Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-12-25
BATTLE OF YACTA FORD.
Gen. Pando's Forces are Badly
Whipped by Insurgents
A Desperate Encounter in which the Cu--
ban Soldiers Put Thousands of Their
Enemies to Flight Pnndo Says
100000 Troops are Needed
in Eastern Cuba.

New York, Dec. % Following In
the Cuban version of the battle fought
at Yacta ford, on the Cuuto river, on
December Ia The details were re-
ceived through the mail by Alfredo
Rodriguez, a Cuban officer, who is in
this city. 1t tells of crushing defeat
inflicted upon the Spanish Gen. Pando.
Rodriguez's correspondent says:
part of Gen. CaliXto Garcia's force
under Lieut.. Col. Rios was holding tho
Yacta ford. 1t was important for Pam
dos forces to reopen the river in order
that reinforcements might be sent To
the city eff Bayamo, besieged by Cen
Roloff. Gen. Carcass main force was
little further up the river, protecting
ford threatened by Pando. Gen. AL
dave, in command of 1000 Spanish
regulars, a squadron of cavalry and
light gunboats, attacked Rios. Dis
posing of his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta ford, Aldaye
opened a hot fire on the insurgent
works on the opposite side of the river
Rios, seeing that he could not hold
his position without help, sent couT-
ier, Lieut.. Hickman, an American, to
Gen. Garcia, up the river. Hickman
had to ride directly through the enc
my's fire, but made the passage safely
Meanwhile Gen. Aldave landed 800
more men on the farther side and Gen.
Pando with large force made feint
upon the upper ford. Garcia, deceived
by Pandos movement, decided that he
could spare only small reinforcement
to Col Rios and sent Col. Carlos Garcia
with only 200 mounted men down the
river. This reinforcement small as it
was, renewed the hopes of the defend
ers of the ford and they charged the
Spanish force with the bayonet The
Cubans, however, were so heavily out
numbered that they were forced to
give way.
By this time Gen. Garcia had seen
through Pando's feints on the upper
ford and sent Gen. Rabi with 1000 cav
airy to their relief. These arrived just
as the Spanish force was recovering
ground from the machete charge and
fell suddenly upon their rear, throw
ing the troops who had crossed the
ford into confusion. The Spaniards
had to give ground and became ex-
posed to the fire from their own artil-
lery and from the six gunboats which
had joined in the bombardment OF
Rios men. Gen. Aldave ordered this
| fire to cease, reformed his attacking
party and sent to Gen. Pando for as
sistance. But it was too late.
The Cubans, reforming, fell upon the
| Spanish ranks with terrible effect One
thousand guerillas were cut off from
| Aldave's force and threw down their
arms. Gen. Rabi told them they must
fight their own comrades or be cut to
pieces and they obeyed and fought des-
perately for the Cuban side. Gen. 81
dave withdrew his men across the
ford. Gen. Pando rode down from the
upper ford and directed the Spanish
retreat. The Cuban loss was 106 killed
and about 800 wounded Rabi's men
found 200 Spanish dead and Gen. AL
dave in his official report said his
wounded numbered 200. The Cubans
believe they inflicted much more dam
age.
Gen. Garcia promoted Hickman, the
daring courier, to the rank of captain
Pando has reported to Gen. Blanco
that 100, 900 men are needed to break
the back bone of the insurgent opposi-
ton in the east and that it is no longer
practicable to continue the campaign
| to relieve Bayamo