The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-16
complete. It commenced to rain hard on the way

complete, ft commenced to rain hard on the way
back to,our old camp in the mountains. we
CAMPED AND LIGHTED FIRES
in the woods About ten O'Clock at night the rain
ceased, when We completely undressea, ana, after
o couple OF hours hard work, succeeded in par
TALLY drying our clothes. Each man who had
hammock left, sought It; those who had none
stretched themselves on the vet ground by the
camp fire, and we ali slept.
Colonel Valerinc gave orders the next day, as
soon rs we had reached our old headquarters, for
one party OF men to seek out new tree at once
and construct another canoe, while the second
marched to division headquarters and report to
General Diaz what had happened. 1t would take
ANOTHER MONTH TO GET THE NEW BOAT READY.
Could lose all that time doing nothingf No.
determined to 60 over the mountains again, see II
there was any news about Mr.. O'Kely, and act &C
cording to circumstances
On the Sth Of May marched westward over the
mountains and footed the same old weary trails
Of the other day, sometimes with sunshine and
sometimes with storm. We walked no less than
thirty-three miles. Having put the Sierra Maestro
between me and the sea- stayed within league
OF the Executive residence and sent word to the
President and to General Diaz OF my misfortune. l
both surprised and sorry to learn that the day
before my return General Diaz had resigned CON-
mand OF the forces OF Bayamo and Manzanillo. He
was succeeded temporarily by Brigadier General
f. J. Cespedes, brother to the President with Brig
adler General Ac0sta as his second in command.
also heard OF an encounter that had taken place
during my absence, near the Ingenio Of san Fran
cisco, between the escort OF a squad OF foragers
and some Spanards. The Cubans had grown 80
confident in themselves that they
NEGLECTED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES,
and upon this occasion allowed themselves to be
surprised. The Cuban loss was four killed and
fourteen wounded. The Spanish loss Is confidently
estimated at fifteen dead and at least as many
wounded, and sixteen horses killed. This action
took place on the 30th Of April The same even
ing OF my arrival received q polite note from
Secretary Bravo inviting me to the Executive resi-
dence in the morning.
MAY 1O.-The President received me with his
usual urbanity. He had been suferingsfrom neu-
ralgia; looked somewhat thin and altered since
first we met. had long and pleasant interview
with him. learned that
O'KELLY WAS STILL PRISONER
that British man-ofwar was in Manzanillo look
ing after his case, but that he would be held for
trial. This and the delay OF waiting another
month determined me to present myself to the
Spaniards in ManXanillo Informing the President
of this resolution, he at once recommended me TO
60 to the camp in the Ceiva and make preliminary
arrangements Tor my march, Ireacned the camp
mander, who has placed me in rancho close by
his own. He gave orders to have everything pre-
pared for my speedy departure for Manzanllo. In
camp was shown official letter OF Colonel Ruiz
in which he reports from Cayaguasan that on the
4th OF May, in movement made to support the
volunteers OF Pucabanu, who wished to pass over
to the Cubans, he received
THIRTY-FIvE ARMED VOLUNTEERS
and 600 rounds of small arm ammunition.
On the night of the 18th OF May there was a bah
in camp. went and remained but little time.
1t was not well attended.
General Diaz handed me q list containing the
names and ages Of twenty-seven women and chill
dren whom the C0bans claim were assasslnated
by the Spaniards tn the months OF April and May
1872.
In camp l became acquainted with Captain
LATTE, Secretary to General Cespedes. He Is q
noble-mlnded young man, who has been educated
in the United States. l remarked that he must
have been very young at the beginning OF the war,
and asked him
HOW CAME TO JOIN THE FoRCEs9
"Well, you see," he replied, ''when the revolu.
ton broke out was home from school. My father
owned very large ingenios and many hundreds
of slaves. The family were in santiago, where
our principal ingenio was. So one Sunday went
alone to the ingenio. / assembled all the slaves,
more than six hundred, and said to them, Look
here, Up TO this time you have worked for my
father and for me you have not worked for your
selves. You have made us rich; you remain poor
Now from this day you will work for yourselves;
! viii make you all free like myself new time is
coming and
THERE SHALL BE NO MORE SLAVES IN CUBA.
1YOu are free like myself Come with me and we
win burn this ingenio that you have toiled to
create, and you will go with me over the noun
o. tox
fighting with the spaniard there we shall all serve
q good cause" Wen, the black people raised their
hands with astonishment and some OF them began
to cry. After while we burned the ingenio and
went to the camp OF General Marmol NOW dead).
He made me captain, though did not want the
rank. fought by him for six months, when was
taken prisoner and
SENTENCED TO BE SHOT IN SANTIAGO,
but, my father having much influence was par.
doned and expelled from my dear Cuba. My
father sent me to Charleston N. c., but soon
stole on to New York, joined the first expedition
for Cuba, and have been lighting here ever since"
The nephew OF Colonel valerino, young man
named Ricardo valerino, did the same thing as
LATTE, and took with him 10 negroes when he
joined the cause OF his country. Some OF these
negroes saw with him as free men on our trips
across the Sierra Maestro. Patriotism like this
needs no eulogy or comment. At length the MORN
ing OF the 18th OF May arrived, and | awaited i'm
patiently the afternoon to start on my way to GER
tain Imprisonment, at least, in Manzanillo.
A SOUVENIR.
Ny revolver was out Of repair, and needed one.
General Cespedes called me to him, SAYING
"Millen, ! know your revolver is out OF repair.
Take this one 1t has been in my family ten years;
have carried it, so have my sons; and my wife, when
she was among the Spaniards, always had it about
her as last resort to save her honor Take it,
want you to carry it in remembrance Of our ac-
quaintance."
Need say that we exchanged revovers, and
how much value the one received under such cir
cumstancesf At last about halfpast three O'Clock
p. NJ accompanied by an ofiicer, two guides and
servant