The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02

Ills superb Handling of the Caba" hs'o-


one OF the recent expeditions TO Cuba,
where he accepted captains commis-
sion on General Gomezs stan, says the
New York Sun.
"In the Field.
Near the City OF Santa Clara,
Dec. n. 1895.
.',ro Ny Dear Friend: Tomorrow prom
ises TO be a very active day for US, ana
as the results OF war cannot De safeiy
predicted. ! have made three copies OF
this letter I'm hope that one at least may
reach the friend who so Kindly opehed
the doors for my entrance into the army
of Cuba Libre' And allow me TO state
here that | am proud TO be on the side OF
liberty: lighting under the flag Of the
single star. which In the near future Is
surely destined TO wave over an ac-
know!odged and Independent republic.
Whatever OF doubt may exist In the
outside world, Is not shared in the ranks
Of GOmez's army. / never saw such falth,
such confidence I'm a military leader, In
my life. Napoleon did not get more devo-
tlon from his soldiers than General Gomez
receives from the men whom ne Is lean-
ing on TO victory. Neither man nor ON
Ger in the innermost recesses OF bis own
private communion ever dreams OF ques-
tionlng the Judgment or the ability or
this great old warrior / tell you he Is
military wonder. he is a Cuban Hannibal.
AS / told you i'm New York, I've seen
service in South Africa and in the Sou
dan. but for planning and carrying INTO
execution under difficulties a successful
campaign this little old man takes the
cake It's very audacity. when YOU con-
slider our comparative paucity OF numbers,
our scarcity of ammunition. j. simply
marvellous why. / haven't seen, air
!. Il
veying party. but I am told We will pick
up more in Matanzas This present sor-
tie is made on patriotic nerve backed
up by cane knives and good ge'.--alship.
THE rapidity with which We move
Keeps me all az sea. / used 10 occasion
ally ask where we were, but I've given
if up now. I simply 20 with The crowd.
putting i'm shot when | get a chance,
and endeavoring 10 direct my men to-
ward intelligent and effective action. But
In this so-calicd guerrilla warfare but lit
tie direction is necessary. There is "A de-
gree OF individual Independence and re-
sponsibility TO which. i'm European war
fare we are strangers. IL works much
better than I could believe. Don't think
] mean that we are without discipline or
direction. on the contrary. General Co
meZ's plans are most carefully conceived
and his orders executed with celebrity
and exactnoss which Is surprising But
every one OF his men seems intuiuyely 10
anticipate the details OF his desires.
There Is a certain goal. a general purpose,
which all seem 10 know and understand
Although surrounded by this peculiar in
diyidual independence which seems
strange in military operations. there is
absolutely no friction. All are actuated
by one impulse: there is no dissensiOn
ggnfrIfffrrr rafp1 M la-
longs 10 Maxine Gomez. His Will is alb
solute. and yet he says 10 each man: DO
not risk your life unnecessarily. You
have only one and can best serve your
country by saving 10. Dead men cannot
fire guns Keep your head cool. your
machete warm. and we will yet free
Cuba.
II have been with the General but a
short time. but each day my admiration
Tor him increases. He is a study in re-
pose and In action. Slender in build. not
over 40 pounds ia weight, about five
foot seven in height straight as an ar
row. although he is sixty years OF age.
His face Is tanned. his hair and nous
tache are iron gray, his cheek bones are
prominent, and his chin firm. His cool
calculating eyes seem at first 10 absO-
iutely measure you. and then the face
breaks into a reassurng smile. His knee
Is stin from a wound received in the last
war but In the saddle he is simply
part Of the horse or. rather, the horse Is
a part Of him, for he never seems TO guide
a. 10 would do your heart good 10 watch
the old man lead q column through the
cane fields and forests Of Santa Clara.
He Is never az loss which way 20 turn
we have had fight every day since
we commenced our march westward from
the Santa Clara line but nothing seems
10 daunt his courage and determination.
We go ahead I'm spite of any obstacle the
Spanish troops have yet interposed Yes
teriay we came on quite an extended line
of The onemy's front. formed to prevent
our advance. The General halted on
little elevation of ground, stood i'm his
stirrups a moment looking ahead, and
then gave an order 20 our advance guard,
who swung OF 10 the southwest at
slow gallop. sent some word back 10
MaccO. northeast and then our own
cavalry. swerving little to the right.
got the order 20 make a feint at the
onemy's left wing. The feint succeeded:
the Spaniards Immediately commenced 10
concentrate their troops I'm a little valley,
where they thought we would cross. |
had considerable trouble In restraining
my men from attcmT ting 10 take a bat
terry which opened fire on us when at a
distance Of 500 yards. We afterward
learned that 10 was supported by l.So0 in
fantry. Ny orders were 10 make the
charge and then retreat to the woods
about a third OF "a mile east. The mo-
ment my cavalry commenced to fall back
battalion Of the enemy's infantry adj
yanced in pursuit. hat a kind Of stubbly
brush greatly impeded their movements
"rhey were soon winded in the bushes,
and. before they could get out, Maceo's
advance guard commenced to pour i'm a
calling fire from the north. They were
SCOT in retreat toward their main body.
ANA my boys hurried them along a little
"itt ci0se-range shots from our revolvers
Nut ammunition IS too precious 10 waste
oa ID treating troops, so We made a detour
io the southwark and took up our original
line OF march west General Gomez. with
tho main body Of our troops. had in the
near time pressed ON ahead almost I'M
noticed and unmOlested We caught up
w.'h him az 3 O'Clock i'm the afternoon.
learned tonight that MaceO's men wOr-
ricG the Spaniards In the valley till nearly
dark
This is pretty fair sample Of our
experiences each day. although I know
things viii get better as we advance into
Matanzas. / will write you every chance
get. our Tong and almost uubroken
march from Santiago de Cuba 10 Santa
Clara was interesting, although devoid
Of unusual incident. While think OF IT,
allow me 10 make a confession. In spite
OF your assurances and those OF the many
Cuban gentlemen whose acquaintance 7
formed in New York. there still fingered
in my mind a kind OF secret suspicion
that / was going 10 meet here molly
combination or the ignorant negro and
more or less savage white. You can