Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-06-17
News from Cuba.

Reliable news from Cuba has be-
come a scarce article in the news
market, and but very little appears.
Last Saturday evening we had the
pleasure of meeting agenuine Cuban
patriot, sun-browned and spunky,
direct from the very center Of the
! forces in the Island, and from him
have a picture of the affairs painted
in patriot colors, and which, from
his position among them, we be-
lieve represents the true state of af-
fairs.
The gentleman,--we might give
his name here, but it can be found in
Iowa's list of soldiers--left the camp
Of the patriots on the night Of the
18th Of May, took passage on board
Of smuggling schooner, and arrived
in New Orleans Oh the night Of the
Dist.
The men in his command were all
well armed and supplied with all the
lighter munitions of war; the arms
are mostly of the Springfield rife
pattern; the men are in good state
of discipline, and very hopeful of
soon winning for Cuba an indepen-
dence. One great want is the lack of
artillery, having but ONE or two SER
viceable pieces at their command,
and they having been captured from
the Dons at the very outbreak of the
revolution.
The sanitary condition Of the
troops compares favorably with that
Of the American army in the late
war, and none of the contagious dis
eases incident to that climate had
made their appearance at the time of
his departure. The people, Spanish
reports to the contrary nOtwithstand-
ing, are heart and hand enlisted with
them, and aid in every possible way
the cause. The sick of most Of the
camps are taken by the women and
cared for at their homes, medical aid
being sent them as often as possible.
Provisions have been scarce until
recently, when good organization
of the subsistence department was
obtained, under the management Of
an ex-union army officer. All pro-
visions foraged are paid for, when
pay is demanded.
The material composing the patriot
forces is fully one-third American,
representing almost every State in
the Union. Iowa has full half
dozen exsoldiers in the struggle,
two Of whom have command of a
company of scouts, who have rem
dered efficient service i'm bushwhack-
ing and gobbling up small squads of
Spanish troops.
The recent order Of the Spanish
commandments all males found
away from home be shot-has been
the cause of much cruelty, in its
barbarous execution and in the retail
iation that followed. He pronoun-
ces the story recently started by
New York papers, about nine thou
sand men sailing for Cuba, to be a
war canard Of the first magnitude,
but admits that there are reinforce
ments coming into camp every week
from the Gulf cities, and that they
come well provided with all that is
necessary to do fighting on the spot.
All seem confident in the belief that
ifno other than the present foe en-
ters the field, they will be able to ac-
complish all that is desired in few
months.
This is about the story he told that
will bear publishing, and if all Is as
it is stated, the cause of Democratic
Independence in that Isle is in a
hopeful condition. He left on yes
tcrday's train, on his way westward
to his home, and will again return to
the front when he has accomplished
the object Of his mission.--,Syttte Reg
lister, 9Th inst.