The New York herald., 1872-12-19


to be cleared for space Of five hundred yards, and
the entire line is to be ncessantly patrolled by
Gordon OF sentines d ly ana night. The
EFFECT OF THESE PREPARATIONS
will be- 80 claim the Spaniards, 10 divide the
forces OF the Cnbans, while the whole scheme WI
only involve the maintenance OF garrison ana
patrol force OF about five thousand men. hitherto,
within the ever 1uctuating lines OF the insur-
gents, the Cubans have been free, when badly
beaten at one point to iy away and coalesce their
shattered ranks with some other and more fortu-
nate force OF their brethren in arms This form OF
retreat is henceforth to be taken away from them,
and II the plan be successfully carried out II Will
undoubtedly do much to injure the Cueans All
who was in command OF the forces OF construc-
tion, and who accompanied me on my Journey OF
inspection. That night we stayed at san Miguel,
and the next day returned to Baga, where the gun
boat was stil waiting TO take us back to Nuevltas
WITH GENERAL RIGuELME.
remained at Nuevitas until Friday, November
IS, and thence proceeded in The Spanish steamer
Marcella for Santiago de Cuba reaching there the
following Monday, and stopping on our way at the
villages OF Gibbarra and Barrac0a. Here at once
made call upon General Riguelme, the COM
Cuba, and he gave me most cordial and kindly
welcome. He spoke English mperfectly but intel
what | had seen and what thought about it. As
before confined myself to general and guarded
statements. But by this time this incessant cross
examination, 1t may easily be believed, had become
somewhat wearisome.
A PLEASANT SITUATION.
very soon requested that he would give me IA
cites to see the Insurgents in the Eastern Depart
ment. 10 this he Immediately made very strong
objections, and warned me that would have TO
pay with my life for my temerfty il ventured FUR
ther in that direction. The reasons he gave for
this were many, but the principal was that the Gu
bans themselves would XIII me, in the hope that
the blame or the murder would be thrown upon the
Spaniards, and that thus trouble would be made
between spain and the United States Already he
said the editorial in the HERALD holding the Span
ish authorities accountable Tor my safety had been
republished all over Cuba, and had created an in
tense desire among the patriots that should oe
rate. very cheerful and promising view OF the
INSURGENTS NOT TO BE FOUND.
Again, General kqucme said that 1t would be
very difficult matter to find any insurgents TO see
Not that there were none; he admitted frankly the
existence OF many OF them; but they moved about
the country with such bewildering speed that you
never We're sure Where they were or for that mat
and nowhere. only on the previous saturday
night they had DESTROYED some coffee plantations
but two miles away from santiago de Cuba, ana
yet at that present time ii was absolutely impos-
sible to tell their whereabouts Still the General
promised to do all he could tor me. There was an
officer then absent on an expedition against the
rebels, at the head Of a flying column, in whom he
had every confidence, and as soon as he could be
sent 1or and brought back l should be put under
his guidance TO go wherever desired, and In the
meantime might visit some sugar estates In the
neighbOrhO0d and go to the plains OF guantanamo,
from which view OF an immense extent Of coun-
try could be gained Afterwards II still per-
sisted In
MY FOOLISH DESIRE
to interview the insurgents the officer alluded TO
should take me as far as he was abie and then,
having been given statement In writing to the
effect that had voluntarily abandoned his prctec.
tion should be free to go wherever liked. More
than this could hardly expect in fairness, espe-
cially as the conversation ended In an invitation
to dinner with the General the following day.
The General estimated the number Of armed In
surgents at seven or eight thousand The country
in the Eastern Department, he said. was SO heavily
wooded and SO mountainous that unless the insur-
gents themselves desired it, 1t was difficult for
Spanlards ever to see them. He said to me, "You
see now why 1t 10 the rebellion has not been sub
dued. II had 10000 men in each OF these two de-
partments in additiouto those needed for garrison
duty might hope to accomplish something in a
short time But as 1t is you guerilla
war may be kept up for four. five, six or seven
years. The rebels, having sufficient food unless
their supply of arms or ammunition gives out, on
their own soil can prolong the war indefinitely.
In time OF course We shall subdue them but it may
be very long time unless the United States
should by some decided action prove to them that
they can never expect any assistance from her.n
That same evening was also formally introduced
by Lieutenant AguerO to the members of the two
Spanish clubs of the place. where was received
with the greatest kindness, though had to go
through the same familiar round OF questioning.
SLAVES AND SUGAR ESTATES
On the Thursday, accompanied by major OF Gen.
eral Riqueme's stan, made little excursion into
the country TO the sugar estates before referred
to. We took the train to San Luis about twenty
had an escort Of twelve cavarymen with their
horses, and ut San Luis we struck out into the
country for about E twelve miles, visiting IT. three
called the PacGed district but 1t needed little
discrimination to that 1t was paclfed but
in name. Not only was every bridge on the the
each OF the plantations was guarded by
little fort sea by esn or
musketry holes, and night and day sentinel was
kept on the lookout. There must have been con-
the three estates we visited respectively 1871
ninety-fOur and twenty-seven slaves, all of whom
appeared to be in the most deplorably miserable
condition. Men and women were working together,
and their filthy, scanty clothing gave scarcely any
indication of distinction in SEX
That evening attended an immense ball at the
San Carlos Club rooms, to which had been invited
by General Regueme personally. While here the
HERALD Commissioner was treated with marked
honor, and had presented to him many high civil
and military dignities. 1t must be noted that
everywhere had been within the Spanish lines
newspaper correspondent. Indeed, l was always
spoken of as "the American Commissioner"
This was the third bail had attended in sant-
ago dc Cuba. The night OF my arrival accom-.
panied volunteer officer l met at the club
room to mulatto ball. 1t was an arstocratic
affair, and ! saw none but the upper ten
dom Of the colored people there. They had fine
music and most bountiful supply OF refresh
ments. The dresses OF the women were for the
few whose dresses were trne too .decoiiette. This
city Is celebrated for It's
BEAUTIFUL MULATTo GIRLS,
and was glad of this opportunity ito see them.
The next night, upon the Invitation of Custom
House officer, was present for about two hours at
private ball, where met some Of the first people
OF the place. 1t was here made the acquaint tance
or +. A. Ramsden. the British Consul, whose SUBJ
segment Kindness has placed me under lifelong OBJ
legations to him.
C0RNERED.
On returning to San Luis found myself in an In
teresting dilemma Before had lett mad received
private intimation that the DfdriO, published In
that place, controlled and owned by the vO)un-
tcers, would the next day-the day OF my exped.
tion to San Luis-cOntain communication asking
me to glve through its columns, my Impressions Of
what had seen. Accordingly, when came back
found this article awaiting me:-
MR. HENDERSON,
This parsonage Interesting account OF tho mission
he reported TO have has been among us since yester
day morning, having arrived in the steamer Marsella
Last night he visited the house occupied by our Crculo
Espaion where he was received by some members Of
the committee and the Director, who there II
that Mr.. Henderson did not make known his in
tcntion of visiting the club beforehand Alter his visit
the 'Circulo' we saw him in the Park, admring the
beauties nature emDellshed by bellies lie also
the Illuminated gardens Of that pleasant place. which
the Marine and Acanlara bands made sl more pleasant
with the pretty pieces they played We regret having
arrived the "Crculo" while he was there, TO
have mad the honor of being introduced TO Mr.
Henderson BY the Directors, aud to, be, able
beg him to tell US the impressions received by him in
the department what lie had already seen, and espe