The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-03-14
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


Cause of Independence Lost, but an
Honorable Peace Gained-BattIes of the
War.
From the New York Herald
The history of nearly 10 years strug-
/ gle which commenced at Yara on Oct
/ 10, 1868, is one of the deepest interest.
The events that Immediately preceded
/ the outbreak have a close connection
with the condition of politics in the
mother country, as Spaniards love to
call old Spain. The revolution of 1865
/ 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 Cubans,
knew from experience that, no matter
who ruled in Spain, Cuba would con-
/ tlrue to be regarded as conquered de-
tendency, 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 a local revolutionary
junta in the Eastern department of the
island. The information regarding the
3 nj hox 81 l.,
vana, an order was sent to Manzanillo
for the arrest of the conspirators. But
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 1,40O in
fantry with cavalry sent under the COM
mand of Col. QuirOs to relieve BayamO
was entirely defeated by the Cubans. Al
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 Vaimaseda, the Sc
gandO Cd6O, or deputy Captain-General
at Havana, was ordered to take the
field against the insurgents. He COM
menced operations by making 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 200 men, chiefly made
up of volunteers, but counting a 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 harasSing
march of five days, during which the pa
triOts hung on his TANKS and rear, cut
ting off many of his men. Increasing
his force to 1000 men he reached Baya-
mo after a 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-
tinualiy being checked and Col. AcOsta
Z Alvear 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
the insurgent army of Camaguey. Ler-
sandi, the Spanish aptain-General,
made great efforts to secure a 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 ut 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 a condition of
affairs that rendered the negotiations
between the Spanish authorities and the
insurgents wholly fruitless. In Febru-
airy, 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 a congress Of representa-
tives of the revolution met at Camaguey,
and the first act of the new Government
then organized was the abolition of slav-
cry. Gen. Buloff, a Pole, with 1000
insurgents of the Villas, was successful
in several battles with the Spanards, in
February, 1869. On April IL Cespedes
was formally elected President of the
Cuban republic, and Gen. Quesada
COmmander-in-C of the army. In
the meantime Nalmaseda-called the
l." tiger issued a general order that
every male over Il years of age found
in the country away from his home
without good reason, should be shot,
and that every house on which white
flag was not displayed should be burned,
and that all women and children found
alone Oh their farms should be removed,
if necessary, by force, either to Bayamo
or Jiguani. Important landings were
made of arms and men during May, one
under Rafael Quesda and the other I'M
der Gen. Jordan. The first reached its
destination without molestation, the lat
ter was attacked twice but repulsed the
Spaniards and reached the Cuban
camps. The command of the army of
the Orient was given to Jordan, who af-
forwards succeeded Qucsda as command
er-in-chief In August, 1870, Mr..
Fish, the United States Secretary of
State, proposed terms for the cessiOn of
the island to the Cubans, but the au-
thOrities at Madrid declined to consider
them. Gen. Caballero de Rodas sue
ceeded Dulce as Captain-General, arriv-
ing in Cuba in July with reinforcements
equal to $4,000 men. De Rodas not
proving to be popular with the volun
teers of Havana, he was superseded by
Nalmaseda in December, 1870. The
rule of Ealmaseda has been stained by
the cruel murder of eight medical stud
ents for a so-called political demOnstra-
ton at a cemetery, and by the issue of
many barbarous orders, which were in
general carried'out to the letter by the
willing volunteers and military officers.
He was succeeded in 1872 by Ceballos,