The New York herald., 1873-11-05
@ U B A..

Review OF the Insurrectionist War
Struggle from Its Inception to the
Present-The Story of Five Years.
Agony-A Record Reeking with Red.
HEADED Cruelties.
MANZANILLo, Oct. 20, 1874.
When, during the first days or October, 1868,
citizen Carlos Manuel de Cespedes gathered
together on the estate 'Demajaguan few coun.
trymen, not over $50 in number, and some friends
70 command them, and proceeded to the village OF
Yara any one who had then met this first phalanx
Of the liberating Cuban army-some armed with
cudgels, others with rusty muskets and the fewest
in number with Indifferent fowling pieces-would
have compared 1t to one OF those wandering
tribes or Africa which 60 to throw their jayelins
against the walls OF some fort, only to disappear
afterwards like the sprites OF 1airy tale The
writer himself witnessed the first skirmish at Yara
While the insurgents proceeded towards the
village by the Manzanillo road Spanish force of
ten horse and fifty foot, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel villares, entered it by the Bayamo road
and took possession OF the Plaza, the centre OF
the town. Part Of the soldiers were detailed
20 occupy the side streers, by which it was ex.
pected the insurgents would come. How could
the result be other than 1t was few shots
served TO dsperse IN disorder that crowd OF mex
perienced countrymen, unaccustomed put to the
obedience.
THE CRISIS.
Here the trouble should have been ended once for
all, but in wars in which liberty and tyranny are
70 meet face to face there comes a time when no
ltical electricity the course OF It's wires with
rapidly impossible to describe and the shark
lgnltes the flames increase, and the mind is lost in
."ink'ng now ana whence came that lava OF opin-
aon, touching all hearts with the same force and
m Aaa
sag TINS Is phenomenon; but it is only a law NJ
nature, which physically tends to repel an <bo, s
obligatory. When the human spirit ia bronoh,
down to this condition, and lies under bonds ana
conquered Tor length OF time tho ex
plosion, when 1t does come. is terrible
instantaneous and wonderful. None can win,
stand its effect. This was exactly what occurroa
on the 10th OF October, 1868 The political cos,on
took place at Yara, q place hitherto almost mn.
known on account Of Its slight Importance ana
Immediately all the villages from Cape Maisi TO
Cape San Antonio responded with that marvellous
rapdity with which an idea long suppressed breaks
forth, and old men, women and children rushed to
the field. 1t was cry from the soul; It was the
most cherished wish OF the heart, the impulse
which was forced from the cruel despotsm OF 800
and more years OF darkness and depression by
generation hungry for light and liberty This,
then, was the first Cuban army-old
men and women youths and children and
witnout strength With such heterogeneous ele-
ments II was impossible to form even a medium
miiitary organization. The time was lost the
iatner employing 1t to look after his family, the
Orother ior MS sister and the son TO provide for
mas ased iather; and often 1t happened that the
you'h VINO nao Just been bravely lighting against
ane enemy was surprised In the midst OF his family
~ muluereo py mis- implacabe oppressors. Con-
verted into rowing bands and unmolested hv tho
'spaniards they passed the first months IN singing
hymns 70 liberty and giving themselves up. IN the
midsi OF tnc iuxuriant forests Of Cuba to the n.
comparable delight OF possessing an Independence
70 loneed ior Time passed on, and Spain organ.
1sNd heS psttahons ana put into the neld an