The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-22

December IA last lHe utNaAS "e'S W
ceiyed through the mails by Captain
Alfredo Rodriguez a Cuban insuTseht
officer, who Is lnvallded in this city,
1t tells of a crushing defeat inflicted
upon the Spanish general, Pando.
Captain Rodrlsuez's correspondent
says: "a part of General caIixto Gar
cla's force under Lieutenant Colonel
Salvador Rios was holding the Yacta
Ford Of the Cauto river. It was import
ant for Pando's force to reopen the
river In order that feinforcements might
be sent to the city of Bayamo' besIesed
by General Roloff,
General CalIxto Garcia's main force
was a little further up the river pro-
tectlng a ford threatened by General
Pando General Aldave, In command o:
two thousand Spanish infantry tresu-
lars) a squadron OF cavalry and three
thousand guerrilla volunteers, twenty
two cannon and six light gunboats, at
tackled Rios
"Dlsposlng his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta Ford Aldave
opened hot fire on the insursent
works on the opposite side OF the river
Rios and his five hundred Cubans re-
tired into the cover of the woods and
the ford was open to the spanlards
passage.
"Aldave advanced column of infan-
try across the ford, holding their rifles
and ammunition belts above their
heads, the men being protected by
continued artillery fire.
rios, seeing that he could not hold
his position without help, sent yotun-
teer courier, Lieutenant Charles Hick-
man, an American. to General Cali&to
Garcia up the river. Hickman had 10
ride directly through the enemy'sr hre,
but made the passage safely.
"Meanwhile General Aldave had land
ed 1900 men on the farther side and
General Pnndo with large force at this
time, made a felnt upon the upper ford,
General Garcia, deceived by Pando's
movement decided that he could spare
only a small reinforcement to Colonel
Rios ana sent Colonel Carlos Garcia
with only two hundred men, down the
river. This reinforcement, small as II
was, renewed the hopes OF the defend
ers OF the Yacta Ford. and theR charg-
ed the Spanish with the bayonet.
"The Cubans, however. wcrH 80 heaN-
ily outnumbered that they were forced
20 give way. Carlos Garc!a's horse was
shot under him and Colonel Rios was
sounded slightly In the leg. Colonel
Garcla's escort renewed the charge
with machetes this time and held the
Spanish forces In check for a short
time.
"By this time. General CalIxto Gar
cla had seen through General Pando's
felnts on the upper ford and dispatched
General Jesus Rabi with 1000 cavalry
TO their relief These arrived just as
the Spanish were recovering ground
from the macheie charge and fell sud
denly upon their rear, throwing the
troops who had crossed the ford into
confusion
"rhe Spanish had to give ground and
became exposed to the fire from their
own artillery in the hills and from the
six aunboats which had Joined IN the
bombardment Of Rios men,
general Aldave ordered this destruc-
tive fire to cease, reformed his attack
ing partv and dispatched a message to
General Pando for assistance IN carry
ing the Cuban position. But 1t was TOO
late, The Cubans. reforming, raised
their battle shout of Al Machete! cuba
Librer and fell upon the Spanish ranks
with terrible effect. \ body of l,OVO
Euerrillas was cut off from Aldaves
force and threw down their arms.
"GeneraI Rabl. knowing the half
henrted loyalty OF these volunteers, told
them that they must fight their own
comrades or be cut to pieces, and they
obeyed and fought desperately on the
Cuban side
General Aldave. seeing that his men
would be annlhlnted, withdrew them
across the ford. again protected by the
artillery fire, General Pando, with an
escort. rode down from the upper ford
and directed the Spanish retreat.
",rhe Cuban loss in this engagement
was nne hundred and six killed and
about three hundred wounded General
Rabis men found two hundred Spanish
dead ana General Aldnve in his report
10 Havana said his wounded numbered
two hundred, The Cubans believe thev
inflicted much more dnmagei thnt Ihe
Spanish troops carried away many OF
their dead and minimi2ed the number
Of wounded, reaching ono-iourth.
Among the Cubans killed was Major
Ienada and Captain Garcia, son of
rich planter. The Spanish left on the
fcld Lieutenant Colonel Llave, twI
captains ana M assistant surgeon aud
the standard Of arms Of the battalion
Llannros.
"Genernl Garcia promoted Hickman,
the daring courier 90 the rank OF cap
tain on the field.
"pando has reported TO General Blnn-
co that 100000 men are needed to break
The back-bon Of the lnsurnent oHposl.
ton In the east ana that II W 40 lon-
ger practicable TO continue the cam.
puign to relieve BnyamO,"