Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-30
From the Now York Herald, July 2s.

the revolutionary district of Cuba, anC
whose acquaintance with commandin,
officers of both parties on the island en-
ables him to judge accurately of tn,
state of affairs among the Spanish anC
patriot armies, just arrived from Cuba
and gives an interesting statement of tn,
condition, necessities and operations o
the belligerents. The revolution which
commenced in October last, in the towr
Of Yara, now extends throughout one
third Of the island, in which district the
Spaniards only hold few isolated towns
The capital of the new revolutionary
government, consisting of regular ex>
ecutive, legislative and judicial branches,
is established at Sibanicu, town in the
interior about thirty minutes from Nue.
YitaS, and the revolutionary army, num-
bering about 10000 men, is divided into
several commands, operating at various
points IN the eastern portion of the
island. The patriot army is being Or
ganized into infantry regiments and
brigades preparatory to military opera
tons on large scale, and is already sufIi>
GENTLY formidable to give the Spaniards
all they can do to hold the towns now in
their possession. The principal line Of
operations is along the railroad from Nue.
Vitas to Puerto Principe, although the
patriots are in large force and occupy
several cities between the Spanish
troops on this line and Havana. The
Spaniards confine their operations to the
vicinity of the towns held by them, and
never venture outside, except in large
force, their movements being generally
on the defensive against advances cons
stantly being made by the revolutionists.
The sentiment of the Cuban people is
all with the patriot cause, and is uniYer-
sally manifested whatever the presence
Of the Spanish troops does not render it
perilous to non conbatants to express
sympathy with the revolutionists. The
cities held by the Spaniards are governed
by Spanish officers and garrisoned by
troops from Spain, augmented by voluns
teers composed Of Spanish residents on
the island. Such towns are almost ens
tirely deserted by the patriot families,
who have retired to the plantations of
their friends, where ranches are erected
for the accommodation Of all for whom it
is dangerous to remain within reach Of
the Spanish soldiery. In fact, the whole
eastern portion of the island, including
nearly one-half of Cuba, is in about the
same condition as the extreme Southern
States were during the first three years
of the rebellion, being entirely in the
possession of the revolutionists and
wholly devoted to the cause, with the
exception ola few towns held by military
forces, as our troops held scattered points
in Texas, Arkansas and Georgia. The
coast is almost entirely unguarded by
the Spaniards. A few small gunboats,
capable of making about seven knots per
hours, cruise along the coast, and occai
sionally frigate appears at one point
and another; but nothing like a blockade
is maintained. .
The revolutionary forces display much
more activity than the Spanlards, and
are constantly making raids and other
wise harrassing the enemy. There is,
however, very little disorder out of that
usually connected with military operas
tons, and private individuals travel from
place to place without molestation. Sup
plies are obtained from the plantations,
and as the country is very productive,
both parties have an abundance of pro-
visions. The principal wants Of the rev-
olutionists are arms, medicines, salt,
clothing and shoes. There is no lack of
men, and the patriots have ammunition
enough to lastlthem many months. They
also have arsepals established for the
manufacture of cartridges and repairing
arms that may become disabled in action.
The patriot leaders state that they do
not need any men from abroad. and care
particularly for arms with which to equip
the large number of patriot volunteers
constantly presenting themselves, and
whom they cannot organize into regi|
ments until muskets are procured. Great
inducements are held out to blockade
running. A fast steamer, such as were
employed by the Confederates, would
have no difficulty in landinga cargo, and
in addition to her receipts from ner regu-
lar cargo Of arms, she would make
immense profit on medicines, salt, cotton
cloth, rubber goods and shoes, and would
be given, free Of charge, a cargo of sugar
or tobacco with which to return.
The revolutionists are sanguine Of suc~
cess, depending as they do upon the
we'll kno wn sympathy Of the whole ma
tive. element, and the belief that yellow
fever and cholera, from which the Cubans
suffer comparatively little, will so de-
climate the Spanish ranks as to render
them powerless against the rapidly in-
creasing revolutionary forces. They do
not SO much expect to progress by
means Of brilliant successes on a grand
scale as by the influences Of climate and
delay upon the Spaniards, who, walled
up in their disease>smitten towns, must,
they predict, sooner or later succumb.