Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1885 — CAPTURE OF CANTA. [ARTICLE]

CAPTURE OF CANTA.

Defenseless Inhabitants Mamerei b 7 the Victors Withoit F.ejard to Sex or Condition. Suicide of the Officer Responsible for the Defeat—Flight of the Survivors. [Panama dispatch.) The latest advices from Lima give detaili of the battle at Canta on the l.th ult On the morning of that day a detachment of Government troops occupying the town of Canta, sixty miles from Lima, in tho valley running parallel to that of the Itimac. was surprised by a division of Gen. Caceres’ army, and after a shaip action of several hours was forced to fly in disorder. The Government troops operating against Canta were 350 men of the line, wiih one Gatling gun, 50 ravahymen, and 50 mounted gensd >rmeß, the whole force being commanded by Col. Torres. Canta had been occupied for several days, the montoneros or irregu’ar revolutionary forces retiring on the approach of this detachment. On Friday evening news arrived of the approach of a considerable division of the enemy, and upon Col. Bustamente’s advance it was decided to defeud the town.

On Saturday at 7a. m. the hills inclosing Canta were occupied by the enemy, apparently 1,500 or 2,000 strong, aud with about 200 cavalry. The latter were stationed at the outlets of the valley leading toward the coast aud to the interior, so that from the first the Government forces were effectually corraled. CoL Torres had placed his men in the barracks, situated id the principal square of the town, having also small outlying squads behind some of the walls in the suburbs.

Caceres’ artillery, four small fieldpieces, opened fire from the hill at Huaychullani at half-past 7, and in a few moments the tiring became general. The enemy descended the hills and attempted to enter the town, but were repeatedly driven back. For two hours the positions of the combatants were unaltered, the fire being all the time very heavy. At midday the defenders of the place slackened their fire, for their ammunition was rapidly becoming exhausted, and for an hour they received without reply the volleys of the attacking party. At 2 o'clock a deaerate effort was made to drive the rebels from the town, which they had then entered, at the point of the bayonet This failed, and then the defeat was accomplished. The fight was hand to hand in the streets, no quarter being given, and the most dreadful scenes of carnage occurred. Houses where some of the defeated sc.ldiers had taken refuge were broken open and all found within murdered without distinction of age, sex, or character, and then were burned. A few of tho most determined of the Government cavalrymen, headed by Colonel Pachas, cut their way through their opponent and made good their escape. Col. Bustnmente, to whose counsel the defeat was due, seeing that ah was lost, blew his brains out on the field of action.

Col. Torres escaped early in the fight, and the Government has named another officer to command the decimated “Cagamarica.” Of the five hundred or six hundred men engaged on the Government side, probably two hundred escaped by flying to the mountains or following Pachas. They are sti II coming in in parties of two or three. Very few prisoners were taken, for, as has been stated, no quarter was given. The Cuceiists were commanded l»y CoL Morales B rmudas, and it is stated that Caceres with his staff arrived at Canta the day after the battle. The losses of the i evolutionary forces are not known. From the fact that the Cagamariea battalion was decidedly the finest in the Government service the partisans of Caceres here are jubilant over his success. The 5,000 soldiers in garrison at Lima are not at all affected by the reverse, and their officers are confident of their loyalty in case of an attack on the city. Energetic precautionary measures are being taken. The church towers are occupied to-night by strong detachme ts of riflemen, and the Prefect has issued a notice offering a reward of from 50 to 1,000 soles to any one who may denounce the existence of conspiracies or aid the police in their efforts. The Government forces have been withdrawn from Chosica, and are now stationed at Santa Clara, fifteen miles nearer to Lima. Nothing positive is known regarding the whereabouts of Caceres.