Battle of Pino de Baire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Pino de Baire
Part of the Ten Years' War
Date 25 October 1868 Location Baire [es], Oriente Province, Captaincy General of Cuba Result Cuban victory
Belligerents
Ejército Mambí [es]	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Donato Mármol [es] Sergeant Máximo Gómez	Colonel Demetrio Quirós Weyler
Strength
1,100	700 men
Casualties and losses
Unknown	233 casualties

The Battle of Pino de Baire was an important fight that happened on October 25, 1868. It took place at the very start of the Ten Years' War in Cuba. This battle is also famous as the Primera Carga al Machete, which means "First Machete Charge." It was the first time Cuban fighters, known as mambís, used a special tactic: charging at their enemies with machetes. This became a well-known fighting style for them during the war.

The Battle of Pino de Baire

What Happened?

A group of more than 700 Spanish soldiers, led by Colonel Demetrio Quirós, was on its way to Bayamo. Their goal was to take back the city from Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a Cuban leader. But near Contramaestre, at a place called Baire, they were surprised! Cuban forces, led by Sergeant Máximo Gómez and under the command of Donato Mármol [es], attacked them.

Weapons and Tactics

The Spanish soldiers were well-equipped. They had swords and bayonets, which are like knives attached to rifles. The Cuban fighters, the mambises, had mostly farm tools. They used machetes and pitchforks. Because the Spanish had better weapons, Gómez decided to fight them up close. He knew how to use a machete from his time in the Dominican Republic. So, he ordered his men to charge with their machetes.

The Outcome

The battle was a big win for the Cubans. The Spanish soldiers were defeated and had to retreat in a hurry. They lost nearly one-third of their men. As they ran back to Santiago de Cuba, they left behind many important things. These included firearms, ammunition, and even some artillery. The Cuban fighters, on the other hand, had only a few men injured.

The Battle in Film

The story of this battle was made into a movie in 1969. It was a black and white film called La primera carga al machete. The movie was directed by Manuel Octavio Gómez.

See Also

In Spanish: Primera Carga al Machete para niños