The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-26
The CuAan war,


Major oharNs II. Perkins. 4 memberl6E
General Th6nas Jordan's stan, TO his
father, James D. Perkins, OF Richmond,
|.Ya, gives very satisfactory account of
affairs within the Cuban lines. The let
ter bears the post-mark Of Key West,
where it was mailed on the 7th instant,
and to which port it was brought By the
schooner Morris, on her return voyage
from the Cuban coast with an expedition
from Philadelphia: --.--------
In THE FIELD, NEAR GUIsA BAYAMo
DEPARTMENT, July 30, 1869.
From the date of my last letter, which
was sent into Santiago de Cuba, and de-
livered to the United States Consul
there, ogreat engagement has occurred.
Valmaseda sent column of Spanish
regulars out on the Cobre road on the
21st instant. Their object appeared to
be to reconnoitre and collect beef cattle
and prisoners. General Jordan allowed
the advance of the column to proceed
beyond our encampment, which was
concealed from the road by thick
growth Of underbrush. Before the main
body reached us we sent two companies
of Americans to flank Valmaseda's ad-
vance. a sharp fight was the result.
Our men took twenty-five prisoners,
thirty-six horses and equipments. The
enemy left thirteen dead on the field.
We lost seven killed and eleven wound
ed. The killed were James Broome,
Charles Hyde, Elliot Mills, John Curtis,
Howard Clarkson, Newton Brush, and
Caleb Johnson. The Spaniards retreat
ed into Santiago de Cuba, and from that
day to this have not made any general
demonstration against us, except that of
the 26th instant, which was through o
feint made by General Jordan to draw
Valmaseda out of Santiago de Cuba, and,
if possible, capture few pieces of ar
tillery.
For two days previous We had ma
n9uvred before Santiago, SO as to allow
the enemy to think we were aboutto break
up camp and start northward. On the
night of the 25th instant, General FL
guerdo, with 1,60O men, marched North
east, on the Holguin Road, as far rs
Palma Sonano, and took position along
both sides of the road on high ground,
and among trees that completely hid
them from view. General Jordan and
remainder of his command, $500 men,
not counting those stationed ut out-posts
to hold the different roads, began o sup
posed retreat toward Hoguin, at S a. NJ,
Of the Goth. Valmaseda Immediately
followed, and what appeared to us the
entire garrison of Santiago. Figuerdo
had twelve pieces of field artillery and
we had ten. We retreated until We had
passed Figuerdos ambuscade full
league, and just through the Arroyo
Pedral, a strong gorge with precipitous
sides. A regiment, with breech- loading
Spencer rifles, was sent to either side of
the Arroyo, and as pre-arranged, when
the Spaniards had been decoyed into the
Arroyo, with Figuerdo we'll placed in the
rear. General Jordan ordered the attack.
For few moments Valmaseda was stag
gered, but presently the Spanish regu-
lars began charging forward to penetrate
through the force stationed by lis
through the Northern opening of the
Arroyo, and were met by our artillery
and swept back, while from either side
and above them the two regiments with
breech-loaders made terrible havoc.
When they began to fall back, Figuerdo
opened upon them in tho rear, and if we
had had $500 moro men we should have
taken Valmaseda and his whole command
prisoners. He left 1877 killed and 276
wounded on the road, and we took liz
prisoners. We lost seventy men killed
and had siXty-two wounded, and captured
eight riled 1O-pounders, oil complete,
besides small arms by the hundreds,
which the crazed volunteers threw away
in their fight.
General Jordan Immediately returned
to his old encampment near Santiago.
On the 9th he sent me, with 800 men,
to guard this pass in the mountains, to
cut off reinforcements from Manzanilla
or Cienfuegos, which Nalmaseda had
sent for.
Our spy and scout system is 80 com.
plete, that we know of every move the
enemy makes. The garrisons are 80
short of provisions that they gladly well
come any countryman with eggs, fruit OF
vegetables; so, when we wish to make q
point, some of our intelligent Cubans
are selected, disguised by donning the
suit of haciendero, and with his horse,
with two great baskets on either side,
loaded with miscellaneous fruit and gar
den vegetables, goes into the enemy Z
camp, tells his marvellous story Of how
he passed around our lines, sells his pro.
ducts of the soil, talks with the volun-
teers, and returns the following night
to give us the desired information.
The ravages of the summer epidemics