The New York herald., 1869-09-14
Gu B A..

Comm andant In Hnvana-His Report
Tunns to bo Made the Sent Of Cespedes'
Government-PrOcIamsf fion OF the Cuban
Observation-Disclosures Of General Lesca
TO Cinco viilas--Arrest of American Citi.
zens-Trial OF Udaetn-surrcnder Of Ba-
yamO.
HAVANA, Sept 0, 1862.
On Monday, the 9th, arrived here the steamer
Pelayo, from various points along the north coast,
bringing seventy seven Spanish soldiers ana nine
teen 0flcers OF the former sixty-six are wounded
men. Commandant Boniche twice wounded In the
head, is also among the passengers.
She brings information OF desperate attack by
the insurgents on Las Tunas, and their repulse by
the garrison Of that place on the 10th OF August
The delay In the transmission OF the news was
doubtess owing to the fact that the Cubans are in
large numbers between Tunas and Puerto Padre
and communication Is seldom and dinicult We
have as yet only the Spanish accounts not word
having arrived through Cuban sources. These
IN the past have been by no means remarkable
for their truthuness and should, therefore be taken
with many grams Of allowance. The official report
OF Lieutenant Colonel B0niche, chel Of the gar
rison at the time OF the attack, appears In the
Gaseae 1t s very long and unreasOnably diiIusve.
His own force had been reduced 10 400 men, while
the nsurrecs, according to the statement OF pri.
soner taken during the fight, numbered between i've
and six thousand and one piece OF artillery. About
an hour previous ta the lack 200 men OF the gar
rs0n, under Counel Favela had gone out to collect
-atte leaving but 200 to receive the onslaught OF the
enemy The attack commenced ut half past four A.
M. on the eastern side OF TIE town, where 1t was
sustained for q few minutes by O small force there.
quickly reinforced from the plaza. IL he Spanards
were fighting behind their trenches, 1t will be recol-
lected The attack soon became general at the four
principal points Of the town. Colonel Favea, near.
ing the firing from the outside returned on the
double quick and entering the town from the NORTH
attacked the enemy IN the rear, causing him great
losses. He seems to have succeeded IN reaching the
plaza without difficulty and his force i'm.
medlatey strengthened the weaker points
The Gght continued with varied success at
the different points up to half-past one
r. Nj. At one time the insurgents had
possession Of nearly all the buildings the southern
part Of the town ana were working their way to-
wards the trenches surrounding the plaza by cutting
through the walls Of the houses. AS the attacks at
the other points had mostly ceased the commandant
concentrated his force and moved on the enemy IN
that direction his men being subdivded into two
divisions. The insurgents were protected by barr-
cades OF furniture, which were carried at the point
OF the bayonet, while the enemy from the house.
tops and rom other points poured down a deadly
1re upon the charging column. The ADVANCE of the
Cuhans In that direction was checked, and the fight
carried to another portion OF the town. During tho
morning certain barracks occupied by the Spauiards
were abandoned aud burned to prevent their falling
into Int the hands Of M the ne Cubans At twelve O'CLOCK
the plaza, In order to surround himself with more
open space. Further details OF the fight given,
but they are confused and without interest," AT half
past one p. NJ. the insurgents retired towards the
country, after having set fire to more than 100
CuOans Kept up q lively nre with their one one piece
Snrsn o. arner directed Sse.si mostly against the
hospital was situated and falling mostly in the court
YARD. NO. says the report the intention OF the
make it the seat of the republican government This
was evident from proclamation OF Cespeaes, at.
tached to the report translation OF which for.
ward. Cespedes and Quesada, it Is said, contem
plated the action rom distant emnence, and near
them, on the Principe road, was seen train, doubt.
less containing the insurgent archives. brought up
IN the evident expectation that 1t would be an easy
matter to take the town: The following is the pro-
CiamatiOn Of Cespedes referred to-
SOLDIERS or THE CAMAGUAY AND TuNAs:-
10 yen has been conded Of the most important
in Inc your s hs
soyernmsn. sa, comes to contemplate you.
orders viii lead victory. To youis as.
o caoas your sS cowsrs aW1Gsa
his POSITION he only
q % rossss9g to-day an esces Of military
@ ans the how & e e,o. a %
a. that time you were the raw recruits to-day you the
yyS n 5ss
Such is the Official report Private accounts
loss OF the troops ID set down at 103 killed, no
wounded given. letter from an officer says:-'At
one time the prison building was like to fail into the
hands Of the enemy, and to prevent the escape OF
the inmates they were all shut up and the ediice
burned" 1t is supposed many perished In the
flames.
Doubtless some time will pass before the facts of
the engagement are known. AS was stated, the |
Commandant, Boniche, comes wounded the Pc. |
layo. He makes his report here, and OF course as
favorable to the Spanish side as possible. The large
number Of wounded here and others coming with |
him from SO small garrison, certainly looks sus-
pici0us. The Cupans, though without information, |
are confident that tney have won victory and have
either taken or destroyed the town. Among the |
trophies OF the engagement brought here is spen-
blue stripes on white bod}, parallel with the lone
star IL was exposed 10 public gaze In front of the |
palace for the nell last DAY or two and attracted much
Martin, OF the Second battalion Of Havana, who was |
afterwards killed. Since his arrival Boniche haa /
been the recipient OF selenade by the volunteers OF
Havana.
General Lesca commanding In the Clnco Villas
having recovered from his rheumatism, leaves for |
his headquarters to-day in the steamer NuevO Al
mendario, accompanied by battalion or the |
Of1lccr, by an American friend, an account OF his
poisoning, published in newspaper of the United
States BY the same direction as was administered
to the unfortunate Cariotta, with the extremely SEN
sational account OF the manner IN which the poison
is prepared In Mexico, Cuba and South America.
TO all OF which he listened with much gravity, and
at the end, exclaimed, "Qae nelt,ra ~ What o lie.
An American citizen named H. Ii. Schultz, a con.
tractor the railroad, was recently arrested IN
Madruga. his effects searched and all Of his private
letters read. He was taken TO Mataagas where tho
Consul, MIR. Hall, Immediately took cognzance ofnIs
case and telegraphed to Mr.. Plumb, in Havana
who procured an order for his release from the
Captain General. He was guilty OF no offence and |
his arrest seems to have grown out OF some Jealousy
IN social matters entertained by the volunteers OF
Madruga. The official report accompanying him to |
Maanzas spoke OF some private marks on his arm OF
suspicious character they were in India INK, re.
star, and that they should have been
received as evidence OF t,pidencta Is ridiculous
enough
Emilio Silva, native OF Cuba, but an American
Ctzen since 1854 and resident OF the United States
MP to 1862, from Binghamon, N. Y, was imprisoned
on suspicion by the authorities CT Nuevitas on The
9Th OF August, and kept incommuncated for fifteen
days, after Which he was sent to Havana. The mat
ter was represented to the American Consul In Nue..
vtas who gave notice OF the case to the Consul gen.
era here, and the immediate release OF Silva was
Qrlared. In thia c0unectian ~ laf f.,.hi |