Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-12-28
THE CUBAN VERSION I'
Battle of the cauto ~
Crushing Spanish Ds,s,,
AMERICAN OFFICERS Ru,v.
Though Confronted by a sun.,,..
the Insurgents Inflicted r.,
Punishment ON the Rrou

sion OF the battle fought at Yac,,
on the Cauto river, Decembp, %
has been received through the n,i'
Captain Alfredo Rodrigupz a ~,
lnsurgent officer, who is %inyalSJ
this city. 1t tells OF a rusbiDa n
inflicted upon the Spanish Gs.'
Pando. Captain Rodripue,,
spondent says:
"A part OF General Calixtn G,,a
force under Lieutenant.Colorg
vador Rios was holding the Yac,
OF Ihe Cauto river. 1t was imDn. :
for Pando's forces to reopen tha I,
in order that reiforcements mi,l9
sent to the city of BayamO, beiv
by General Roloff. General an
Garcia's main force was A ljttle i,+I
up the river. protecting a ford NM
ened by General Pando. Gp,.l
Aldave, in command of 1000 SnD
infantry, ''regulars," a suuajm +
cavalry and 5000 guerilla vOluDtw
22 cannon and six light gunbas
tackled Rios.
"Disposing his artillery on the
comm anding the Yacta ford, AN,
opened a hot fire on the ipsna
works on the opposite side Of the I'D
Rios and his 800 Cubans retind
the cover of the woods, and ts
was open for the Spaniards paaaa
'Aldave advanced a column Of
fantry across the ford, holding Id
rifles and ammunition belts above HI
heals, the men being protected
continual artillery fire. Rios, a
that he could not hold his pai
without help, sent a volunteer cuH
Lieutenant Charles Hickman,
American, to General CalixtO Gla
up the river. His courier had Di1
directly through the enemy's fire.
made the passage safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave land
1900 more men on the further il
and General Pando, with a largetr
at this time made a feint on the uH
ford. General Garcia, deceived
Pando's movement, decided that
could spare only a small reinfOrenaI
to Colonel Rios, and sent COa!
Carlos Garcia with only 200 mount
men down the river. This reintai
ment, small as it was, renewed
hopes of the defenders OF the Yacta, 4
they charged the Spanish with
bayonet.
1.-THE Cubans, however, were
heavily outnumbered that they u
forced to give way. Carlos GaEti
horse was shot from under hin,
Colonel Rios was slightly wOunda
the leg. Colonel Garcia's escOli
newed the charge with machete''
time, and held the Spanish iOFs
check for q short while.
by then, General CaliKto ai|
had seen through General fan9|
feint on the upper ford, and despa''|
General Rabi, with 1000 caviar!
their relief. These arrived JUST j
Spanish were recovering from the
chete charge, and fell suddenly v
their rear, throwing the troops v
had crossed the ford into COTlaa1
The Spanish had to give gIOunnJ \
became exposed to the fire from y
own artillery from the hills ana y
the six gunboats, which had lO'n y
the bombardment of Rios men, y
eral Aldave ordered this hire 70 u !,
reformed his attacking party anu ~.
patched a message to 'Ienela' 81
for assistance in carrying 'H' w
position. =.
"But it was too late. line Vu',
reforming. raised their battle sHV'
"a la machete, Clba libre' auu
upon the Spanish ranks WIN "'''
effect.
"a body OF 1000 guerillas wa 4,
off from Aldave's force anu p,
down their arms. General ~, ~
knowing the half-hearted lCss.! /.
these volunteers, told them 'hs 4, !. !
fight their own comrades or U'' ].
pieces, and they obeyed' anu " .
fought desperately on the qua, .h,t
General Aldave, seeing si,Si
men would be annihilated' WIZ
them across the fora, aga'" p.,
by the artillery fire. Genera, ina
with an escort, rode down irOm III
per ford and directed the oP'
treat.
"The Cuban loss in TINS ens s%Sn
was 100 killed and about SV OoO "S ~,
General Rabi's men found wv ", W I,
dead and General Aldave, IN na
to Havana, said his wounded a .Ssv
zoo. The Cubans believe Wv .,
inflicted much more damage al
Spanish troops carried avn" .s, mi
their dead, and minimizeI wv ".'o,
of wounded, reporting only U .rs. II
Among the Cubans killed We" sonI
Lelada and Charles Garcia = !,
rich planter. The Spanish SHE lei, ~ !.
6eld Iientenant-Col lave ~