Battle of Iguará facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Iguará |
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| Part of Cuban War of Independence and Invasion from East to West in Cuba | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Cuban rebels |
 Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Máximo Gómez Antonio Maceo |
Colonel Segura |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 30 killed | 18 killed | ||||||
The Battle of Iguará was an important fight during the Cuban War of Independence. It happened on December 13, 1895, in a place called Iguará, in Santa Clara Province, Cuba. In this battle, Cuban fighters, led by brave generals Máximo Gómez and Antonio Maceo, won against Spanish soldiers. This victory helped the Cubans move forward in their fight for freedom.
What Happened at Iguará?
On December 13, 1895, near the town of Iguará, two groups of soldiers met. The Cuban forces, known as the Invasive Column, were led by Major Generals Máximo Gómez and Antonio Maceo. They faced a Spanish group led by Colonel Segura.
The Cuban soldiers were crossing the Jatibonico River to enter a region called Las Villas. When about half of them had crossed, they spotted the Spanish troops. General Gómez quickly took a high spot nearby. From there, he could attack the Spanish as they moved forward. Meanwhile, General Maceo went to the river. He wanted to make sure the Cuban column did not get split into two parts.
When the Spanish soldiers saw the Cubans, they started firing many shots. They formed two slanted lines and attacked both Cuban generals at the same time.
Maceo decided to charge with his cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Even with heavy firing from the Spanish, the Cuban cavalry broke through. They caused a lot of damage to the Spanish troops, who became disorganized. Gómez attacked from another side. The rest of the Cuban forces, who had just finished crossing the river, also charged. This ended the Spanish resistance, and they began to retreat.
The Cubans then gathered the weapons and equipment the Spanish left behind. They attacked again. After two hours of fighting, Gómez and Maceo ended the battle. Both sides had losses. The Cubans lost 30 horsemen, including Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Céspedes. The Spanish left 18 of their soldiers on the battlefield. The Cubans also captured 54 rifles and several mules carrying supplies.
Why Was This Battle Important?
The Cuban victory at Iguará was very important. It allowed the Cuban forces to keep moving forward in their invasion. They also gained important military wins. Many more fighters joined the Mambi ranks (Cuban rebel army). They also got new weapons and ammunition, which they needed for their fight for independence.
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