The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-23

The New York Tribune prints the following
interesting letter from the "brisk, familiar
hand" of an American flbuster in Cuba. In
its editorial comments, the Tribune says:
The letter Is of the first stinterest, inasmuch as
it gives an account which will not be i'm
peached, by an eyewitness, Of the battle that
ended so disastrOusly for General Pueblo and
so VIGOROUSLY for General Jordan. The num-
ber ofSpauards killed and wounded exceeded
the number Of Cubans engaged in this battle
piece Of information which the patriots ac-
quired in part by having to disinter the span
iards to get their clothing. 1t Is General JUr-
dams own testimony that none fought better
In this battle than the negroes and the Chi
nese; but the account of our correspondent
permits some painful deductions. General
Jordan fought the battle with 548 men, includ-
ing negroes and Chinese, and some OF them
SO ragged that they had to strip the dead. But
lt will be seen that the need OF the Cubans Is
not men, but arms.
The letter is as follows:
CAuNAo, CANAGUEY, February IA.
The bombastic Spanish accounts of the New
Years Day fight at Mlnas, where Pueblo was
driven back with great loss, and the subse-
quent check of fGoycneche, caused much amuse-
ment In camp The facts are these:
Pueblo, with picked details from five batta-
lions of the best regular troops, amounting to
22OO men, with four pieces OF artillery, went
10 Nuevitas by rail from Puerto Principe, thence
by water to Baga, and advanced Into the inte-
rior. Near plantation called Las MinaS, Cen
eral Jordan had prepared an ambuscade, and
was posted with 54S men, all told-infantry,
cavalry and artillery (but one small pieee)-
behind his hastily devised entertainments. The
Spaniards advanced in apparent security, and
did not discover the "ll0n in his path" until
within thirty yards Of the muZzlcs Of the Gu
ban guns, when whitening fire was opened
in their faces and on both flanks. For few
minutes discipline and the pride of the Spanish
officers kept the ranks steady, but hnmun na-
ture could not stand the storm OF leaden death
hurled into their very faces, and the ranks
broke and fled TO the rear The Spanish ariil-
lery was badly served and the 1iring wild, do
ing no damage to oilr gallant ranks. Oar sin
gle piece, on the contrary, did fearful eXecu-
tion at its close range.
Three times he well trained Spanish infan-
try were brought to the charge, solidly mass
ed in platoOns, and as often reeled, broke and
fell back, fearfully cut up by the Cuban fire.
General Jordan, mounted on horseback, was
everywhere along our lines inspiring his
adopted countrymcn by will and example. His
coor-bearer was mounted at his side. While
Pueblo was preparing for fourth charge, the
General, finding his ammunition nearly ey-
hausted. thought it prudent to withdraw his
men, and this was done at walk, coOly and
calmly, the men highly elated with the severe
punishment inflicted upon the enemy None
fought better in the ranks than the negroes
and Chinese, and General Jordan Is loud in his
praise of them.
The Spaniards buried their dead on the field,
and retrcated seven miles TO iortify themselves
in strong position, where they remained for
two weeks, without daring TO leave their en-
trenchments even for food, which became very
scarce Their loss included 200 killed and
buried on the field, and l25 who died and were
buried in their refuge. Th1S is beyond doubt
as our men dtSinte'Ted the dead 10 obtain their
clothing. Alas what sad picture of this
war-dre necessity and unconquerable deter
mination to succeed or perish Oh one side, and
the most savage ferocity of the Spaniard on
the other. Descrters confirm this Spanish loss,
and place their wounded at about geo, making
their total loss eIceed the number OF oar men
engaged in the battle. Among their dead was
one colonel and 80 officers. Our loss was too
killed and twelve wounded The fight re-
minded me of the ambush of Braddock at Fort
Duquesne, and had we IN abundance OF am
munition, Puello's command would have been
cut Off to a man.
Pueblo retreated to the coast by circuitous
route, enabled to do SO by the necessity OF our
looking after his compadre, Goyeneche, who
had come into this district from Espiritu Santo
with body OF 5000 men, and was threatening
GuaiInaro, where we had some supplies, be-
sides looking for his friend Pueblo. General
Goyeneehe was found, and ambushed in like
manner as Pueblo, and, had 1t not been for a
premature shot, andithe giving way of some
enabling the Spanards to break through and
escape, Goyeneche would have had no reason
to reproach Pueblo for his bad luck AS i. was
he lost $50 killed.