Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-04-15

unimportant bands in Matanzas and San
ia Clara had been dispersed or had sur
rendered. Puerto Principe was unani-
mously in favor Of peace. But Maso,
Knowing well how to receive such reports,
refused to yield. He had confidence in
the landing of Maceo, MART and Gomez.
He knew the great moral effect that the
presence of those leaders in the field was
going to have on the Cuban people: and
Spain knew it also. The news that MaceO
was in Cuba reached Madrid shortly after
the overthrow of the Sagasta cabinet.
Canovas, then in power, resolved tc fight
the revolution with the first of the Spanish
generals and with all the resources of the
nation. Gen. Calleja was recalled and
Cen. Martinez Cumpos was sent ~ Cuba
with 25,0O0 soldiers.
Martinez Campos landed In GuantanO-
ma, Santiago de Cuba, on April 16, 1885.
His first impression was pessimistic and
the long chain of defeats inflicted upon
his command until December of the same
year proved how right he was in believing
from the first day of his arrival that this
war was to be more important than the
previous one Of 1868. He wasted Il great
deal of time in useless trips by sea to Ha-
vana and again to the East. Maceo was
preparing in the meantime his men and
Gomez was formulating the plan of the
great invasion of the West in order to
carry the revolution to all the provinces
and establish in each one a regular body
Of the Cuban army.
July IL, 1880, Is the memorable date of
the battle of PeralejO. The war had been
until then confined almost to the province
of Santiago de Cuba, with some small
bands of patriots roaming through Puerto
Principe and keeping up only an unimpor-
tant guerrilla warfare. But Maceo had
already obtained some notable triumphs,
and Martinez Campos decided to carry re-
endorsements to the Spanish towns in the |
interior which were in great danger of at |
tack by the insurgents. While Martinez |
Campos was on the way to Bayamo, Ma
Geo offered him battle near Peraleio,
The engagement was q pitched battle, |
the Cubans, not numbering 5000, car
ried the day. Gen. Stantocildes fell dead
near Gen. Martinez Campos. The Span
iards lost all their ammunition and their
horses. Completely routed, a body of
dNulllns themselves OF the darkness
OF the evening, fled to Bayamo, carrying
Martinez Campos on a stretcher borne by
four soldiers. He was exhausted by ia
tigue and filled with despair. More than
300 Spanish soldiers were left dead on the
field. With the splendid booty secured
by him, Maceo completed the arming of
his patriots.
From April to October Gomez success
fully carried the war through Puerto
Principe province and laid his plans for
the invasion of the west. On Oct. % Ma
Geo, having received orders from Gomez
who was appointed chief of
the army, in September, by the assembly
of representatives, started for the east
with 1000 Of his men. On Oct. 20 Gomez
Las Villas. Maceo Joined him on
Nov. ~ near a place called Los Guovos |
From there they began their Triumphant
march. On Dec. 3 the Spanish Col. Sc
gura was defeated by the Insurgents nj
lguara and had to leave his dead ON the
held, together with a great supply of arms
and ammunition. On Dec. 10 the SPANISH