The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
A BRAVE CUBAN GENERAL
G.ILLdNrRT IN AND u OF 40
TlON SHoWN By ALFREDO REGO.
The Victory at Cautasris, WHERE with 600 wee
tie Routed $500 spnnisrds = Generosity
AFTER the Rattle That won the Admiratiou
or HIs Foc--Gen. raneo's Oner OF = Brihe.

Cuban army since the outbreak OF the present.
revolution was the battle Of Cantabria, where
Col. Alfredo Reco, with soO 'cavalrymen, dc
feated a force OF 1900 Spauiards. Not only
was the victory n remarkable one. but the In
ciicuts that followed give lustre to the name
Of the Cuban commander.
Alfredo Rego. then netting rs Brigadior>
General % the Cienfuegos brigade, WAS sta
toned at Los pozos. a small stock farm abouh
thirty miles east Of Cienfuegus. awaiting. or
de-s from Gen. NaNimo Gomez. who was on
the eve Of his now historic march through the
island. On Nov. 3, 1895, Eego received word
from the Commander-in-Chie TO notify all
planters in his district engaged In the manu-
facture OF sugar to close their mills within ten
days. II the order was not obeyed Rego was
to attack and destroy the estates. Upon 70
cciyins the printed slip issued by Rego every
plantation, with the exception OF Cantnbria,
closed down. The insurgcnt leader waited the
stipulated ten days, and then wrote a letter to
the owner. 'sa wing that II his former order was
not oboycd within the next twcnty.four hours
the estate would be destroyed.
Il am not a man who takes pleasure in de-
s~troyins other peoples property, but n soldier,
and as such must obey the orders OF my su-
reriors,' ne wrote.
The courier who carried this fnal warning
returned with the answer that more than l,5o0
Spanish We're awaiting inpatiently the visit
OF the patriots. Rc-o AT once set about to ar
range TOR the coming cnrounte'. Orderlies
were de patched in every direction. calling In
the various squafrons Of the brigade. which
were stationed at different points in the dis
trict. Ammunition and such extra arms as
could be obtained were distributed among the
men. The sick. the wounded, ami the un-
armed mon, together with the: impeiimenta,
were sent to the SiSlauea Hospital. RAJ
tons were distributed Tor a three days march,
and an order was published notifying the men
Of the coming fight and appealing to them to
do their duty.
On Nov. - RcSo broke camp at the head Of
500 fully equipped men, and started on his
! march to Cantabria. Word OF the prepara-
tious for the coming attack had reached the
Spanish commander. and he was not slow in
making ready for it. The entire plantation
was surrounded by guards, and skirmishers
were sent out 10 locate the advancing rebels.
so it happened that Hego, who bad counted
upon allowing his men to have 4 nights rest
before going into battle, was forced to attack
a: once. The lighting from the very start was
last and furious. Hidden in the dense cane
fields, where they could not be seen. the
Spaniards poured a steady fire upon the Gu
bans. Rcgo's men. although outnumbe-cd and
poorly armed in comparison with their oppo-
nents. fought gnmely. During seven hours
the uneven fight continued. Several macheto
charges were :maGc. but without any result, as
the horses were unable to break through the
thick brush. The fight was goinr against the
Cubans. who had lost more than $50 men, and
accordingly Rego determined upon a plan
which up to this time he had not used.
! Calling his officers abOut-him he gave them
orders to set lire TO the cane fields and TO form
all their men on the top Of Cantabria hill A
few minutes later the sharp notes of the bugle
sounded the retreat, and the overconfident
SPanisrds broke out into cheers at what they
thought was the signal of their victory. Their
triumphant shouts. however. were soon turned
into cries OF terror, as the rife-like cracking Of
The entire plantation was soon wrapped in
flames. Overhead ftoated dense black clouds
Of OF, sIo6 Sf .b ahF g 9 n III Which, hht1s fs AIM y,b came n9is, the q,
the paniC-stricken enemy. Now and then a
clearing in the smoke revealed the Spaniards
rushing to and fro in their efforts 10 anSwe the
call Of "a semhly."
Reso had drawn his men up, in line Of battle
for the final struggle. 1t came at last, Little
across the fields. Almost at the very brow Of
the hill was the crippled Spanish force. Formed
IN Wai HeiLo~ Rs ssSG ta;nd aTf in his liz s sSsR; a sns sns@s
hi hand: The b9sle sounded Al maGhete,
charged down the hill.
squadron after squadron the men raced down
t o3 b i%G:.I and H rattle sSa OF a Tas near" ga The sA tFs tn sq fn9f
ron. With Rego in the lead. nca-et the hollow
s9q.re. A. The Cuban epnr9achsd The spanish
couraEemcaI 70 their men, Nearer and nearer
eame the Cubans \ yoley like a thunder
by 4 crash. as horses and riders dashed into the
compact wall OF flesh and steel. Like an ava
through the ranks. The erie. OF the wounded
m.ngted with the shouts Of raSe and the clash
several minutes twas give and take: then the
S~paniard, broke and ran. That night more
tom. and hpddied bencajh i large se!ba tree
we're siNty'three prisoners q war, me IN
200, men, Forty-tArce >plnliTis rea he'd the
Now happened rar action which has placed
Hegu in the forrr.H-t ranks OF the men who
fight for Cuban liberty. At day break on the
following morning he sent Is .'iter To- Lieut.. Col:
HERNANDEZ. th'n IN command OF me own OF
HHmanajaGut. saying thhi be was prepared TO
return, u,nharmed,, HI, ,iNi!.ihree prisoners.
flying Culors 10 do 80. WOst was received in
reply that the loyal troops " spain will gladly
receive and catertain so gallant and generous
on Nov. l. col. Rrgo with his entire force APP
u"tr"d on the road leading, into Cgmanajasua.
At has -idc rode The color bearer. behind came
hi, staff, which, was in turn followed by the pris-
orcr.. y the patriot leader .alted, scarcely
i.f1y yards away from tho fort, the flag OF Spain
SaN loWcre! aud raised three times in salute
l.i"9t.-to!. Hernandez, followed by his Fellow
officer. then came forward. and in a few brief
remarks thanked ReHo for his generous act
only by hi, rolor bearer and stan Officers. CoI.
ReSo ACCEPTED the invitation given by the
Spaniari, to breakfast with theIn. Dur.nc the
meal the utmost good fellow hip prevailed. md
only once was Il marred by the action ~ 4 100
ambitions subalrern. Rising from hi chair.
he young man proposed the health Of the Queen.
Fearing some kind OF treachery. III" cuban
officer, sprang to their feet. For \ moment
things looked dark, but with his customary tact
liegn sn!Oothed matters over.
To the Queen. gentlcr4en.' he said. raising
his glass. And now, 10 b. continued after the
toast, 10 our President and Cuba Ltbrc,
A. Rcgo WAS preparing 10 leave the town =
few hours later. his former prisoners crowded
arotud him. Some kissed his hand and others
attempted 10 embrace him. Before leaving he
gave TO each one the sum NJ 5000, 4 few
minutes later, amid cries OF Viva Cuba and
VIVA E-pana," liegu and h- little escort rode
out II Cumana jnzua ant Joined his mon.
\ snort time a.tc-wart ftrgu received a let
rrr from Gen. pandn Of"r'aS him $1,000 and
the rank 1t Iri End.grlrrncrl. in. the Spanish
army II ne would abandon the { 1htn cause. ,
Il would never have acted a. | did, replied
Tt 20, III | bad thought that this would have