The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-02
From Baekwood's Magazine
SPANISH POLITICS AND CUBAN PERHS.


Whether ifatempied it viii meet the fate of that under
Lopez or whether il viii succeed not only in landing bu
in holding its ground until il can receive those ren
ments which would probably flock TO II from the soutber
States as soon as 1t became known there that il had oeeu
pied and was maintaining position is matter Of ana
ous uncertainty The island is strongly garsoned but
American ritemen are formidable opponents The Span
sh government feels confident of the result and fully re
the fidelity and vaor OF the three and twenty
thousand good troops now in Cuba Where the Amer
leans viii be most deficient viii doubtless be in cayalry
and artillery The Spaniards have thousand dragoon:
several batteries of field artillery and numerous laru
Paixhan guns garnshing the forts and batteries of b
island And although Spanish cavalry Judging from wba
here is generally but indiiierently mounted il
abundantly able TO cope with irregular infantry and H.
deed would prove formidable the Invaders If the,
ventured forth from the shelter of forests and hedges or
from the broken ground favorable to sharpshooers As 10
the courage Of the men, when well led there Is doubt Of
that Good leading, which they have rarely had, is an
that Spanards to be valiant troops any Eu
rope. Only the other day, AT Nicalvaro, with General
Garig6 and other brave and determined officers at their
head regiments of dragons repeatedly gaoped up 10
the very mouths of batteries, which received them at
few yards distance with voleys OF grape Men who
would do this would hardly finch from charging IL
regular rihemen, however accurate and deadly their
fire The Spanish artillery is considered the best arm
in the service il is certainly the with which the
most pains taken and which possesses the besln
structed officers The infantry in Cuba il about
twenty thousand strong well disciplined in good condi
ton and accustomed to the climate Were these forces
infantry cavalry, and artillery in the field
the latter could succeed in getting together ut least
landing, force capable of resisting their attack. To
speak positively this point however, it would be
be somewhat the confidence of the ffibusos
or at know than is positively known of their
resources plans and places of rendezvous But sup
posing that they muster more than We in Imperfect
information think probable il is TO be borne in mind that
the very best irregular troops however formidable their
valor and skill with their weapons may render them in
small numbers, far less to be feared when they
large masses Then the deficiency in discipline and drill
! tho
indomtabe pluck of the Americans, their GOODNESS or
steadness when in peril and only desire to those a
able qualities displayed in better than the 10
which assured they shortly TO be devoted Bu
in open plain in the attack OF fortress, and when
opposed to regular troops OF average bravery something
than pluck and GOODNESS is required. Upon the Other
hand it not be forgotten when seek TO strike the
balance of chances that the garrison of Cuba could be
brought entire into the field Certain forts and towns
and positions be held, aud although it is probable
that many Of these would be left to the keeping of the
volunteers that would take up the an
invasion occurred still portions OF the garrison must be de
tached from the main body An intelligent Spaniard w
has spent several years in Cuba and but recently returned
thence gave it his opinion that from ten TO twelve
thousand could be employed the army of opera
ton He estimated the present garrison at rather under
twenty thousand effective for the field which is some
what less than the government estimate. The European
Spaniards in the island he believed to be about fifty thou
sand large proportion Basques and Cataans and who
would readily enrol themselves as volunteers in case
peril, would prove formidable antagonists, and fgA
desperately for their homes and property As TO ih
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Americans if these strong, and gained advantages
first starting but if the invaders worsted the Gu
bans would fly to and vaunt their fidelity to Spain
The negroes who have wish to exchange Spanish
American masters and who of the many disal
vantages under which free man of color abor
the States would all be ready to fight if given
to them The negro mode of fighting described TO me
persons whoare well acquainted with is peculiar and dan
gerous They fire vocy, receive the enemys fire. thros
away their muskets and rush in with cuass ponard
The long, narrow shape of the island of Cuba, whid
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ing eastward is favorable to its defenders since ii faci
ates the cutting off of the invading force 1t will be II
great advantage if General Conchas arrival takes phe
previously to any attack He is the very to command
under such circumstances Quick Of eye and ready of
source he will inspire the troops with confidence and
raise the courage of the Cubans Amongst these he has
what eaptan-goneral of Cuba in time has had
strong partypersons who attached to him. like hE
mode of administration prefer him to any other captain
general and will stand by him to the utmost with all the
influence and power they may possess. This is principal
why he readily and gladly accepted the destination
towards which he is seamngif, indeed he has not
arrived there since his departure from Corunna took place
upwards of fortnight ago. The Spanish government
and, indeed Spaniards generally, far my means
of observation extendenertan sanguine belief that
with the troops at his command, and with the moral
and physical support of the majority Of the dweers the
island Concha win handle the ntruding annexation
lists as to make them heartily repent their dnproyoked and
unjusiiable aggression
There other points to be taken into consideration
when discuss the probable issue of the anticipated
tct One of these, which such conflicting testimony has
given rs sCtrCeiy possible 10 orIl
opinion with respect to it, is the amount of support M
Americans would find in the island itself Ihe SpaniarS
have above nmated think it would be unimporlart
Ask Yankee anneyaonist and he will tell you that The
whole island with the exception of the European pana
resident in it. pines for release from the toerable yoke
SPAIN longs to hoist the srpesand stars and to cling Tie
proud neck of the American eagle have been told BY
Americans of the numbers oettes received from inhabitants
OF Cuba expressive OF these and implopg sm
thy and assistance But must be observed that few mai
contents or American settlers in the sand would suffice
I q 70
prayers One may imagine for instance the consignees
the Black Warrior after indtng their submissive and pen
ltent letters TO the governorgenera and their petition to TIL
Queen OF Spain for the remission of the fine dipping the
sharpest iron pen into the ink bottle and relieving their
eted souls by throwing of screaming dispatches the
friends in New York and New Orleans inveghing again;
the tyranny OF Spanish rule and longing for the day When
Cuba should join the Union. By those whom such
letters welcome, they would naturally be made The
most of; they would be handed about talked Of and the
contents verbally repeated until it would seem as
hundred letters had arrived instead of one The Spar
ards themselves admit that part of tho Creole pop
ulatlon would he glad to the island detached from
Spain. To these suppose may safely add, par
tlsans OF Cubas becoming State of the Union all The
Ango-Anercan resident in the island Beyond this
am in possession Of trustworthy evidence; and when
say that only small portion Of the Creolcs natV
whites disalected to the Spanish government stat
it, you will observe, Spanish authority but at hi
time the authority Of Spanards long resident
the island particularly Capable by their position and 10
telgence, of forming correct Judgment and the sol
drawback to the value OF whose opinion is the Admissible
supposon that it may be biased by their natural ne
on the subject 'r.'r Il
Surprising that, in the autumn of 1854 an America,
expedition starting from Florida from one the snl
Islands in the Bahama channel made descent upon Cu
entirely worsted and of or compelled to
bark how long time would eapse before third expei
ton were got ready Would not the interval probably