Battle of Ceja del Negro explained

Conflict:Battle of Ceja del Negro
Partof:Cuban War of Independence
Date:October 4, 1896
Place:Pinar del Río, Pinar del Río Province, Cuba
Result:Cuban victory
Combatant1: Cuban rebels
Combatant2: Spain
Commander1: Antonio Maceo[1]
Juan Rius Rivera
Vidal Ducasse
Commander2: Colonel Granados
Strength1:1,000 Mambises[2]
Strength2:2,000 Infantry[3]
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:Around 500[4]

The Battle of Ceja del Negro was a battle of the Cuban War of Independence that took place on October 4, 1896. During the battle, the forces of all three different land armies participated: infantry, cavalry and artillery. The Cuban troops were commanded by Major Generals Antonio Maceo and Juan Rius Rivera, while the Spanish troops were led by Colonel Granados.

The Battle

The Cuban troops were lagging behind as a result of a large number of civilians that they carried with them.[2] The fighting began around eight in the morning and lasts until around five in the afternoon when Maceo's troops are dedicated to harassing the last Spanish strongholds with the most notable stronghold being one known as El Guao, in one of the foothills of the hill known as Ceja del Negro.[4]

The Spanish forces, far superior in number and military power, did not manage to win the battle, but Colonel Granados bombarded the river pass with artillery, where the Cubans were passing, causing large numbers of casualties, especially among the civilian population with the elderly being the most affected.[2]

Aftermath

The victory of General Maceo in Ceja del Negro caused the Captain General of the island, Valeriano Weyler, to hasten his plans for reconcentration against the Cuban civilian population, in order to defeat the pro-independence troops, depriving them of the vital support of the peasants.[3]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.canalcaribe.icrt.cu/batalla-ceja-del-negro/ Recuerdan cubanos batalla de Ceja del negro contra colonialismo español
  2. https://www.notimerica.com/cultura/noticia-octubre-cuba-recuerda-sangrienta-batalla-ceja-negro-contra-espana-20181004210803.html This October 4, Cuba remembers the bloody 'Battle of Ceja del Negro' against Spain
  3. https://www.telepinar.cu/aniversario-125-victoria-maceo-ceja-del-negro/ Aniversario 125 de la victoria de Maceo en Ceja del Negro
  4. http://www.acn.cu/especiales-acn/50336-batalla-de-ceja-del-negro-victoria-trascendental-del-titan-de-bronce Batalla de Ceja del Negro, victoria trascendental del Titán de Bronce