The New York herald., 1869-03-25


compelled to travel ON horseback makes his dates
late as the news we have published. but as an
inside view Of the revelation II win be found inter-
Getting,
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
the occupation OF the line Of railroad from Puerto
Principe to Nusvltas having left me without en-
ployment determined TO retnrn to the United
States. ! procured the necessary papers from
Colonel Mena the Spanish Governor Of the CITY, and
started with companion, on horseback, by land,
for Havana, on the 18th Of February 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 consequence Of
the revolutionary movement. The native Spaniards,
mostly shopkeepers had enrolled themselves in the
volunteer corps, ana werc exceedingly bitter in
their aOstty to the Cubans. These, with the small
number OF regular troops in the city, gave Colonel
Kenas 9 force OF about 5000 men, well supplied
Weta arms and ammunition and q few field pieces
There had been regiment Of colored troops In the
garrison, but these had nearly all deserted to the
insurgents, taking their arms with them. The roads
leading into the town were all barricaded by the
Spanish troops in the outskirts. Operations against
the insurgents were confined to an occasional roray
Of the troops for provisions and forage which were
usually made In strong force and encountered little
open resistance, though on every occasion they
going from ana returning to the town.
The feeling OF the natives OF all classes is very de-
cided for the revolution, and young and old, rich
and poor have gone into it. General Dulce's pro.
clamations Of amnesty and reform at first produced
come eject and many were in favor Of accepting
them. Among these were one, If not two, OF the
Arango's and one OF them had begun negotiations
70 that effect. For this purpose he had held COM
municauon with Colonel Men1, and appointed a day
when he would come in unarmed under nag OF
truce 10 confer with him. II was stated In Principe
that Colonel Menas orders to the squad sent to meet
Arrange were to bring him the corpse OF that rebel
The fact was that he was shot as soon as he ap-
preached the suburbs OF the town, and the remains
were hacked and dishgured after death. This event
stopped entirely the feeling in favor OF accepting the
amnesty and reforms among the Cubans.
The insnrgent force gathered round Puerto
Principe amounts to about 1000 men, and was in.
formed that 5000 more were holding the line OF
railway between that city and Nuevitas. They are
very enthusiastic In the cause, but are badly
armed, and Ill supplied with ammunition.
Their only cannon are o few pieces OF
IRON pipe well plugged and bound round with
banded strips OF the hard woods OF the country
Every available instrument was applied to .ne
making of weapon for offensive purposes, and
lance and maclete-a short, heavy sword-were the
ktueIdi aImdlutul "A lew DreeCL-lOaulQG rlQeS 1
captured from the Spaniards, but the want OF the
proper ammunition rendered them Of little service.
An old fashioned nintlock muzzleloading musket
was the favorie arm, as 1t could always do service
whether there were patent cartridges, percussion
caps, &C., in camp or not Whoever had one OF
these priced II above all the patent to be had
There was but little organization among the forces
OF the revolution although General Quesada was
recognized as the chief in command. Every leader
had raised and kept together what men he could
and the camp seemed more like q gathering OF pri-
vate bands than regular force. General Quesada
was laboring to introduce regimental aud brigade
organizations II was this reason, the absence or
regular organization and military rule, which pre-
vented General Quesada from attacking Puerto
Principe, which he could undoubtedly capture II he
could control bis force so as TO bring them TO act on
. general plan.
There are many negroes among the insurgents,
most OF them from the towns, or who were preyl
onsly free. The plantations have all stopped work.
but the slaves have either gone into the towns to
seek protection, or have ned into the woods where
they remain. Few or OF this class OF The popu-
latlon side with the Spaniards /
lhe war is carried on by the Cubans more as a !
guerrilla war than by regular operations Whenever
Q force OF Spanish troops appears anywhere the |
Cuhans scatter from Its front, and seek by ambus
cadng behind trees and In the thick woods to annoy
the troops and diminish their numbers. The great |
object among the insurgents In these encounters IA
to Tet hold OF the musket and knapsack every one
chey can wound or kill. In this they will run ex.
risks three or four running out from
The bush at every Spaniard who falls The Spanish
troops generally behave well in these ambuscade
Encounters, and whenever forced to halt or form |
during their march, win roundly abuse their unseen
foes, styling them cowards and calling upon them to
cnme oat Of their hiding places and show them |
selves.
Theieeing among the spaniards is very bitter in.
deed. they formed almost entirely the trading
population OF the country, and every crossroad and
country village was occupied with their shops These
are now abandoned wherever the Insurgents have
appeared, and their owners have Withdrawn 10
points held by the troops Thus the country ia bare
OF goods. Al nrst lenient policy towards the
prisoners prevailed but the Spanish volunteers have
now become 70 violent that they shoot nearly all
'hey capture, calling them leaders. At the time
was with the insurgents they had not executed anv
prisoners. but the feeling in favor OF retaliation was
becoming very strong.
No regular civil government exists In the districts
held BY the insurgents, ana no formal attempt has
Tet been made 10 organize one. In the Central D q
,artment General Quesada's authority is respected
Vnle IN the east General Cespedes In looked upon |
" the leader. There Is little communication be-
ween the several departments and no concer. OF
'ction. Tho only aim seems 20 be war with the
'paniard. The insurgents in the villa Clara district
'od their organization distinct from those Of Cespe-
les and Quesada-
From the insurgent camp around Puerto Principe
70 rode through Csgo de Avila. Espiritu santo,
INA Clara and kacagua to Colon, where we
Old our horses and took the cars for Ha-
ona wherever we stopped among the country
eople the came feeling against the spaniards
'nd confidence thar their rule lie approaching its
I'd prevailed, while in the towns the Spanish
aders. armed and organized BY the government,
ltsftain the most violent feelings against the
ubsns. No attempt to injure us was made by either
my when we encountered them, although both
companion and myself were searched on several
caaIons, Tue spauisyds were always ds;rasJul !