The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-01
IMPORTANT From CUBA.
a Private Letter from the Comma nder-in-
chief Of the Liberatins Army.

chief of the Liberating Army.
My DEAR FRIEND: The winter campaign
| In these districts was virtually closed with the
neht at Fl Jibaro, in the Jurisdiction OF villa
Clara on the 18th OF February last. The forces
OF the enemy we're commanded by Gen. Jovel-
lar in person. Twenty-four hours later a loco
motive was hauling Jovellar to Havana with
lightning speed He left over eighty dead
bodies on the feld, most OF which were I'M
buried, besides large number OF horses killed
and wounded. IL 10 at once q sublime and an
Imposing picture, because IL proves and trum-
pete a triumph Of liberty, Of right, and Of en-
lghtenment, and Is the death blow TO oppres-
sion.
Since the above performa nce there has been
no important feat OF arms. Whenever the Span
iards move II Is I'm heavy columns, and have a
peculiar method for engaging these which pre-
vents their being able ever to infiict any heavy
loss upon us. BY this method 1 am enabled to
snnihilate them. force them to reconoentrate
without their having obtained any practical
result. They always leave some graves well
filled. and they have to carry back their
wounded. and, II moderately fortunate, not
over one-tnird Of the original force Of the col
umn stick, wearied, and disheartened. This er-
cessive fatigue demoralizes their best troops
and the mere fact OF their meeting our forces
and being forced to retire without winning any
trous defeat.
The raidy season has set in. and the rains have
been " anything, rather more heavy and inces-
SAM than usual. The Spanisrds pretend that
this condition Of things suits them, because
they say that II enables them the more easily to
could live hidden in district so very limited as
ths. The truth Ia that this rainy season IL most
disadvantngeous Tor them in every point OF
view. Their casualties are enormous, and the
consequent pecunlary loss equally so. they
lose their baggage, their military and commits
stores, everything, tmpOrtaut
than all, their troops lose their health and very
frequently their lives.
ON our side we lose nothing, for the best OF
all reason. that we have nothing to lose, and
our forces are, by their hardened constitutions
aud by their having become used to Wild life
In the woods, insured against all the results OF
the inclemency of the weather Moreover, the
Government at Ctego de Avla and MORN, and Of
many cOnvoYa, has provided our troops with all
they most urgently required.
IL has been TO me source OF sincere regret
that was unable, before the close Of the cam
pngn, To complete nv eelf-allotted task of the
total destruction Of all the sugar estates. But
could not dispose. In Mt time, Of the reinforce
ments sent to me by the Government, on &c.
count OF the hght az Laguna de V roma. They
reached me too late, and was thus prevented
from carrying out my plan. and most valuable
time was lost. But have done my best, aud
our present condition. Is good. Meanwhile, from
all can learn, the status Of the Spaniards grows
worse day by day. Famine in its IN II sad aud
all the families OF the Spanish element have
sought refuge. This very abandonu ent by them
OF the immediate surroundings Of their towns,
from which alone the said towns relied for sub
sstence. has parayzed all agriculture; trade
exists only In name; and as the sources from
which indirectly the enemys forces draw their
pay are dried up, the soldier goes un aid and
the discomfort IN their ranks Is general. Hardly
day passes In which DO not receive verbal
confirmation and proof OF the above facts from
deserters, who are always coming over TO the
Liberating Armv, and know it also by my
agents inside the Spanish lines.
In the Central aud istern Depart m ents, as i
am assured by my friends. the Syaniards are
acting entirely on the defensive. and the ranks
OF those army corps are being constaHtly swelled
by reaction, slow, but sure, which after all Is
the best. l wrote recently to Briglyen Maceo,
telling him that was uneasy because L
thought that the enemy might imagine that In
consequence Of the reenforcements which he
in such belief inaugurate a more vigorous cam-
paiRn against him." He answered me: BE
underno disquietude the regiments which L
sent to you have been replaced with good and
well-srined men. whom the brutal OPPRESSION
Of the Spaniards have driven Into our ranks"
posed OF two classes-the regular soldier VINO
does tho lighting. and the planter who supplies
him with bread. For the former we have the
bullet aud the machS.e, for the latter the torch !;
Al our programme Is to conquer or die.
We need supplies, but our requirements are
neither many nor mutifarious. We need
neither arms nor medicines, nor provisions, nor
clothes, nos shoes. The enemy mas all these
things and We know how to capture them.
We need only one article-plenty of ammuni-
words-if, bv the opening OF the next campaign,
j can command moderate supply OF ammuni-
ton, that Will establish my headquarters very
close To Havana: and when once there you may
imagine that the end Will not toe far "a.
Your friend, MAxIAo GOMEZ.
Ia VILLAS. ,Iune II.