Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
FOUGHT ~ CUBAN WARS.
Return of MIR. Pcrdue to His Home In
TiI, CITY.


Mr.. Marion T. Perdue, formerly OF this
city. but more recently OF the Cuban
army, has returned 10 Richmond after
having BEEN as he claims. wounded five
times while fighting under Gomez Mr..
Perdue is now at his home No. 25O6 east
Leigh street. lie is only % years Of age.
but has served a year in the ranks Of
the insurgents. and he gives most in
terestng and thrilling account Of his adj
ventures in Cuba, claiming that Consul
General Eitzhugh Lee saved bis life
while there, by interceding IN his behalf
as an American citizen, while he perdue)
was in prison.
While IN Washington a few days ago
Perdue was extensively interviewed by
the papers OF that city and by applying
to Sanitary officer Frank he obtained
transportation from the national capital
70 this city. The Washington Times,
speaking Of Mr.. Perdue. says:
Perdus was born IN Richmond, and Is a
typical Virgnian. He was released from
Spanish prison in Cuba through the
efforts Of General Fitzhugh Lee. who also
secured for him transportation in a tramp
steamship 10 Philadelphia. The badly
wounded man then paid his fare 10 Balti-
Washington.
The young man wore a Cuban button I'm
his coat lapel and showed Mr.. Frank
papers which established his identity as
a genuine soldier in Gomez's army.
WANTED TO HELP .CUBANs.
When asked by a reporter why he went
to Cuba. Perdue replied:
Il was a sailor, and our vessel, mer-
chairman. touched az a Cuban port on
January "a, last. / fen like helping the
cause of freedom on the island and left
my ship TO join the army ] was as
signed to the Fourth Brigade Army OF
Cuba, and the infantry company Of Cap
tain Palomeno.
Il was in the bis fight at Pinar del Rio,
where we gave the Dons a sound thrash
ing. The Cuban loss was only twenty
six men killed. while the Spaniards lost
fully 300 men killed on the field and LETT
there Ions enough for US TO count them.
But the Spanish authorities have a way
Of reversing the figures in all the fights,
and when we received copies Of news
papers several days later We found our
loss placed at 800 dead and many
wounded while the Spanish loss was
given at twenty-six killed. exactly the
contrary from the truth"
SHOT AND LEFT FOR DEAD.
It was in the battle Of Pinar del Rio
that Perdue was so terribly wounded.
He was first struck below the knee by a
Mauser bullet, which disabled him.
While on the ground another bullet
struck him on the same limb above the
knee. When the Spaniards charged one
of them struck MIN with the butt Of mis-
rife across the same leg, breaking It,,
while another chopped him on the head
and across his body with machete.
Perduo was then LETT on the field for
dead, but the American was tough, and
after the fight he was removed 10 the
hills by a hospital party and treated for
his wounds.
ITpon his recovery Perdue. being a
sailor, was made captain Of the filibuster-
ing schooner Ammunition King, and
made four successful trips to Jamaica.
returning each time with cargoes Of rifles
and ammunition. While trying 10 make
the fifth trip the vessel was captured
by a Spanish man-of-War and Perdue
landed in a prison near a fort Just out
side OF Santiago. While in this place he
managed 10 communicate with General
Fitzhugh Lee. who eventually secured
mis- release.
"The men in my regiment" said the
| Virginian, took a solemn oath never 10
surrender or be taken alive. We knew
too well what IL meant to fall into the
I hands Of the Spanish. Our men were
kept until the morning following their
/ capture and then shot down like dogs.
/ ON the other hand our officers always re-
leased Spanish prisoners after we had
taken their guns and ammunition"
Perdue. speaking OF the equipment Of
the Cuban soldiers, said that they were
poorly uniformed and fed, and that only
/ about one third OF them had guns, the
others being armed with machetes.