The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-04-04
CUBA'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
history of the Ten Years Struggle-The
cause of Independence Lost, but an
Honorable Peace Gained-Batties of the
from the New York Herald.l

Honorable Peace Gainet-Batties of the
War. W '-N
/. From the New York Heraldl
The history of nearly 10 years. strup-
gle which commenced at Yara on Oct
10, 1868, is one of the deepest interest.
The events that Immediately preceded
the outbreak have close connection
with the condition of politics in the
mother country, as Spaniards love to
'eail old Spain. The revolution of 1868
promised great reforms on the peninsu-
la, but the Cubans possessing a deep
and burning hatred of Spain, had no
faith whatever that the benefits to be en-
Joyed by the Spaniards would be ex-
tended to them. They, the Cubsns,
knew from experience that, no matter
who ruled in Spain, Cuba would con-
tlEue to be regarded as conquered de-
pendeney, from which the sinews of war
or the means for political intrigue would
continue to be drawn. Therefore they
looked on the disturbance of affairs in
Spain as the long-hoped-for opportunity
OF putting in practice the cherished de-
sign of revolution and the expulsion of
the Spaniards. Among the leading
spirits in the insurrectionary move
ment were Carlos Manuel Cespedes,
Francisco Aguilera, Manuel Aguilera,
Belisario Alvarez, Vicente Garcia, DON
alto Marmol, and Manuel Fernandez,
each representing local revolutionary
junta in the Eastern department Of the
island. The information regarding the
projected outbreak having reached Ha-
vana, an order was sent to Manzanillo
for the arrest of the conspirators. But
a friendly Governor of Bayamo gave
them timely notice, and they escaped.
Early in October it had been determined
to begin the war of independence on the
14th, the action of the Spanish Govern
ment seems to have forced the insur-
gents to commence on the 10th by the
now historic declaration of principles
and the proclamation of the Cuba Re-
| public at Yara. With a few hundred
poorly armed followers the brave Ces-
pedes took the field and won his first
success in the capture of the town of
Bayamo on the 18th and of the citadel on
the 22d. A Spanish force of 1,400 in
| fantry with cavalry sent under the com
mand of Col. Quiros to relieve Bayamo
was entirely defeated by the Cubans. AT
ter this success a republican govern
ment was formerly organized under Sal
vador Cisneros Betancourt, Marquis of
Santa Lucia, and the brothers Agra
monte.
Meantime Count Valmaseda, the Sc
gatado Cobo, or deputy Captain General
at Havana, was ordered to take the
| field against the insurgents. He COM
.menced operations by making a final
tender of terms to the patriots, but fail
ed to make any impression on them by
| fair promises. He advanced with a
force of about 1920 men, chiefly made
| up of volunteers, but counting few
regular troops. He was attacked be-
tween Nuevitas and Puerto Principe,
and left his dead on the field. He final
| ly reached San Miguel after a harassing
march of five days, during which the pa
triots hung on his fianks and rear, cut
| ting off many of his men. Increasing
his force to 4 900 men he reached Baya-
mo after q series of bloody checks only
to find the place burned and abandoned
by the Cubans. In other parts of the
Eastern Department the progress
of the Spanish troops was con-
tinually being checked and Col. Acosta
q AIvear was defeated by the patriots
at Las Yaguas with heavy loss. On Dec.
26, Gen. Quesada succeeded in landing
a cargo of arms, and took command of
1 the insurgent army of Camaguey. Ler-
sandi, the Spanish Captain-General,
made great efforts to secure peaceful
settlement of the trouble, but failed and
retired to Spain, being succeeded by
| Captain General Dulce Toward the
close of the administration of Dulce, the
resident volunteers in Havana perpe-
trated a wholesale massacre of innocent
persons at the Villanueva Theatre and
the Louvre, under the pretense of aveng-
| ing an insult offered to-the Spanish flag.
/ The organization of these corps of resi-
dent Spaniards created condition OF
| affairs that rendered the negotiations
between the Spanish authorities and the
insurgents wholly fruitless. In Febru-
ary, 1869, Captain General Dulce sent
commissioners to the Cubans to open
! negotiations, offering them every thing
but independence, but met with no en-
couragement. Toward the end of the
same month congress of representa-
'tives of the revolution met at Camaguey,
and the first act of the new Government
then organized was the abolition of slay-
cry. Gen. Buloff, q Pole, with 1000
insurgents of the Villas, was successful
in several battles with the Spaniards, in
February, 1869. On April II Cespedes
was formally elected President of the
Cuban republic, and Gen. Quesads
Commander-in-C Chief of the army. Ir
the meantime Valmaseda-calle ths
stiger issued general order tina