New-York tribune., 1869-06-21
PICTURES AROUND sANTo DOMINGO.
THE DEsOLATION OF WAR-A BRAVE OLD

bfANlAhOs
EFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
SANTO DOMINGO, May.-At the beginning Of 1868
there were many charming little farms close to the
walls OF the city of Columbus las Santo Domingo
loves 60 be called and of these none charm
ing than the ono that bore the capricious name Of
La Mia-My Own. Situated on gentle hill it COM
manded fine view Of the city gates, with their bas
tions and battlements, and beyond them the outer
anchorage Of the port on side, and on the other
the graceful outlines Of the tree-embowed village
homes of San Carlos San CaIlos-now in ruins-was
then a lively, prosperous suburb Of the City
of SantO Domingo Many of its inhabitants
were colored people-perhaps the majority but
as there never was that sharp conflict Of
races at this end Of the island which had flied the
western division with such horrors they lived in
perfect harmony with their white neighbors La Mia
was then occupied by three families. One consisted
OF an aged lady OF Spanish birth and a wild young
grandson. whose reckless habits were known and
SohGenned by every nhabltant Of San Carlos except
Hls mihu ana loving glandmother. Tho other two
families were African, and worked the place under the
presumed charge OF Don Luis, the grandson and the
only nyn uescehdI ., s,;y cd lady, ITS mistress
Next to La Mia was the csancaia OF an
American family, who made 1t their Winter
residence, aud devoted extraordinary care to
its establishment Ia 1868 the Dominicans
had taken up arms for the restoration of Mat the
Spanish termed the "eXtinguished Republic and,
III the fierce struggle that ensued, Don Luis sided
with the Spanish interest. With his QrapdmOther's
DOminlcans, and received a Captains commission.
He Is charged with having gone beyond even Span
1sh captains charter Of Tapine and pillage in the
march he made with the regiment sent up to capture
and chaStise San CristOyal The people there one
bright moonlight night brought out their old white
cross banner from its hidingplace, and. with the
sudden war-ory Of God and Liberty p drove
the Spanish garrison out of tie tlore
Reinforced by the Ieei,,.--I;t IN Which
Don Luis figured ..he garrison rallied and
TSegtefe. the place but it was like entering city
= rbe dead The inhabitants had fed taking with
them to the steep Copper Hills Of the Nigua what
their animals could carry and so tar as time allowed
DESTROYING the rest even TO their own houses. In
short time the Dominlcans gathered III greater
strength and with more settled plans and after
some rough experience from guerrilla attacks, Don
Luis saw his regiment Obliged to eVacnate San Crs~
tobal In taking their unwilling maTeh Oack TO the
Bea-coast they destroyed everything tbat ul not re-
quiTe too long halt They burned houses shot cat
fle they did not take time to dress ana eat ana set
fire TO the fields of sugarcane that the names might
consume not only the ready harYess, but the heRes
that protected them. As his detachment neared the
walls OF santO Domingo, Don Luis was met by nylhg
Jumors OF other di6graces 10 Spanish arms ana OF
wider desOlatOn Of hearths and homes by order Of
Spanish officials. His force biYOuacked at the old
fort OF San JeronmO, two miles from the city gates
and after making his dispositions for the night, he
Bpurred on 70 learn how far the course of wantOn,
and worse than needless desOlatiOn, had been car
Ted. He reached the broad, irregular street which
stretches from the COnde gate up the h of San Car
Jos. Not a light twnkled III the long vista not the
murmuT Of a human voice heard where
aom his earliest days, had never failed the sound