The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-10

ming of the Ten Years war in 1868, the
male portion of the Maceo family con-
sisted Of eleven sons, the youngest be-
ing Jose, IA years Of age. The reVolu-
ton had been in progress several
months and the Maceo family had kept
aloof from taking part in the uprising
One day there appeared a band of
Spanish guerillas, led by Captain Cam
pillo. This band had nothing to do but
commit depredations and the Maceo
plantation was soon in ruins. The
buildings were burned, the mules stolen
and the female members of the family
treated in an outrageous manner. The
father called his eleven sons around
him. Ali were now grown excep Jose.
Marcus Maceo eXacted from each
promise that they would not lay down
their arms until Cuba was free The
blood of the Maceo family now stains
the island from one end to the other
The father fell at the battle Of ST.
Augustin. Manuel, Fermin and Justice
were killed in the east. Raphail COW
cred with wounds, left the island to die
as an exile. Miguel was killed by a
bayonet thrust at the capture of Une-
vhbas. Julio was shot dead in the en-
gagement at Nee vo MundoS. Felipe
and Thomas are helpless cripples from
their wounds, while Antonio, Jose and
HIS EARLY MILITARY CAREER.
The military career of Antoine Maceo
is singularly brilliant. He was about
p years Of age when he first enlisted.
His dauntless bravery led him to take
great risks and during the first twelve
months of service he received sixteen
Of the twenty-one severe wounds that
marked his body at the close of the
Ten Years war. Within the year he
had been promoted to the position of
major.
Later, at the capture of the town of
Fi-Arriba, the Cubans numbered only
800, but led by Maceo, the Spanish sol
diers were driven from the forts. For
this Maceo received the title of colonel.
Soon after he met Brigadier Martinez
Campos at the battle of Ramos. and
Through subsequent campaign that
lasted thirty days. So aggressive was
Maceo that scarcely a day passed that
he did not seek an engagement with
the enemy. Near Monte Oscuro he was
fercely attacked by General Valera at
the head Of a thousand Spaniards The
Cuban leader had but $50 men with
scarcely any arms, and was forced to
retreat. He made a stand at Caobas
and met the combined forces of Valera
and Campos. Though driven from the
field he did not order retreat until
after a terrible slaughter of Spaniards
in the machete charges that had
taken place. Returning to headquar-
ters at Santiago, with only a remnant
of his forces. Valmaceda, the captain
general, said to Campos:
''Oh, you pretend that all the glory
was on our side. That may be so. but
the losses were on our side Also.
Does your excellency suppose" re-
torted Campos. that those Cubans use
cotton bullets?'
Campos was offended at the repri-
mand and soon after returned to Spain
AT the battle Of Zarzal where $500
Spaniards were routed with great loss
of life, Maceo took a distinguished
part. At Santa Maria de Holguin he
charged the Spanish line at the head
Of his picked horsemen with such i'm
petuous force that many were cut down
before the enemy could fire a shot
General Calixto Garcia was in COM
man0, but Maceo led the machete
charge. The Spaniards left 400 dead
on the field.
HE DEFEATS wEYLER.
At this junction in his military career
Maceo was destined to meet his arch
enemy, Weyler. Among the young
l1rigadiers Weyler had been sent to the
front and led strong force against
Maceo at the battle Of Guaimaro Wey-
Ter has cause TO remainder the prowess
of the Cuban, for he was completely
put to rout, leaving 500 dead on the
field Weyler fed among his scurrying
troops and never stopped to look back
until he was safely within the Spanish
lines at Puerto Principe
The battle of La Galleta is memora-
bic on the glittering pages of Maceo's |
military record. With 500 men he at
tackled the San Quintin battalion, 900
strong, under the command of Colonel |