The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
General Pando's Force of Nearly 5000
spaniards, Assisted by Six Gum
boats, Forced to Retreat.
400 KILLED AND. WOUNDED
WHILE THE INsURGENT LOSS WAS
1O6 SLAIN AND 800 INJURED.
An American Courier Promoted for
Drawing the Spanish Fire-WeyIer's
Policy Favored by Conservatives.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21.--Below is the Cuban
version of the battle fought at YacEa ford
on the Cauto river, Dec IA last. The de-
tails were received through the mails by
Captain Alfredo Rodriguez, Cuban insur-
gent officer who is an invalid in this city.
1t tells of a crushing defeat inflicted on the
Spanish general Pando Captain Rodriguez's
correspondent says: "A part of Gen. CaliXto
Garcias force, under Lieutenant Colonel
Salvador Rios, was holding the Yacta ford
of the Cauto river. 1t was important for
Pando's forces to reopen the river in order
that reinforcements might be sent to the
City of Bayamo besieged by General T2oloff.
General Garcia's main force a little
further up the river, protecting a ford
threatened by General Pando. General AL
dave, in command of two thousand Span
ish infantry (regulars), a squadron of cav
airy and 5000 guerrilla volunteers twenty
two cannon and six light gunboats, attacked
Rios. Disposing his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta ford, Aldave opened
a hot fire on the insurgent works On the
opposite side of the river Rios and his 500
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 am
munition belts above their heads, the men
being protected by a continued artillery fire.
Rios, seeing that he could not hold his posi-
ton without help, sent a volunteer courier,
Lieut.. Charles Hickman, an American, to
Gen. Calixto Garcia, up the river. Hick-
man had to ride directly through the enc
mys fire. but made the passage safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed 1900
men on the farther SIDE and General PandO
with large force at this time made feint
on the upper ford. General Garcia, de-
ceived by Pando's movement, decided that
he could spare only a small reinforcement to
Colonel Rios and sent Col. Carlos Garcia
with only 200 mounted men down the river.
This reinforcement, small as 1t was, renewed
the hopes of the defenders of the Yacta,
and they charged the Spaniards with the
bayonet. The Cubans, however, were so
largely outnumbered that they were forced
to give way. Carlos Garcas horse was
shot under him and Colonel Rios was
wounded slightly in the leg. Colonel Gar
cia's escort renewed the charge with mach
etes this time, and held the Spanish forces
in check for a short while.
by then General Calixto Garcia had seen
through General Pandos feints on the upper
ford, and dispatched General Jesus Rabi
with LOCO cavalry to their relief. These ar
AlNSU just oS lH0 OpdliISit5 WE'RE IcCONeIlDS
ground from the machete charge, and fell
suddenly on their rear, throwing the troops
who had crossed the ford into confusion.
The Spanish had to give ground, and be-
came exposed to the fire from their own
| artillery Gin the hills, and from the six gun
boats which had joined Ain. the lombard
ment of Ross men. General Aldave Or
dered this destructive fire to cease, reformed
his attacking party and dispatched mes
sage to General Pando for assistance in
carrying the Cuban position But it was too
late, the Cubans, reforming, raised their
battle shout of .'Al Machete! Cuba Libre!''
ana fell on the Spanish ranks with terrible
erect. body of 1UUO guerriilas was cut
off from Aloave'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 to pieces and they obeyed and really
fought desperately on the Cuban side. Gen
eral Aldave, seeing that his men would be
annihilated, withdrew them across the ford,
again protected by the artillery fire Gen
eral Pando, with an escort, rode down from
the upper ford and directed the Spanish
retreat Eses1
The Cuban loss in this engagement was
100 killed and about 300 wounded. General
Rabi'S men found POO Spanish dead, and
said his wounded numbered 200. The Cuba bans
believe they inflicted much more damage;
that the Spanish troops carried 3,Way many
of their dead and minimized the number of
wounded reporting only one-fourth. Among
the Cubans killed was Major Llenada and
Captain Garcia, son of a rich planter
The Spanish left on the field Lieutenant
Colonel Lave two captains and assist
ant 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 70 General Blanco
that 100 000 men are. needed to break the
backbone of the insurgent opposition in the
east, and that it is no longer practicable to
continue the campaign TO relieve Bayamo.
This city General Garcia expects to cap
ture early in January, being now able to
detach troops from his command to send
to Roloffs 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 juno