The Battle of Iguará was a battle of the

Cuban War of Independence The Cuban War of Independence (), also known in Cuba as the Necessary War (), fought from 1895 to 1898, was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) and the Litt ...

which took place on December 13, 1895 in the

Santa Clara Province Santa Clara (also known as Las Villas or Provincia de Santa Clara after 1940) was a historical province of Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud ...

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

The Battle

That same day, near the town of Iguará , the Invasive Column, under the command of Major Generals

Máximo Gómez Máximo Gómez y Báez (November 18, 1836 – June 17, 1905) was a general of Dominican origin in the Cuban Wars of Independence (1868-78 and 1895–98). He was known for his controversial Scorched earth tactics, which entailed dynamiting pa ...

and

Antonio Maceo Lt. General José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales (June 14, 1845December 7, 1896) was a Cuban general and second-in-command of the Cuban Liberation Army, Cuban Army of Independence. Fellow Cubans gave Maceo the nickname "The Bronze Tit ...

, faced a Spanish column, under the command of Colonel Segura. The invaders forded the Jatibonico River to enter Las Villas and when only half had crossed the river, they detected the Spanish troops. Gómez occupied a near height to beat the advancing opponent. For his part, Maceo went to the river in order to prevent the column from splitting into two parts. When the Spanish troops saw the Cubans, they opened heavy fire on them. They organized in two oblique lines and at the same time, attacked the forces of both Mambi generals. Maceo decided to charge his cavalry and despite the intense fire, it didn't prevent the annihilation of several sections of the Spanish troops, whose forces were disorganized.La Guerra de Independencia
/ref> Gómez attacked from the other flank and the Mambisa rear, which had just finished fording the river, also charged, which put an end to the resistance of the Spaniards, who undertook the withdrawal. The Cubans collected abandoned weapons and equipment and attacked again. After two hours of action, Gómez and Maceo put an end to the fight. Both forces suffered heavy losses: The Cubans lost 30 horsemen, including Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Céspedes , and the Spanish left 18 of their own lying on the battlefield. The Cubans captured 54 rifles and several mules loaded with various means.

Aftermath

The victory of the battle resulted in the imminent advance of the Cuban forces in the invasion, as well as the achievement of important military victories, the incorporation of a large number of combatants into the Mambi ranks and the obtaining of new weapons and ammunition.

References

Bibliography

*General Municipal Museum of Jatibonico. *Municipal Library of Jatibonico " Elcires Pérez González " *Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC) (Jatibonico). *CEMI Authors Collective (2014): ''Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cuban Military History''; "First part (1510-1898)", volume II: Combative actions (page 154). Havana: Verde Olivo Editions , 2014. {{DEFAULTSORT:Iguará Conflicts in 1895 Battles involving Spain Spanish colonial period of Cuba December 1895 Battles involving Cuba Cuban War of Independence