First Battle of Las Tunas

Battle of Las Tunas
Part of Ten Years' War
DateAugust 16, 1869[1]
Location
Result Cuban victory
Belligerents
Cuban rebels  Spain
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Manuel de Quesada
Brig. Gen. Bernabé Varona[2]
Col. Enrique Loynaz
Col. Eduardo Montejo[3]
Col. Enrique Boniche
Col. José Vincente de Valera
Col. Jose Del la Torre
Capt. Martín Abranco
Col. Méndez Benegasi
Strength
630+ mambises 450–800 soldiers
Casualties and losses
40 killed, 85 wounded 100+ killed, 78 wounded

The Battle of Las Tunas was a military engagement of the Ten Years' War. It took place on August 16, 1869, in the city of Las Tunas, Oriente in Cuba. It was organized to rescue families of Cubans that were held in the town.

Four brigades of 140 men each formed the Cuban force, bolstered by Gen. Manuel de Quesada's 30-man personal escort led by Brig. Gen. Bernabé Varona and President Carlos Manuel de Céspedes's 40-man guard.[4] The Spanish garrison under the leadership of Col. Enrique Boniche y Taengua reportedly consisted of 450 troops.[5]

  1. ^ The World Almanac and Book of Facts. (1969). United States: Press Publishing Company (The New York World).
  2. ^ Aldama, M. d., Echeverría, J. A. (1870). Facts about Cuba. United States: Sun job printing Office.
  3. ^ The Weekly Standard. (November 10, 1869). Death of a Cuban Patriot; 1869. Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-standard-death-of-a-cuban-pat/149058348/
  4. ^ Grant, U. S. (1869). Correspondence Relating to the Progress of the Revolution in Cuba: Transmitted to the Senate in Obedience to a Resolution. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  5. ^ Country Gentleman, the Magazine of Better Farming. (1869). United States: (n.p.).