The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-15
CASTELLANOS' CAMPAIGN


III the south OF Cnbu-somo Real Fight.
tug with the hnsurGomt.-A TrIumphHI
MurcIi, According TO spanish RsPOTtS.
HAVANA, March 1I.-Gencral Jnne-
nez Castellaaos, owing TO persistent ru-
mors that the insurgent government
had It's headquarters. at San Geronimo,
Puerto Principe. decided to take the
field on the south. Proceeding by tht
Yeguas road at the head Of strong
column OF regulars, he began TO cncoun-
ter groups Of insurgents at u distance
of about mile and n half from the
city OF Puerto Principe, on arriving
at the Los C!uveles farm, a distance OF
about Gfty kilometres from the city, he
engaged the advance guard uf the in
surgents, and a hot fight cnsued. The
insurgents were dispersed. but the
troops, owing 10 the lack Of water, were
compelled to fall back to the farm Of
La Union de lanes.
At dHybfcak Of jth. the march was re-
newed in the direction Of the ArOniueZ
ranch. The front and the right flank
OF the column opened an extensive and
hot firing. and after an hours fighting
the insurgents We're dispersed BY the
Taragota battalion and Its forces.
which used artillery.
The insurgents retired in two wings
and. were pursued until they disappear
ed This ended the combat. The col
umn continued the march TO Aranguez,
the insurgents retiring on II arrival.
Finding the water supply completely
exhausted, General CastellanOs pushed
on 10 the Yeguns river, camping on its
banks. on the 9Th and on the mOrRIng
OF the Tth the fort was attacked by the
insurgents, but energetically defended,
with a loss TO the insurgents OF three
killed. The insurgents camped close to
the fort on the night Of the Sth.
DuriRg tbs Idvance OF the column from
the YeGuGs river. Il was fired on fre-
Quently during the sixth, but continued
10 san Geronimo, with constant firing
upon the advance guard ind tife tanks
until Las Large WIS reached Here the
insurgents were IN ambush IN the woods,
while a considerable party was IN the
valley. Tue column dispersed them and
renewed the march toward San GerUnt'
mo- where It finally went into camp 2.
there was no water elsewhere. Within
two hours the insurgents resolutely At
tackled the position, failing upon the ad-
vance guard. But the letter being rein
forced, repulsed them, using the artillery.
During the day, the camp was tTice at
tackled by considerable insurGent forces
who, believing that a surprise was poSst-
bic, fought resulutely and were only re-
pulsed with artillery.
On the 7tb, after rroUnnoitering for
long distance. the marshes surrounding
San Geronomino without meeting the In.
surgents, the Spanish column returned
TO the Yeglias. II had skirmish in cht
Carmel woods, camping there during the
night, the advance guard was hred on
on the Sth, the column marched e
Santa Cruz farm, after withdrawing the
garrlsOn that had been left at the fort
Shortly afterwards the scouts were nred
on and, when the column reached Por-
Cavo farm the insurgents appeared on
tho rlgh; flank, partly hidden by the
woods. They opened hot lire, but were
repulsed' after several hours hard hght-
ing.
Santa Cruz farm was reached, the insuF-
gents opened fire on the vanguard anu
the right flank. They were intrenched
behind a natural cmbankment formed by
n dried up stream. The Spanish ardl-
lary and cavalry forces were uscd 70
,.lZe the stronghold. and the fight laSted
more than two hours The water sup
ply nj Santa Cruz being exhausted Gen.
CIsteIlanos was compelled 10 leave Iot
Las Clayeles, from which point ne push
ed on TO Puerto Principe, reaching tne
CITY about noon. He lost one lieutenant
killed. three lIeutcnants wounded, SIX
rer1iiars killed and twenty wounded. IL
h estimated that the insurgents loSSes
were fOrty-SeNcn.