No. 56.
Mr. Scruggs
to Mr. Fish.
Bogotá , September 13, 1876. (Received October 28.)
Sir: A few days after the date of my No. 185, of the 17th ultimo, it became known here that a rebel guerrilla force, variously estimated from two to three thousand strong, had taken up their headquarters at the village of Guaska, in the mountains, some four leagues to the northeast from this city.
[Page 95]Another force of similar character, but less had a rendezvous on the opposite side of the plain to the west, in the vicinity of Tequindama Falls, about five leagues distant.
The object of these movements seemed to be to menace this capital, foment conspiracies against the State government, and, as opportunities should offer, dash into Bogotá, rob and plunder the banks and stores, or, should circumstances favor a bolder policy, depose the President and take possession of the place.
The first demonstration was against a detachment of national troops, some twelve miles north of this city, at Puente Comun, on the Tipaquira road. They were, however, repulsed, and made their escape, with trifling loss, to the mountains.
A few days later they made another dash upon the road near Chopinéro, a small town about three miles north of Bogotá, but were again driven back into the mountains with inconsiderable loss. Some three days later they made their appearance on the crests of Monserrat and Guadelupe, which overhang the eastern surburbs of the city, but soon retired without making any hostile demonstrations.
On the morning of the 8th instant they re-appeared in strong force on the crests of the same mountains, and very soon began to descend to a gorge or depression within musket-shot of the city. A government force, under command of General Acosta, was dispatched to intercept and engage them.
The firing soon became general and quite animated, a considerable force being held in reserve in anticipation of an attack on the west side of the city. The contest lasted something over an hour, when the rebels retreated to their mountain-fastnesses, leaving their dead and wounded, amounting in all to some eighty persons, upon the field.
General Acosta, in his official report, gives a list of fifty-one prisoners, officers and privates, taken during the combat. The number of killed and wounded on the government side is set down by him at seven, but this is probably a moderate estimate. One woman was killed while standing in her door within range of the rebel lines; other non-combatants are said to have been wounded.
Since the events of the 8th, the city has been more quiet. Business of all kinds, however, remains suspended; perhaps fully one-half the business-houses are never opened. The greatest alarm and confusion prevails. All the private houses and streets are kept lighted up during the night, while the troops stationed here are in constant readiness, both day and night, in anticipation of another attack. It is probable, however, that the worst has passed, since we have (unauthentic) reports of a decisive victory to the government troops in the Cauca.
I have, &c.,