Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-22
A CUBAN VICTORY.
BATTLE FOUGHT AT YACTA FORD
on THE CAUTO.
SPANISH DEFEAT CRUSHING
II Is Said to Render Imprncticable
Confirmation of the Campaign
TO Relieve BayamO-Gnllnnt Con-
duet of an American.


NEW YORK. December 2l.-Following
Is the Cuban version of the battle fought
at Yacta Ford, on the Cauto river, on
December 14th last. The details were
received through the mails by Captain
Alfredo Rodriguez, Cuban insurgent OF
fcer, who is invalided in this city. 1T
tells of a crushing defeat inflicted upon
the Spanish general, Pando. Captain
Rodriguezs correspondent says:
"A part of General Calixto Garcia's
force. under Lieutenant-COlonel Salvador
Rios. was holding the Yacta Ford of the
Cauto river. II was important for Pan
dos force to reopen the river, in order
that reinforcements might be sent to the
city of Bayamo. besieged by General
Roloff. General Calixto Garcia's main
force was little farther up the river
protecting a ford threatened by Gene
raj Pando. General Aldave, in com
mand Of 1000 Spanish infantry regulars)'
a squadron of cavalry, and 5000 guerilla
volunteers. with % cannon and light
gunboats, attacked Rios.
"Stationing his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta Ford, AlVlVe
opened a hot fire on the insurgent works
on the opposite side of the Cauto river.
Rios and his 800 Cubans retired into the
cover of the woods. and the ford was
open for the Spaniards' passage.
"Aldave advanced a column OF infantry
across the ford holding their rifles and
ammunition belts above their heads, the
men being protected by a continuous ar
tillery fire. Rios, seeing that he could
not hold his position without help, sent
a volunteer courier, Lieutenant Charles
Hickman, an American. TO General Ca
lixto Garcia, up the river. Hickman had
to ride directly through the enemy's lines
but made the passage safely. Rios
harangued his little band, urging them
to sell their lives dearly, as the cam
paign in the East depended upon ther
successful resistance.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed
800 more men on the farther side, and
General Pando, with a large force, at
this time made a feint upon the upper
ford. General Garcia, deceived by Pan
dos movement, decided that he could
spare only a small reinforcement TO
Colonel Rios, and sent Colonel Carlos
Garcia, with only 200 mounted men,
down the river. This reinforcement
small as it was. renewed the hopes OF
the defenders of the Yacta, and uniting
their cheers with those OF Carlos Gar
cia's men. they charged the Spanish with
the bayonet.
'The Cubans. however, were so heavily
outnumbered that they We're forced TO
give way by the sheer weight of the
enemy. Carlos Garcia's horse was shot
under him, and Colonel Rios was wound
ed slightly in the leg. Colonel Garcia's
escort renewed the charge, with nachetes
this time, and held the Spanish forces in
check for n short while.
"When General Calixto Garcia saw
through General Pando's feint upon the
upper ford, and realized at once how
hard oppressed the insurgents at the Yacts
must be. he dispatched General Jesus
Rabi. with 1000 cavalry. to their relief.
These arrived just as the Spanish were
recovering from the machete charge and
fell suddenly xupon their rear. throwing
the troops who had crossed the ford into
confusion.
SPANISH RETREAT.
"The Spanish had to give ground, and
were exposed TO the fire from their own
artillery on the hills, and from the six
gunboats which had Joined in the bonn
bardment Of Rios's men. General AldaVe
ordered this destructive fire to cease, re-
formed his attacking party. and dis
patched a message to General Pando for
assistance in carrying the Cuban position.
'But il was too late. The Cubans re-
forming, raised their battle shout of al
machete! Cuba libre.' and fell upon the
Spanish ranks with terrible effect a
body Of 1000 guerillas were cut off from
Aldave's force, and threw down their
arms.
General Rabi, knowing the half
hearted loyalty of these volunteers, told
them that they must fight their own
comrades or be cut 10 pieces. They
obeyed, and fought desperately on the
Cuban side.
General Aldave, seeing that his men
would be annihilated, withdrew them
beyond the ford, again protected by the
artillery fire. General Pando, with an es-
cort, rode down from the upper ford,
and directed the Spanish retreat
"The Cuban loss in this engagement
was 106 killed and about 300 wounded.
General Rabrs men found 200 Spanish
dead, and General Aldave in his report TO
Habana said his wounded numbered 200.
The Cubans believe they inflicted much
more damage; that the Spanish troops
carried away many other dead. and mini
mized the number OF wounded, reporting
only one fourth.
among the Cubans killed was Major
IIenada and Captain Garcia, a son Of
rich planter. The Spanish left on the
field Lieutenant-Colonel Llave, two cap
tains. and an assistant surgeon, and the
standard of arms Of the Battalion
Llanaros.
General Garcia promoted Hickman,
the daring courier, to the rank of captain
on the field.
"Pando has reported to General Blanco
that 100000 men are needed TO break the
backbone of the insurgent opposition in
the East, and that II Is no longer prac-
ticable TO continue the campaign TO re-
lieve Bayamo. This city General Garcia
expects to capture early in January. be-
ing now able TO detach troops from his
command to send to Roloff's aid"
Captain Rodriguez has also received
news that General Maxine Gomez has
crossed the Jahonica river, at Ciego de
Avila. and has continued on his march to
effect a junction with General Rodriguez.