The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-29
TIE WAR IN CUBA.

The Revolution as Seem by an Eye Wit
ness---Consiition OF the Insurgents---
Their Policy and Means OF War.
The following account Of the condition OF
| things in Cuba is furnished by Mr.. Charles
Mccormack, who has resided for several years
in the City Of Puerto Principe, where he was
| employed as master raachinist cf the Puerto
| Principe and Nuevtas Railroad. Mr.. McCor-
mack having travelled on horseback from the
place Of his late residence through the heart Of
the island to the first railway station from
which he could take the cars to Havana, and
passed through the insurgent and Spanish
lines, a distance of more than one hundred
leagues. during which time he held frequent in
| tercourse with all classes Of the population, has
had the opportunity to form valuable appre-
citation of the revolution now on foot. The long
| distance he was compelled to travel on horse
back makes his dates not so late as the news
we have published, but as an inside view of the
revolution it will be found interesting:
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
The occupation Of the line of railroad from
Puerto Principe to Nuevltas having left me
without employment. | determined to return
to ths Unite States. pro ured the neces-
sary papers from Colonel, Mena, the Spanish.
Governor Of the city, and started with COM
the 18th Of ofFebruary last.
at that time the native male population,
with the exception Of the small children and
very old men, had entirely left the city in con-
sequence Of the revolutionary movement. The
native Spaniards, mostly shopkeepers, had en-
rolled themselves in the volunteer corps, and
were exceedingly bitter in their hostility to the
Cubans. These, with the small number Of
regular troops in the city, gave Colonel Mena
force OF about 5000 men, we'll supplied with
arms and am.nunition and o few field pieces.
in the garrison but these had nearly all de.
serted to the ms urgents, taking their arms
with them. The roads leading into the town
were all barricaded by the Spanish troops in
gents were confined to an occasional foray Of
the troops for provisions and forage which were
usually made in strong force and encountered
little open resistance. though on every occa-
fire both in going from and returning to the
town.
The feeling of the natives of all classes is
very decided for the revolution, and young and
old, rich and poor, have gone into it, General
Dulce's proclamations Of amnesty and reform
at first produced some effect, and many we're in
favor of accepting them. Among these we're
them had begun negotiatlons to that effect.
For this purpose he had held communication
with Colonel Mena, and appointed day when
he would come in uparmed under flag of
truce to confer with him. 1t was stated in
Principe that Colonel Mena's orders to the
squad sent to meet Arrange were to bring him
the corpse Of that rebel. The fact was that he
was wa rs shot as soon as he approached the suburbs
OF the town, and the remains were hacked and
dlsfi2 ured after death. This event stopped en-
tlrely the feeling in favor OF accepting the am
nesty and reforms among the Cubans.
The insurgent force gathered round Puerto
Principe amounts to about 1000 men, and I
was informed that 5000 more were holding the
line OF railway between that city and Nuevitas.
G but
ton. Their olly cannon are few pieces of
iron pipe we'll plugged and bound round with
banded strips Of the hard woods OF the coun-
try. Every available instrument was applied
to the making Of a weapon for offensive pur-
poses, and a lance and nadchete--a short, heavy
sword-were. the general armament. A few
had breech-ioading rifles captured from the
milton rendered them of little service. An old
| fashioned fintlock muzzle-loadiiig musket was
the favorite arm, as it could always do service
whether there were patent cartridges, porous
sions caps, &c., in camp or not. Whoever had
one Of these priced it above all the patentarms
to be had.
There was but little organization among the
forces OF the revolution, although General
Quesada was recognized as the chief in COM
mand. Every leader had raised and kept to-
gether what men he could, and the camp SEEM
ed more like gathering of private bands than
ing to introduce regimental and brigade organ
izations. 1t was this reason, the absence of
regular organization and military rule, which
prevented General Quesada from attacking
capture II he could control his force so as to
bring them to act on o general plan.
Ihere are many negroes among the insur-
gents, most Of them from the towns, or who
were previously free. The plantations have all
stopped work, but the slaves have either gone
into the towns to seek protection, or have fed
into the woods, where they remain. Few or
none Of this class OF the population side with
the Spaniards.
The war is carried on by the Cubans more as
9 guerrilla war than by re ular operations.
Whenever q force OF Spanish loops appears
anywhere the Cubans scatter from it's front,
and seek by ambuscading behind trees and IN
the thick woods to annoy the troops and dimn-
ish their numbers. The great object among
hold OF the musket or knapsack OF every one
they can wound or kill. In this they will run
extraordinary risks, three or four running out
from the bush at every Spaniard who fal g..
these ambuscade encounters. and whenever
forced to halt or form during their march, will
roundiy abuse their unseen foes, styling them
towards, and calling upon them to come out Of
their hiding places and show themselves.
The feeling among the Spaniards is very Bit
ter indeed. They formed almost entirely the
trading population OF the country, and every
s oross * road and country village was occupied
wherever the insurgents have appeared, and
their owners have withdrawn to points held by
the troops. Thus the country is bare Of 20 ds.
A. nsst ss.d len,ent @ policy towards the prisoners
no " become 80 violent that they shoot nearly
ali they capture. calling them leaders. A the
time was with the nsurgents they had not
q retaliation was becoming very strong. q
No regular civil government exists In the
districts held by the insurgents, and no formal
oct h M 80
In the Central Department General Quesada' q
authority is respected, while in the East Gene
| raj Cespedes is looked upon as the leader.
There is ii tie, communication between the
The only aim seems to be war with the Span
lard. The insurgents in the Villa Clara Dis.
| trict hold their organization distinct from
| those bf CeSpedes and Quesada.