The times., 1898-07-17
CUBAN HoRsEMEN.
Exploits by. General SanguiIly and
General Gomez.

part with his brother, Gen. Julio San
gully:
When the revolution broke out in 1865
the patriots gathered a small force of
mounted men, Ramon Cantu, an officer
Of the Mexican army, who had joined the
Cubans, was put in command. The force
did not do much under him, and the next
year Lieut.. Col. Sanguily was put in
charge. He brought the force up TO two
squadrons Manuel Sanguily was in
charge of one and Antonio Serrano of the
other. With these forces he fought a
number of engagements. In November
1869, the Cuban Junta of New York sent
Col. Thomas Jordan OF Virginia 10 Cuba
with the rank of commander-in-ch to
organize the Cuban army. Jordan had
fought in the civil war. Among one of
his changes was the substitution of the
Prussian saber for the machete as a cav
airy arm and with these the Cubans fought
just one battle. That was at San Jose in
Puerto Principe province, and though the
Cubans dispersed arfG defeated a large
force of Spanish infantry, they discarded
the saber thereafter and have used the
machete ever since. During the early part
appointed w. II. c. Ryan, an American
citizen, To the command of the cavalry,
with the rank of colonel. Ryan was born
in Toronto but was educated in Buffalo
and became a citizen of the United States.
He fought in the civil war and went to
Cuba in 1869. After good service there he
returned 10 Cuba on the Inflated Virginius
expedition, and was shot in Santiago with
Capt. Fry and others.
While a the the Cuban cavalry
Ryan introduced reforms in drill and took
part in a number of engagements. The
fighting was so severe that the cavalry
dwindled until at the end of 1870 there were
not fifty mounted patriots on the island.
Many of the horses had been killed in bat
tie and many more had been killed and
eaten 10 keep the men alive. Jordan had
in the meantime returned to the United
States, and Ignatio Agramonte was at the
head of the patriot forces. He put Julio
Sanguily, now brigadier-general, again in
command of the cavalry. Then began
campaign marked by brilliant victories
for the Cuban cavalry.
Sanguily was an example for his men.
He has been lame in one foot from birth.
and a few months before resuming his
command was wounded in the other. He
had 10 be lifted into the saddle and he
rode with one stfrrup, side-saddle fash
ion. But there was no Cuban who could
outdo him in bravery and daring.
''SanguiIy is the bravest man I ever
saw in battle" was Jordan's estimate of
him.
The same Sanguily is in Cuba today,
fighting still He is crippled in one hand,
too, now, but mis- spirit is the same as II
was twenty-five years ago. The very day
he resumed command of the cavalry he
was attacked by 250 Spaniards. but with
his few men ne repulsed them. A few
weeks brought recruits and Sanguily
took the offensive. He attacked Span
ish force commanded by Ramon Fa-
jardo who later was captain-general of
Cuba. Fajardo's men were badly beaten,
and in that fight SanguiIy captured
enough horses 10 mount most of his re-
cruits. few days later he led daring
charge against the Spanish force al the
corral of Spanish horses at San Antonio.
drove them away and secured mounts for
more men.
On October S, 1871, the Cubans per-
formed daring feat Sanguily yas rest
ing with one companion at a ranch near
Camaguey when he was surprised by
Spanish force of 15e and taken prisoner.
His companion escaped and carried the
news to Gen. Agramonte., who was in
camp few miles away. Agramonte was
practically alone, too, his men being out
on a foraging expedition, but he did not
hesitate.
"Sanguily is captured" he said to the
few men IN camp. we must rescue him.
Who will go?"
Every man volunteered. There were
just thirty-four of them. And those
thirty-four gave chase after the $50 Span
iards, caught up with and dispersed them
and rescued Sanguily without a single
Cuban lost.
Gomez has led many a notable charge.
The commander-in-chief of the Cuban ar
my today is seventy-one years old and
known best 10 Americans as calm. de-
Iiberate planner of campaigns. Twenty
six years ago he was as dashing a cav
airy leader as ever led charge. He could
swing the machete with the best man in
his army. He distinguished himself in
November, 1878, when at the head of 200
caValrymen, he engaged for two hours
the Spanish general. Don Manuel Bas-
cones. who had a force of k500, infantry,
cavalry, and artillery Gomez drove the
Spaniards back. inficting severe losses
and taking many prisoners. month
later Gomez led the cavalry forces at the
battle of Palo Seco in Camaguey prov
ice, where, with 200 men, he engaged a
force of 200 Spanish infantry and cavalry
in charge of Col. Vilches.
In this battle the Cubans used their
favorite tactics They charged in solid
swinging machetes, cut their way right
through the Spanish lines, then turned
and repeated the charge from the other
side. The battle lasted only twenty
minutes, and in that time 81 Spaniards
were killed. Fifty-three of the remain
ing Spaniards were taken prisoners
among them Lieut. Col. Martitequi, to-
day general The Cubans had only
nineteen killed and wounded.
The present campaign around Santiago
furnishes little opportunity for the use
of cavalry, because of the hilly natuIe
of the country and the thick brush. But
if it is necessary to carry the war into
the western provinces for an attack on
Havana these fighting Cubans, if horses
are furnished, will prove a powerful aux
HAIRY.
"If the American Government decides
after taking Santiago" says Col San
gully, ''to carry the war into the west,
it would be advantageous TO bring horses
and equipment TO organize a force of
Cuban cavalry. I believe there could be
organized a force of 1000 in Santiago
province, 1000 in Puerto Principe 1900 in
Las Villas. and 1000 in the province of
Havana. These bodies could be organ
lied by September or October, and by
| the beginning of the cool season there
would be ready a force which would be
| infinitely superior in quality to any that
the Spaniards could put into service"
Know How to Die.
(From the Montreal Herald)
| great deal OF public Indignation has been
| aroused bv the conduct of the crew OF La Bour-
| gogne in saving their lives and allowing the