History invites us to look closer at the hills of Taxdirt. On 20 September 1909, a squadron of only 70 men altered the course of a battle. Teniente Coronel Cavalcanti led his cavalry into an ambush and charged the enemy twice. This strategic act allowed the rest of his force to retreat safely and earned him the Laureada de San Fernando.
We can trace the wider campaign for Melilla to understand this moment. While one brigade pushed toward Nador, General Morales moved a mixed brigade toward the west. His column was suddenly halted by rebel forces near the Tamisunt hills. This created a desperate situation that required the rapid intervention of the horsemen led by Cavalcanti.
The monument itself offers a physical path to the past. It was erected in 1910 at the site of the battle. Following the independence of Morocco in 1956, it was moved in pieces to a military regiment. After being relocated again in 1967 and undergoing restoration in 2013, it found its current home.
Today, the white stone stele stands in the Plaza de Pedro Segura. It serves as part of the city's historic artistic ensemble. Visitors can study the inscriptions which detail the specific movements of the 1909 march to learn more about this significant military history.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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