The New York herald., 1871-01-01
G y 3 A..
THE NEW CAPTAIN GENERAL.
us ADMINISTRATION OF AFFAIRS.
ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS.
ATTACK ON THE INSURGENTS.

valmaseda-His Personnel and Hablts-His
Career In the Island-The Charges Of CRU
city Against Him-Their Foundnsion-His
Famous Bayamo Order and the Jiguaui
Massacre-The Havana voIuntcers 60 Assist
I'm Suppressiug the lnsurrection-His State
naents Concerning the Situation
HAVANA, Dec. %, 1870.
Undeniably fat man and tall one rs the natu-
raj suggestion entering the presence OF Don Bias
vnlase, Count valmaseda, Captain General dd f,ae-
rim Of the Island OF Cuba; he who took the field
against the insurrecOn upon Its first outbreak and
has made name and lame connected Herewith
which, whether enviable or otherwise, extends
throughout Christendom. On nearer approach 1t is
observed that he is nearly forty-nvc years OF age
with clear olive complexion hazel eyes, black
hair, with mustache and imperial, and heavy,
hanging cheeks lustifying the charge OF sensuality
30 often brought against him. Something OF the air
Of . BON Ufuasa Ii apparent too yet there is that
about the man which indicates powerful viii and
great tenacity Of purpose. Educated IN France, he
has rather the easy, anable manner Of the French
than the staid formal dignity OF the Spaniard
Still he assumes the first place very naturally and Is
evidently accustomed to command. One hesitates
70 believe IN the stories OF cruelty told him while
observing his genial, pleasant ways. He had occu-
pied several important positions In the island pre-
Wous TO the lnsurrecuon, such as Segundo Cubo and
Governor OF Puerto Principe. and has had the repu-
tation OF being iond OF sports attendant on hull
and COCK fights and addicted to all athletic exer.
cises. He Is OF great physical strength, magnin-
centhorseman an expert swordsman and dead
shot. These things, while making him extremely
popular with the masses, have created
the impression that he Is not a man
OF much intellectual capacity, by no
means q student and that the prominent
positions he has occupied resulted rather from acct
dent OF birth and the influence OF friends than fro
any merits or capabilities OF his own. l am satls-
hed that this is incorrect view OF his character
and that he Is man OF unusual capacity and great
amblllon. From the time he assumed command OF
the Spanish troops, after the outbreak OF Yara
until his arrival in Havana TO assume the chief Dig
nity OF the islandnow more than two years--he has
never lett his work for moment. but with all the
resources Afforded him constantly comba.ed the
insurrecton. Though lifelong supporter OF
the Bourbons, he has, while maintaining
constant retcence In reference to affairs at home
though practically recognizing the new order OF
things-by hls lapors for SPAN retained himself In
position and been advanced to the highest dig.
nifty by his political opponents With ready foresight
approaching the power OF the Spanish residents here
who had been formed into armed organizations by
Lersundl he has adopted such policy as was likely
pursued 1t as to acquire the most unbounded popu-
arity with them. BY them intrigues for his ad.
vancement nave been carried on for more than
year past, during which time he has SO conducted
himself that no fault could be found with him. even
by those whose place and power ne desired to usurp
He has accomplished the object or all hIs labors:
yet in SO doing and in pursuing the policy referred
TO- he acquired the reputation OF being the most
cruel and Dloodihirsty commander Of the age, the
nd fprrn fpIic
this, such as assassin .butcheri and the like
have been unsparngly neaped upon him. His or
der6 and the acts hereunder have been made the
subject OF diplomatic correspondence and important
state papers; remonstrances have been made in the
attached to his name that his appointment has been
considered in open defiance Of the sentiment OF the
Of free Cuba by exciting hopes that foreign lnterfe-
renee IN her behalf would result
whether or no valmaseda has been aware Of this
heretofore know not. He certainly appreciates II
now, deprecating II and earnestly denying that he
has been subject 70 the charge OF cruelty Justly.
Since his arrival in Havana he has several times re-
1erred 10 this in conversation with those whose
minds ne would naturally wish TO oisabuse Of such
IDEAS Inc princpai grounds for charging him with
cruelty are TWO IN number, ana, unfortunately for
himself and defenders, they are very clear and well
understood. The first OF these Is his famous order
dated at Bayamo, April 4, lso9 the VI which Is
as follows:-
hHABrrASTs OF THE COUNTRY
The forces which expected have With them wiz
% G 10 Se good sed ar
know ye thai have pardoned those who have fought
which You know also hat se and
much ngrati,ude and much viiany impossible tor
ioaser possible that is not with against
and IN order that my soldiers know gush
you hearten TO the orders given them:-
bis he ss " sn M
Every matched house tha, is found uninhabed will be
Every hame, where white cloth in the shape OF flag ia
not bois,ed in that desire peace viii
De recnoed 70 ashes l..
nss Or IN those Of their relatives will return Jsuani and
s 10 Do 20 viii q w ken es sy for wno
BAYAso, April 4, 1863. Count vALMAsEDA
Under this decree the most unheard of atrocities
were perpetrated. | can give you better Idea OF
them than oy quoting from an account which ap.
peared III the HERALD under date Of September 20,
1862 as f0lIows:-
foreigner resident Bayamo since the commence.
son wei BY ses tina, b. b. Pst
wa @ sTa out The day ITS
booy OF one hundred troops Approaching
commanding officer and the citizen
OvFIcER-Why have you not the white Gag your
S,Tlzns-I don't know Sb.. you by the white Gag
And ne was shot down like dog In the of his
Again. in question concerning the nag the
cin1en responds 'f put the insurgent
oyrIoln-,Wny DO you no. come in, ,henf
oyrIcEn Take him oui and shoot himi
& ins The Si essn s shs
iaken everything from me"
OFFioER-You gave TO them.
CITIzEN-No, sir, did net; they took 1t by force.
OFFICER-Shoot him
On approaching those houses where the
the called together and the absence
being asceained every Immediately burned to
the ground and the inmates old wemen. ones
arms, TO proceed or jig.
ofttmes many miles Distant with provision for
shelter the From these
laid down by The waysde and died, others
nsursent gangs whe masated them for
the Spanish lines or horrible ouragep
perpe,rAed defenceess wcmen they imagined
described. . So horrible was TINS carnival OF
the soldiers finally " 20 out excamipQ
I'VE sick Of brains blood"
Such were the results OF this order, ana he who
promulgated IL was IN immediate command OF the
troops. in his response 70 this proclamation the
CUBAN General Donate del Marmol, IN address
10 his fellow citizens, said
The Spanish General valmaseda proclamation on
the Ain inst the Inhabitants Of the object of
which 10 authorize and