themselves upon the