The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-02-17
The War in Cuba.


Al HAVANA correspondent OF the
Messenger Franco-American gives SOM
interesting details of the recent mill
tnry operations ia the castcrn part 0
Cuba. On December % the Span
ISL General Valmaseda mai ched from
Nuevitas, at the head of 1000 p.ckeu
troops, to capture the insurgent strong
hold of Bayamo. His route lay across
q mountainous region, where the in
surgent leader, General Cespedes, had
he chosen, might have offered him
battle with reasonable prospect OF
success. But Cespedes had no in
tention risking a battle with the well
disciplined troops Of Spain. He con-
ceived a better plan, which was to
leave the road to Bayamo open to
Valmaseda, and to deceive him with
the idea that this town was the insui.
gent stronghold, the capture of whic.
would seal the fate OF the rebellion
While, therefore, the Spanish com
mander was pushing in southeastern.
direction toward Bayamo, Cespede
moved rapidly to the west to attaca
tho important city of Puerto Principe,
which Valmaseda had by Ii,
movement left uncovered, and whic.
would prove an ample recompense tcI
the loss OF Bayamo. A SMALL force
only of insurgents opposed the marcel
of Valmaseda, which he supposed to
be the near guard of Cespedes Tn
latter, also, with a view OF further de-
ceiving the enemy, instructed certaiL
of his followers to allow themselves t.
be taken prisoners, and tell a pretend
ep story of the value of Bayamo to
the insurgents.
This town, though one ofthe oldest
on the island, having been found
cd in 1514.by Diego Velazquez, con
tains a population of not above 5000,
and is a place of no strategic import
ance. It was originally made the
base Of military operations by Cespe-
DIES, simply because it happened to he
the central point of the rebellion. 1t
is singular that Valmaseda did not ac-
quaint himself with these facts before
commencing his campaign, or suspect
that the spies of Cespedes were deceiv-
ing him.
On the evening of January Is, he
arrived in the neighborhood Of Bay
amo, and formed his troops in col
umns of attack to meet the supposed
large and defiant army of rebels, but
a few minutes later the advanced
scouts brought news that no hostile
army was in sight, and that Bayamo.
with its churches, converts and DIVE :.
lings, was in flames. The next morn
ing, when the Spanish troops march
ed into the town, they found only a
mass of smoldering ruins. A large
number of the houses belonged to Ces-
pedes, who had himself ordered their
destruction. The inhabitants had
taken refuge in the neighboring Ser
IA de Guerra, and the conquering army
found their prize but barren con-
quest. Never was a General more
completely outwitted than Valmaseda.
made haste t. succor the places
which his foolish expedition had left
unprotected, and at last accounts hi
troops, tired and d~emoralized, were
moving toward the port of M~ansanillo,
to embark for the department of the
center.
Meanwhile, the Cuban army. g., 900
strong, laid siege On the 14th to Puer-
to Principe, which, according to late
dispatches, they captured on the 10th.
This has proved their most important
victory Of the war. Every day which
they now gain in delaying the advance
OF the Spanish troops Is of Importance
TO the cause Of Cuban undergraduates