Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-11-18
The Struggle in Cuba.

The following is an extract from a
private letter addressed by member of
the Cuban congress to a friend in New
York
CAMP NEAR HoLsUN, September 30,
1876. we are, rejoicing over the
capture of Las Tunas by General Vicen-
to Garcia on the night of the 23d inst.
This is unquestionably the most glorious
feat of the war. General Garcia, in a
dispatch to the government, proved tho
Importance of the capture of the place
by reason of the heavy booty he took.
As soon as he had taken the powder
magazine (El PolveHin) and the church,
which latter was fortified with three
guns, it was easy for him to compel the
surrender of those who had sought re-
fuge in the forts and in some of the
neighboring houses. We are hourly ex-
pecting the official dispatch giving the
details of the action.
Las Tunas, to which the Spaniar}a
had given the surname of La Vic,
toria, was garrisoned by over two hun
dred Spanish regulars, and about an
equal number of volunteers. The latter
have joined our forces; of the former we
have as yet heard nothing, but it is
likely that not one of them is alive. A
very important affair detains us in this
department., which prevents us from
rushing to congratulate our brothers in
arms. General Garcia also states that
his losses were quite insignificant.
We have considerably anticipated the
coming winter campaign witless the
attack on Villa CLARA by General Calva1
on July 81, when he captured forty
rifles and left thirty-six Spaniards
killed, without even being pursued, as
tho Spaniards falsely assert the attack
on Morava of July 40 by Brig. Gen. M.
Suarez, under orders of Gen. Maximo
Gomez, and where an enormous booty
of clothing, money, ammunition and
provisions were captured the charge
under Lieut.. Col. Jose Gomez upon g
body of Spanish cavalry at Los Pasos,
in the jurisdiction of Sancti- Espiritus,
in which ninety horses and thirty three
rifles fell into our hands and the Span
, iards left forty killed upon the field
the at ack upon Las Minas, in CANA
guey, by Brig. Gen. Benitez, where he
rescued fifteen prisoners and took
twenty-six rifles, in which action with
the machete alone our men captured
two forts, with loss of only three killed
and one wounded the charge of Col.
l.. Vidal up to the gates of Holguin, SO
close up to them that the families on the
roofs of the city inside the walls could
plainly see the Spanish cavalry turn to
the right about face, leaving twenty six
killed, forty-seven horses, and twenty
seven rifles in our hands.
Besides the foregoing we have for the
past six months kept the enemy busy all
over the country, by skirmishes, by am
bushes. by unexpected attacks, which,
although individually rlnim portant, have
helped to decimate their ranks, and dis
gust their ill-paid, ill-fed, and over
tasked men with the service.
The death of Brig Gen. H. NJ. Reeve
was due to an imprudence on his part
he led charge against body of the
enemy, of whose force he was misin-
formed. He fell badly wounded in the
thick of the Spaniards, and preferred to
blow his brains out than fall alive into
the hands of the enemy.
We have likewise experienced a great
loss in the death of Lieut.. Col. Tidel
Cespedes, who also was led to his death
by an excess of bravery. The corpse of
poor Cespedes was taken into Pueblo
Principe, and there dragged through
the streets at horses tail. All these
Spanlards are always the same.