The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-23
BIG D1TTLE IN CUBA.
Spanish Gen. Pando Whipped
In a Hot Contest.
A HEROIC AMERICAN OFpICER.

Lieu enant Hickman Braved Spanish
Fire aud Secured BeinforoemeDts.
River Ford Taken and Retsken Span.
fish Volunteers Captured.
NEwYoRK. Dec. 22.-Following IL
the Cuban version of the battle fought
at Yacta ford, on the Cauto river, on
Dec. Ia last, received through the mails
by Captain Alfredo Rodriguez, q Cuban
insurgent of GER, who is invalided in
this city. 1t tells Of a crushing defeat
inflicted upon the Spanish general,
Pando. Captain Rodriguez correspond
ent says:
"A part of General Calixto Garcias
force, under Lieutenant Colonel Saliva
dor Rios, was holding the Yacta ford OF
the Cauto river. 1t was important 70,
Pando's force to reopen the river in or.
der that reinforcements might be sent
to the city of Bayamo, besieged by Gen
eral Roloff. General Calixto Garcia's
main force was little further up the
river, protecting q ford threatened by
General Pando. General Aldave, in
command of 1900 Spanish infantry
(regulars), squadron of cavalry and
5000 guerrilla volunteers, 22 cannon
and six light gunboats, attacked Rios
"Disposing his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta ford Aldave
opened O hot fire ON the insurgent
works on the opposite side Of the river.
Rios and his 500 Cubans retired into
the cover Of the woods and the tord
was open for the Spaniards' passage.
"Aldave advanced a column of in.
fantry across the ford, holding their
rites aud ammunition belts above their
heads, the men being protected by a
continued artillery fire. Rios, seeing
that he could not hold his position
without help, sent volunteer courier,
Lieutenant Charles Hickman, an Amer.
lean. to General Calixto Garcia, up the
river. Hickman had to ride directly
through the enemy's fire, but made the
passage safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed
1,50J more men on the farther side and
General Pando, with q large force, at
this time made q feint upon the upper
ford. General Garcia, deceived by
Pando's movement, decided that he
could spare only O small reinforcement
to Colonel Rios, aud sent Colonel Carlos
Garcia, with only 200 mounted men
down the river. This reinforcement,
small as it was, renewed the hopes OF
the defenders of the Naota, and they
charged the Spanish with the bayonet
The Cubans, however, were sc
heavily outnumbered that they were
forced to give way. Carlos Garcia's
horse was shot under him, and Colonel
Rios was wounded slightly in the leg.
General Garcia's escort renewed the
charged w tn machetes this time, and
ri Ln In
short while.
"By then General Calixto Garcia had
seen through General Pando's feints on
the upper ford and dispatched Gene RAJ
Jesus Rabi with 1000 cavalry to their
relief. These arrived just as the Span.
ish were re overlng ground from the
ma hete charge and fell suddenly upon
their rear, throwing the troops who had
crossed the ford into confusion.
1.-THE spanish had to give ground and
became expo ed to the fire from their
own artillery in the hills and from the
six gunboats which had joined in the
bombardment of Rios men. General
Aldave ordered this destructive fire to
cease, reformed his attacking party and
dispatched q message to General Pando
for assistance in carrying the Cuban po-
sition.
"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 lody of 1000 guerrillas was
cut off from Aldave's force and threw
down their arms.
General Rabi, kno wing the half.
hearted loyalty of these volunteers,
told them that they must fight their
Haa nVh ha ntrt tn nd
they obeyed and really fought desper-
ately on the Cuban side.
General Aldave, seeing that his men
would be annihilated, withdrew them
across the ford again protected by the
artillery fire. General Pando, with an
escort. rode down from the upper ford
ana directed the Spanish retreat.
1.-The Cuban loss in this engagement
was l06 killed and about 800 wounded.
General Rabi's men found 200 Spanish
dead, and General Aldave, in his re.
port to Havana, said his wounded mum.
bered 200. The Cubans think they in
tiicted much more damage; that the
Spanish troops carried away many of
their head and minimized the number
of wounded, reporting one.fourth.
Among the Cubans killed was Major
Llenada and Captain Garcia, son of
rich planter. The Spanish left on the
field Lieutenant Colonel Lave, two
captains and an assistant surgeon and
the standard Of arms of the Battalion
Llanaros.
General Garcia promoted Hickman,
the daring courier, to the rank of cap.
tain on the field.
"PandO has reported to General
Blanco that 10000 men are needed to
break the backbone OF the insurgent
opp sition 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 command to send to
RoiOff's aid
Captain Rodriguez has also received
news that General Maxine Gomez has
crossed the Jahonica river, at Ciego de
Avlla, and has continued on his march
to effect II junction with General
Rodriguez.