The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1897-12-24
BATTLE AT YACTA FORD.
Gen. AIdavs. With a Force of 1000
spaniards. Attacks the insurgents.
The Latter wers Oatnunihere I and Gave
Way. Uitn = CAvairy Eriuf"I cement
Arrived Th. Iitsargent- ksf"rmsd
aud Attac ed the si,an,Arl.

NEw YoKK, Dee. ~ Following Is
the Cuban version OF the battle fought
at Yaeia for,l, ON the Cauto river. on !
December u last The details were
received through the mails by Capt
Alfred Rodriguez, Cuban insurgent |
officer. who !, invalided in this city. |
Il /, Ia Of a crushing defeat inflicted
upon tbs spanish general. Pando.
Capt Rodrignrz's sponient says:
a part Of Gen. Calixto Gareias
force, under Lieut. Col Salvador Rios,
was holding the Yacta ford Of the
Cauto riv,r i. was important for
Pando's force 10 reopen tile river in
order that reinforcrments might be
sent 10 the city Of Bayamo, besciged by
Gen. Rolof. Gen CalixtJ Garcia's
main force was little further up the
river protecting ford threatened by
Gen. Pando. Gen. Aldave. in com
mand Of 1000 spanish infantry lregu-
larsl. a squadron OF cavalry and 5000
guerilla volunteers. p cannon and six
light gunboats, attacked Rios
.Disposing his artillery on the hills
commanding the iaeta ford, Aldave
opened hot fre on the insurgent
works on the opposite side OF the river.
Rios and his 500 Cubans retired into
the cover Of the woods, aud the ford
was open for the spaniards' passage.
"Aldave advanced n column OF in
fantry across the ford. holding their
rides and ammunition belts above
their heads. the men being protected
by u continued artillery err. Rios,
seeing that he could not hold his posi-
ton without help. sent volunteer
courier, Lieut. Chas Hickman, an
American, 20 Gen. Caiixt1 Garcia, up
the river. Hickman had to ride di-
rectly through the enemy's fire. but
made the passage safely.
Meanwhile Gen. Aldavc landed 500
more men on the farther side and
Gen. pando. with large force. at this
time made feint upon the upper
ford. Gen. Garcia, deceived by Pam
dos movement, decided that he could
spare only a small reinforcement to Col.
Rios and sent Col. Carlos Garcia. with
only 200 mounted men. down the river.
This endorsement small A. II was,
renewed the hopes Of the defenders Of
the YactA and they charged the Span
ish with bayoneiA
The CubanA. however. were so heav-
lily outnumbered that they were forced
10 give way. Carlos Garcia's horse was
shot under him, and Col Rios. was
wounded slightly 10 the leg Col. Car
eia's escort renewed the charge with
machctes this time, and held the
/, Spanish forces in check for short
while.
by this time Gen. Garcia had seen
! through Gen. pandos fcintS on the up
per ford and dispatched Gen, Jesui
Rabi. with 200 cavalry TO their relief
They arrived just as the Spanish wer,
recovering ground from the machet,
charge. and fell suddenly upon theii
rear. throwing the troops who lad
crossed the ford into confusion.
/. '.The spanish had 10 give ground
and became exposed 10 the fire from
: their own artillery In the hills anC
o from the six gunboats which had join
n ed In the bombardmcnt of Rios men
i Gen. Aldave ordered this destruc:iv,
y fire 10 cease. reformed his attacking
4 party and dispatched message to Gen
Il Pando for assistance in carrying IN,
d Cuban position.
4 But IL was too late. The cubans
y reforming, raised their battle shout o
l. al Machetei Cuba Libre, and fell up
d on the Spanish ranks with terrible ef
n feet A body OF 900 guerillas was Gu
6 OF from Aldave's force and threw dow
e their arms
E. "Geu. Rabi. knowing the half-hearte'
le loyalty Of these volunteers. told then
e that they must fight their own CON
Is radeS or be cut 10 pieces and the.
re obeyed and really fought dcsperatel
& on the Cuban side
:, .'Gcn. AldAve, seeing that his me
would be annihilated. withdrew ther
II across the ford, again protected by tn
1t artillery fre. Cen. Pando. with an e,
ot eort. rode down from the upper for
IL and directed the Spanish retreat
le The Cuban loss In this engagement
d was 100 killed and about 800 wounded
N Gen. RabI's men found 200 Spanis
ne dead. and Gen. Ladsve. in his repoI
l. 10 Havana, said his wounded numbe
ed 400. The Cubans believe they II
Il fiicted much more damage; that Il
IS Spanish troops carried away many {
II their dead and minimiEed the numb'
'S ofwOunded. reporting only one-fourtl
ID Among the cubans killed was Ma
be Llenda and Capt Garcia, son Of
IL rich planter The Spanish le
on the field Lieut. Col Llave, tw
nd captains and an assistant surgeon an
d. the standard of arms OF the BatalliO
no Llanaros"