Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-16

very day he resumed command of the
cavalry he was attacked by $50 Span
iards, but with his few men he repulsed
them. A few weeks brought re-
cruits, and Sanguily took the offensive.
He attacked Spanish force COM
manded by Ramon Fajardo, who later
was captain general of Cuba. Fajar-
dos men were badly beaten, and in
that fight Sanguily captured enough
Spanish horses to mount most of his
recruits. A few days later be led a
daring charge against the Spanish
force at the corral of Spanish horses
at San Antonio, drove them away, and
secured mounts for more men.
On October 8, 1871, the Cubans per-
formed daring feat, Sanguily was
resting with one companion at ranch
near Camaguey when he was surprised
by Spanish force of $50 and taken
prisoner. His companion escaped and
carried the news to General Agram-
onte, who was in camp few miles
away. Agramonte was practically
alone, too his men being out on a
foraging expedition, but he did not
hesitate.
"Sanguily is captured" he said to
the few men in camp. "We must res
cue him. Who will go?"
Every man volunteered. There were
lust "a of them. And these "a gave
chase after the $50 Spaniards, caught
up with the dispersed them and res.
cued Sanguily without single Cuban
lost.
Gomez has lead many a notable
charge. The commander-in-chief of
the Cuban army today is II years old
and known best to Americans as a
calm, deliberate planner of campaigns.
Twenty-six years ago he was as dash
ing cavalry leader as ever led q
charge. He could swing the machete
with the best man in his army. He
distinguished himself in November,
1878, when at the head of 200 caval-
rymen, he engaged for two hours the
Spanish General Don Manuel Bascones,
who had a force of 1900, infantry,
cavalry and artillery. Comes drove
the Spaniards back, inflicting severe
losses and taking many prisoners. A
month later Gomez led the cavalry
forces at the battle of Palo Seco in
Camaguey province, where, with 200
men, he engaged force of 700 Span
ish infantry and cavalry in charge of
Colonel Vilches. In this battle the
Cubans used their favorite tactics.
They charged in solid body, Gomez
at the head, and, with swinging ma
chetes, cut their way right through the
Spanish lines, then turned and repeat
ed the charge from the other side.
The battle lasted only 20 minutes, and
in that time 511 Spaniards were killed.
Fifty-three of the remaining Spaniards
were taken prisoners, among them
Lieutenant Colonel Martitequi, today
a general. The Cubans had only l9
killed and wounded.
The present campaign around San
tiago furnishes little opportunity for
the use of cavalry, because of the
billy nature of the country and the
chick brush. But if it is necessary to
carry the war into the western prov
inces for an attack on Havana these
fighting Cubans, if horses are furnish
ed, will prove powerful auxiliary.
eff the American government de-
cides after taking Santiago" says
Colonel Sanguily, "to carry the war
into the west, it would be advanta-
geous to bring horses and equipment
to organize force of Cuban cavalry.
1 believe there could be organized q
force of 1000 in Santiago province,
1000 in Puerte Principe, 1000 in Las
Villas, and 1000 in the province Of
Havana. These bodies could be er-
ganized by September or October, and
by the beginning of the cool season
there would be ready force which
would be infinitely superior in quality
to any that the Spaniards could put
into service"