The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-25
FIRST EDITIO N
Q u B ~.
The Revolution as Seen by an
Eye. Witness -ghe Exact Con-
ditiOn Of the Insurgents.
Their Policy and Means
Ct War.

ehinist of railroad, gives t6elN. Y. Herald the
appended account Of the condition of things en-
the island:-
The occupation Of the line OF railroad from
Puerto Princlpe 10 Nuevitss having left me
without employment, determined to return to
the United states. procured me necessary
ernor of the city, and started with companion,
on horseback, by land, on the 18th OF February
last. go
The exception OF the small children and very
old men, had entirely left the city In conse-
Quence OF the revolutionary movement. The
native 6paniards, mostly shopkeepers, had en-
rolled themselves in the volunteer corps, and
were exceedingly bitter In their hostility to the
Cnbaus. These, with the small number of regu-
lar troops in the city, gave Colonel Mena force
OF about 5000 men, well supplied with arms
and ammunition and few 6eld pieces. There
had been regiment OF colored troops in the
garrison, but these had nearly all deserted to
the insurgents, taking their arms with them.
The roads leading fnto the town were all barri-
eaded by the Spanish troops in the outskirts.
Operations against the insurgents were confined
to an occasional foray OF the troops for provi-
slons and forage, which were usually made in
strong force and encountered little open resist
ance though on every occasion they encoun-
tered constant am mbuscaded fire both in going
from and returning TO the town.
TIE feeling of the natives OF all classes is
very decided for the revolution, and young and
old, rich and poor. have gone into 1t. General
Dulce's proclamations of amnesty aud reform
at first produced some effect, aud many were in
favor OF accepting them. Among these were
enc, II not two, of the Arangos, and one OF
them had begun negotiations to that effect. For
this purpose he had held communications with
Colonel Mena, aud appointed dav when he
would come in unarmed under flag Of truce to
confer with him. 1t was stated in Principe
that Colonel Mena's orders to the squad sent
to meet Arrange were to bring him the corpse OF
that rebel. The fact was that he was shot as
soon as he approached the suburbs of the town,
and the remains were hacked and disdgured
h.
feeling in favor OF accepting the amnesty and
rsf rms among the Cubans.
The in'u-gent force ,igathered round Puerto
Principe amounts to about 1000 men, and was
informed that 5000 more were holdlug the line
of railway between that city and HuevitRs.
They are very enthusiastic In the cause, but
are badly armed, and Ill supplied with ammuni-
ton. Their only cannon are few pieces OF
iron pipe well plugged and bound round with
banded strips of the hard woods OF the country.
Every available instrument was sppned 10 tne
making of weapon for offensive purposes, and
a lance ard mdchese-a short, heavy sword-
were the general armament. A few had 6reech-
loading rifles captured from the Spaniards, but
the want of the proper ammunition rendered
them of little service. An old-fashloned flint
lock muZZle-loadng musket was the faVorlte
arm, as it could always do service whether
there were patent cartridges, percussion caps,
etc, ia camp or not. Whoever had one of these
prized it above all the patent arms to be had.
There was but little organization among the
forces of the revolution, although General
Q iesada was recognized as the chief in CON-
maud, Every leader had raised aud kept to-
gether what men he could, aud the camp seemed
more like a gathering of private bands than
regular force. General Quesada was laboring
to introduce reglmental and brigade organlza-
tions 1t was this reason, the absence OF regular
organization and military rule, which prevented i
general lesada from attacking Puerto Principe,
which be could undoubtedly cap'u 1t he could
control his force so as to bring them to act on a
general plan.
gents mo { OF them from the TO Rns, or who
were previously free The plantations have all
stopped work, but the slaves have either gone
into the towns to seek protection, or have fed
into the woods, where they remain. Few or
none of this class OF the populatioa hde with
the Spaniards.
a gtrila war than by REGULAR operations.
Whenever q force OF Spanish troops appears
anywhere the Cubans scatter from its front,
and seek by ambuscading bealnd trees and IN
the thick woods to annoy the troops and dimin'
is their numbers. The great object among the
insurge gents in these encounters is 10 get hold oi
the musket aud knapsack OF every one they can
wound or kill. In this ihey Will run extraoroi'
nary ITks. three or four running out from the
bush at every Spaniard who falls. The Spanish
troops generally behave well in these encoun-
ters and whenever forced TO halt or form during
their march, will roundly abuse their unseen
foes, styling them towards, and calling upon
them to come out OF their hiding places aud
show themselves.
The feeling among the Spanlsrds Is very bitter
indeed. They formed almost entirely the
trsdipg population of the country, and every
erossroad and country village was occupied
with their shops. These are now abandoned
wherever the insurgents have appeared, anC
their owners have withdrawn 10 points held bJ
The troops. Thus the. luntry IS bare OF goods
Az irst a lpnient policy towards the prisoners
nrevailed but the Spanish volunteers have nov
be come 20 violent thatNthey shoot nearly al
fbey capture, calling them leaders. At the
time was with the insurgents they had mo-
executed any prisoners, but the feeling In faVol
OF retaliation was becoming very strong.
No regular civil. government exists IN the
districts held by the insurgents, and no forma
attempt has yet been made 10 organize one. IL
the Central Department General Quesadai
autl ity is respected, while in The east Gene
TAI Oesoedes is looked upon as the leader
There is little communication between the
several depatt ttments and no concert OF action.
The only aim seems TO be war with the Spa
niard The insurgents In the VILLA Clara dis
trict hold their organization distinct IRON those
OF Cespt s aud QaesRda
From the insurgent camp around Puerto Pru
elpe we rode through CISCO de Ayila, EspirtG
Eanto Villa Clara and Macagua to Colon
where we sold our horses and took the cars fol
Havana Wherever we stopped among thu
20 ln,ry people the. same feeling against tn
1ro ,ohir lis end, prevailed, while in the town
me Soanish traders, armed and organized b,
a o 40 verpment, en- or an The most violent feel
In ps against the Cubans. go
no attempt TO injure us was mace Dy eitne
pa ty when we .encounteIed 'nem, aisnopg
koth NV companion and myself were searche
~ several occasions. The Spaniards wer
oiwavs distrustful OF us; but the insurgents !
@xery instance gave us good treatment Oecaus
80 Zero Americans, II lis my belief that IN
insurrection cannot be put down, ana lna.
viii continue TO spread untll ~ involxss W, VI
whoie isIand; but TO take the fortified ports an
NhOao .Siet t-sI,,,rT,ants mead better arms aud 0l