New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-11

bnrnno some plantations and other property belong
ing IN Cubans. His little army having been de-
Melted Valmaseda made a trip for Havana to confer
with Lersundi, and return with reenforcements.
His troops, strengthened with arms and men, and
numbering between 1000 and 5000 perhaps even less,
took up their march across the country carrying
their own water and supplies in good part and en-
cOuntering persistent enemy all the way. 1t is this
march which has given to Valmaseda all the credit
which he has gained in the present campaign as
brave and pushing soldier. AS far as Las Tunas
he seems to have encountered the men of Santa Luz
cia; beyond that, and near Bayamo small forces of
reconnaissance belonging to Cespedes. AS is gener-
ally believed, he found Bayamo in ashes, proof of
the stubborn and even sef-sacrfcing determination
which the wealthy and popular leaders of the cause
of independence have carried into the war; What
may be called handsome episode of this small cam
pagn took place at Barre, whittier came the Spanish
Commander, Quiroz. from Santiago dc Cuba, to en-
counter the Rebels under Donate Marmol, and get
beaten by means of bayonethooks and machetes
The actual present positions of the campaign are not
understood. 1t is not certain that Valmaseda has
left Bayamo; not certain that Cespedes has fallen
back upon Gusa, near the mountains of the Sierra
Maestro, in which arc the Cuban copper mines, and
which said to favor long and battling campaign.
Neither it be positively asserted that the city of
Puerto-Prncipe has been taken by the Rebel forces
of Quesada. That city was stoutly garTisoned even
its churches having been put in condition Of de-
Tense some time ago. All the facts which at present
seem TO bear upon the standard rumor and report
just stated are that Quesada had marched toward
the Puerto and that families are leaving Villa Clara,
a town much nearer, to come to the capital. Official
papers have it that 5000 persons including nsurrec
tonists and their families, had into Santiago
de Cuba, Palma, CObre, Baracoa. and other towns,
asking the pardon of the Government. The Spanish
paper at Manzanlo morazes over the feeding OF 400
half starving children of rebels by Valmasedas COM
missary. The Count himself writes home that he
gave the insurgents bad beating on the Canto
River. This river is by the way, the best in Cuba,
and is navgable up to Bayamo, which
would probably have furnished the Span
iards an excellent base of supplies had
Cespedes not burned it, he himself being the prnci
pal sufferer in the loss of its property and if not he
his colleague Aguillera, whose wealth has been
generally remarked There stories that Cespedes
and Aguilera crossed the Canto River with only so
men; that great discomfort existed in the rebel army
because of want of pay; that Cespedes had promised
his men all the gold they could steal in Nanzanillo
that the rebels were treating of surrender Probably
no part of the world is surprisingly fertile in
the kind of irresponsible lying which takes the shape
of rumor than the tropics and reason for 1t here
is that Government has undertaken monopoly in
all matters of intelligence. What is said of the
wholesale surrender of insurgents must be taken
with some grains of allowance. 1t is implied
by the language of the official paper that three thou
sand rebels had lately been asking pardon whereas it
is probably the truth that those who sought
the Spanish authorities the people Of the burned
and wasted BayamO neighborhood and not IN any
remarkable number, soldiers of the insurgent army
Again the Spaniards have a way Of shading all news
that can give the slightest comfort inspiration 10
the rebellion. II was lately said officially that -
vessel the American Ayiette had been taken by
Spanish ldnchd ea6OHerG suspicion but for the rest
we are in the dark. We heard of vessel from Mas
san seized in which there were unusual number of
tributaries, or ship hands, but the papers dare not
or will not utter the suspicion that the tribu-
lantes were brave young Cubans who went
out to find the flag of Cespedes. paper
of Trinidad has been telling the story that Cespedes
had put the question of surrender with liberal terms
TO bis council-of-war and that majority had gone
for surrender but need hardly say that this tale
though held Of less account the side of the
newest guns and greatest munitions is unworthy Of
any credit. The rumor has not been wanting at tho
capital based perhaps upon the fancy just related
that Cespedes has sent his proxy TO the capital 10
arrange q settlement and that all will be over
II will be borne in mind however. that the latest
known act Of Cespedes the burning Of Bayamo, was
in its nature by no means an overture for peace.
The men who entered upon the leading work
of the rebellion staked property, wealth, life,
upon it. Aguillera, Santa Lucia, Fgueredo Cos-
pedes and Others have emancipated their slaves,
and have imperiled ali Of the very considerable
quantity of estate they own. Even now, some Of
them have lost plantations and houses by the war.
Their friends boast that they can, at any time have
an abundance of men, and aver that their sole want
is in arms In short it is believed by those who
favor the cause of Cuba earnestly that it contains
too strong moral and patriotic investment this
time to fail soon or rather to fail at all The Cubans
do not speak Of failure, in fact This morning APP
pears an article in the official organ stating that
great and in some respects, friendly pressure has
been brought to bear upon the insurgents TO induce
them TO accept the most liberal terms of surrender
that can possibly be offered Cespedes, who is act
ing for his cause very much as q President and
Secretary of War combined, has q real influence
over the leaders Of the revolt and the of Baya
mo appears TO have recorded his opinion as
| to terms. The Spaniards would, Of course.
fehcitate themselves greatly upon his surrender.
| The worst can perceive of the very meager news
| which comes TO hand respecting tho war is that on
on the 18th steamer took to Manzanillo a battalion
| of troops and piece of artillery The Government
papers are not yet able to report any of the nsur
gent neighborhoods as queted there is trouble of
kind around Santiago dc Cuba; and the country to
an extent not reckoned disposed for an nsur-
rection 1t is only the reinforcement of the puns
which can connt in the summing up. You are aware
| OF tne CUBAN complaint that the United States are
giving guns to SPAIN but will send none allow mono
| to come to Cuba OF give or lend their money: and
all TINS aIter -FOUR months OF Cuban struggle prac-
ticaly In the interest of the United States