The San Francisco call., 1897-12-22
Garcia's Patriots Carry the
Day Against the Spanish
Regulars.
AN AMERICANS BRAVERY.
Carries a Message Through the Line
OF Fire and Is Promoted Upon
O.. the FieId.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


NEW YORK. Dec. 21-Following is
the Cuban version Of the battle fought
at Yacta Ford, on the Cauto River, last
Wednesday. The details were received
through the mails from Captain Alfre-
do Rodriguez, a Cuban insurgent Off
Ger. who is invaded in this city. 1t
tells Of a crushing defeat inflicted upon
the Spanish general, Pando. Captain
Rodriguez correspondent says:
"A part of General Calixto Garcia's
force, under Lieutenant Salvador Rios,
was holding the Yacta Ford Of the
Cauto River. It was important for
Pando's forces to reopen the river in
order that re-enforcements might be
sent to the city Of Bayamo, besieged
by General Roloff General CaliXto
Garcia's main force was little further
up the river, protecting q ford threat
ened by General Pando. General Al
dave, in command Of 1000 Spanish in
fantry regulars a squadron of cav
airy and 1000 guerrilla volunteers.
twenty-five cannon and six light gun
boats, attacked Rios.
"Disposing 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.
the cover of the woods and the ford
was open for the Spaniards' passage.
"Aldave advanced a column OF infan-
try across the lord, holding their rifles
and ammunition belts above their
heads, the men being protected by a
continual artillery fire. Rios, seeing
that he could not hold his position
without help, sent voluntary courier,
Lieutenant Charles Hickman, an
American, to General Calixto Garcia,
up the river. Hickman had to ride dt-
rectly through the enemy's fire, but
made the pass safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed
1900 more men on the further side, and
General Pando with large force at
this time made a feint upon the upper
ford General Garcia, deceived by
=PandO's movement, decided that he
could spare only small re-enforce-
ment to Colonel Rios, and sent Colonel
Carlos Garcia with only 200 mounted
men down the river. This REINFORCE
ment small as 1t was, renewed the
hopes of the defenders Of the Yacta,
and they charged the Spanish with the
bayonet.
The Cubans, however, were so heav-
lily outnumbered that they were forced
TO give way. Carlos Garcia's horse was
shot from under him, and Colonel Rios
was wounded slightly in the leg. Colo
mel Garcia's escort renewed the charge
with machetes this time and neld the
Spanish forces in check for short
while.
by this time General Calixto Garcia
had seen through General Pando's
feints on the upper ford and dispatched
General Jesus Rabi with 1000 cavalry
TO their relief. These arrived just as
the Spanish were recovering from the
nlachete charge, and fell suddenly upon
their rear, throwing the troops who
had crossed the ford into confusion
The Spanish had to give ground and
became exposed to the fire from their
own artillery in the hills and from the
six gunbOats which had joined in the
bembardment Of Rios men. General
Aldave ordered this destructive fire to
cease, reformed his attacking party
and dispatched a message to General
PandO for assistance in carving the
Cuban position.
. "But it was too late The Cubans.
reforming, raised their battle shout Of
:'Al machete,' Cuba Libre.' and fell
upon the Spanish ranks with terrible
effect A body Of 1000 guerrilIas was
cut off from Aldave's force and threw
down their arms.
General Rabi, knowing the half
hearted loyalty of these volunteers
told them they must fight their own
comrades or be cut to pieces, and they
Sobeyed, and really fought despera teIv
on the Cuban side. General AIdave
seeing that his men would be annihiI-
ated, withdrew them across the ford
again protected by the artillery fire.
General Pando, with an escort. rode
down from the upper ford and di-
rected the Spanish to retreat.
The Cuban loss in this engagement
was 106 killed and about 300 wounded
General Rabps men found 200 Spanish
dead, and General Aldave, in his report
to Havana, said his wounded numbered
200. The Cubans believe they have in
fiicted much more damage, that the
Spanish troops carried away many of
their dead and minimized the number
Of the wounded, reporting only a
fourth. Among the Cubans killed was
Major Lelada and Captain Garcia, a
son of rich planter. The Spanish left
on the field Lieutenant Colonel Have.
two captains and one assistant sur
geon and the standard of arms Of the
battalion Ilanarosa.
General Garcia promoted Hickman,
the daring courier, to captain on the
field.
"Pando has reported to General
Blanco that 100, 900 men are needed to
break the backbone Of the insurgent
opposition in the east and that it is no
longer practicable to continue the cam
paign to relieve Bayamo.
This city General Garcia expects to
capture early in January, being now
able to detach troops from his COM
mand to send to Roloff's aid.
Captain Rodriguez has also received
news that General Maximo Gomez has
crossed the Jahonyu River at Ciego de
AviIa and has continued on his march
to effect a junction with General Rod
riguez.
FIRST CUBAN VERSION