New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-06
A VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.
Story OF nm American who j Joined the
Cuban A-my-The Army n Mob
General JOrdAn-J eaIOnsy Among ON.
cers-How tho Cubsns Fisht-The Gu
ban Force.

Cuban A-my-The Army n Mob
General JOrdan-J eaIonsy Among ON
cers-How the Cubans FIght-The Gu
ban Force.
from the New York Times, April se.l
A young fellow who volunteered with
other Americans in New York recruiting
Office some months ago to go to Cuba and
fight for the Cubsns, who went there, and
who has just returned wiser and sadder
man, tells his story as follows:
After about ten days march we reached
headquarters. General Jordan WAS just
recovering from severe sickness. Ryan
was with him, having arrived five days
before US. Jordan told US that he was glad
to see us, but wished there had been a
thousand of US instead OF mere handful.
He had five Americans on his staff; and out
of the eighty or ninety which be brought
with him from the United States to the
island. only about ten or dozen were left,
the remainder either having got of home,
or been killed. We soon found out that he
was not in full favor with the Cubans. He
was for concentration, and they argued
against it. The fact OF the matter it was,
however, plain to zee was, they were jeal-
Gus Of him, ant wanted to get him out of
the way.
On the twenty-second of February we
attacked Spanish position On the railroad,
between Puerto Principe ard Nuevitas.
The Cubans had 1000 men and three noun
tain hewitzers, and the Spaniards had 200.
We made the attack at daylight, opening
with our battery OF artillery. Then the in
fantry went in Just like a mob. and after
fighting for one hour, Jordan ordered them
to charge the works; but they protested,
declaring that it was too warm for them
there, SO we retreated with a loss of twenty
five wounded ard three killed. Jordan 3
object was to tear up the railroad track,
burn the bridge that was there, and cut the
telegraph. After this fight Jordan got dis.
gusted and resigned, and with Ryan and
four Cubans, lett for parts unknown. Some
Of Us began to get very suspicious ut all this,
and anxious to get away. General Agramont
succeeded Jordan in command, and then all
the Americans scattered.
I got permission to go to the Cinco Villas,
and started on the fifth of March, together
with another American and four Cubans.
We had TO travel through a part OF the
country thickiy infested with Spanish
troops We marched by night aud rested
in the daytime. We crossed the Remedies
Mountains, aud here met with great many
Cuban tamiiies in the most wretched COndi-
tion. The children were perfectly naked,
and in the most filthy condition, and the
men aid women, negroes and children alike,
were scarcely better off. On the twelfth
Joined General Hernandez. He had a fight
the day previous at the foot OF the mouu-
tains, twelve miles from Remedies. The
Spaniards drove him into the mountains,
where hi. force scattered and he lost sight
of his men, and hardly knew where he was
himself But after the Spaniards had retired
they came out of the mountains, Joined
each other, and then claimed a victory. The
men numbered about 700. They were half
naked and very poorly armed. They had
all kinds Of arms, from doubie-barrel shot
gun to a Remington rifle, old-fashioned
pistols, all kinds of old swords. There was
no organization, and much Jealousy, all
wanting to be chief officers.
From here We started for Villa Clara.
We passed through a most beautiful coun-
try. It was rolling land. After three days
march we Joined General Marcus DeZ. He
had six hundred men with him, all badly
armed. Here General Hernandez sent two
hundred men to General Ruloff. who was
in the rriDidan mountains. We then parted
with Marcus DeiZ, he taking one route and
we another. We had now five nun ired men
in our army" After two days MAI ch we
came to plantation where there was 8
Spanish guard of about twenty men. The
general sent one hundred men To set fire 10
the cane. We were all dismounted now,
having left our horses in the mountains.
We were very much fatigped. / noticed
that plaihtains and beef were getting very
scarce. We would be sometimes two days
without anything to eat. After the cane
mad been fired, the Spaniards followed and
attacked Us at night, but owing to the
darkness withdrew. The next day We
crossed river and marched about seven
leagues. The Spaniards attacked US in the
rear about noon, and threw Us into confu-
sion.
The officers found it impossible to COM
m2nd the mob. Somebody, for instance,
would order ''silence," and then everybody
would repeat the order, go that instead Of
silence there was a big noise. When under
fire the men did just as they liked. We at
tempted to make stand that evening, but
the Spaniards drove US, with q loss of
twenty six wounded and four killed. We
had to march very slowly, for the wounded
had to be carried on rude stIetchers made
by them selves. There were no doctors to
attend to them, and every hour their con-
dition grew worse. They had nothing to
eat, and very little attention from anybody.
We made about eight leagues. and then en-
Camped. Here We found few plantains,
but no beet. This is all we had to eat for
three days. The Spaniards again attacked
us the next day, and ct the first volley the
Cubans ran through the woods for dear life,
leaving five or SIX wounded after them, who
were not butchered by the Spaniasds, but
kindly cared for. Here | got disgusted with
them, and left. went to the north shore,
and was taken by Spanish schooner, whore
was kindly treated.
l have here attempted to show the real
state of affairs as far as learned them. I
saw nothing but misery and wretchedness.
No discipline; mo5s, and not armies. I am
confident from what | learned and saw that
the Cuban force on the island does not eX-
ceed 5000 men. General Agromonte has
1900, badly armed; General Hernandez
has 500: General Marcus Deiz 600; General
Rulof 400; General Modesto DeiS 800; |
will allow 1000 more scattered through the
country in small bands. OF the arms they
have. nine-tenths are of no account against
the Remington rifle. Then two.thirds of
their ''army" are negroes and Cinnamon.
The Cinnamon do the best lighting, if it can
be called fighting at all.
7 must state that of all the promises made
to Americans here before going, no. one Of
them has been kept so, and so I warn all
young men who may be thinking of going
to Cuba, to remain where they are. The
Cubans did not generally strike me as being
brave men. AS tar as l could see, the man
who got behind a rock the quicket when the
Spanish came along, and cried "Viu0 Cuba
Libre.h was regarded with as much favor rs
the Oravest of the brave. There are Cuban
in New York living in lux
ury, and telling every body to go TO Cuba.
Why don't they go themselves? At Key
West there are something like 2500. Why
don't they go?