The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-29
THE WAR IN CUBA.
The Revolution as Seen by an Eye Wit
ness--Condttion Of the Insurgents
Their Policy and Means of War.

~>-
ness---Condttion OF the Insurgents
Their Policy and Means of War.
The following account of the condition oi
things in Cuba is furnished by MIR. Charles
Mccormack, who has resided for several years
in the City of Puerto Principe. where he was
employed as master machinist of the Puerto
Principe and Nuevitas Railroad. Mr.. McCor-
mack having travelled on horseback from the
place of his late residence through the heart oil
the island to the first railway station from
which he could take the cars to Havana, and
passed through the insurgent and Spanish
lines, q 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 80 late as the news
we have published, but as an inside view of the
revolution it will be found interesting:
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
The ..aupation of the line of railroad from
Puerto Principe to Nuevltas having left me
without employment. determined to return
to thu Unite States. I pro :ured the neces-
sary papers from Colonel Mena, the Spanish
Governor Of the city, and started with COM
panion, on horseback, by land, tor 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 con-
sequence OF the revolutionary movement. The
native Spaniards, mostly shopkeepers, had en-
rolled themselves in the volunteer corps, and
we're 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,, well supplied with
arms and ammunition and few field pieces.
There had been regiment Of colored troops
in the garrison, but these had nearly all de.
serted 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 insur.
gents were confined to an occasional foray OF
the troops for provisions and forage, which we're
usually made in strong force and encountered
little open resistance, though on every occa-
sion they encountered O constant ambuscaded
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
DuIces . proCIauatlous VI aulues'y auu leiorm
at first produced some effect, and many we're in
favor of accepting them. Among these were
one, II not Two, OF the aTaneos, ana one OF
them had begun negotiations to that effect.
For this purpose he had held communication
with Colonel Mena, and appointed day when
be would come IN unarmed under flag OF
truce. to confer With him. 1t was stated in
Principe that Colonel Mena'5 orders to the
squad sent to meet Arrange were to bring him
the corpse Of that rebel. The TACT was that he
was shot as soon as he approached the suburbs
OF the town, and the remains were hacked and
dlsh9 ured after death. This event stopped en-
tirely the feeling in favor OF accepting the am
nesty and reforms among the Cubans.
Ihe lnsurgent force gathered round Puerto
Pllncipe amounts to about 7OOO men, and
was informed that 5000 more were holding the
line Of railway between that city and Nuevitas.
They are very enthusiastic in the cause, but
iion' Their o1ly cannon are few pieces of
IRON nire we'll plugged and bound round with.
handed strips OF the hard woods OF the couu-
trv. Every available instrument was applied
10 the making Of n weapon for offensive pur-
noees. and a lance and aeacteie-a short, heavy
sword-were the general armament. few
had breech-Ioadinp rifles captured from the
Standards. but the want of the proper ammu-
nition rendered them of little service. An old
fashioned flntlock muzzIe-loadimg musket was
tho favor;te arm as n could always do service
,vhethar there were natent cartridges percus-
s;ons cans &c. in cnmn or NOT. Whoever had
one of these nrized it above ali the patent arms
to be had.
There Was but little organization among the
forces of the revolution, although General
Ouesada was recognized as the chief in COM
nand. Every leader had raised and kept to-
oether what men he could, and the camp SEEM
ed more like n Gathering OF private bands than
n regular force. General Ouesada was labor
ing to Introduce regimental and brigade organ
izations. It was this reason, the absence of
regular organization and military rule, which
prevented General Quesada from attacking
Puerto Principe, which he could undoubtedly
capture ir he could control his force 80 as to
bring them to act on general plan.
There are many negroes among the insur
gents, most of them from the towns, or who
we're previously free. The plantations have oil
stopped work, but the slaves have either gone
into the towng to seek protection, or have fed
into the woods, whero they remain. Few eI OF
none Oh anls CLASS oi 'no popuiA'ioi siue WILL
rha a"ar ;s cor-;od IN hv Tho cuhans noore as
O a,,er,;Iio 80 war han NV rernar oncrations.
Wana1ar 70, q nf snanis5 troons annears
onuwbero The Cubons scatter from its front,
and seei, hv anohuscadinr beLind trees and in
the flick woods to annoy the troops and dimn-
isb their numbers. The great object among
fine Insurgents in these encounters is to get
hold of tlIe muskct or knapsack OF every one
thew can wound or kill Tn this they will run
extraordinary risks. three or four running out
from fhe hush nt every Spauiard who fal g.
The Snanish troons penerally behave we'll in
these ampuscade encounters. and whenever
forced to halt or form during their march, will