Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-03
SERVED In CUBAN ARMY.
Although Captain Ledwidge Suffered from
Wounds, Fever and Small Pox, He De-
sires to Return As a Member Of
New Mexico Volunteers-An

here to enlist with the Las Vegas volun-
teers. has seen considerable active SER
vice in the Cuban army. He favored a
New MEXICAN reporter with the follow
ing interview relative to existing condi-
tions in Cuba:
1.-The Spaniards are good fighters, but
poor marksmen; however, after a person
has been in an engagement with Span
ish troops, he is liable to realize that he
has been in a fight.
Guerrilla warfare is practiced princl-
pally by the Cubans and few real battles
occur. The Cubans are poorly equipped
with arms and so lightly provisioned,
that they can make only short cam
paigns. The of the island are
| woefully depleted and it is necessary to
| divide the forces in small bands, of not
exceeding 500 men, and these bands for
age until called together for a short and
decisive campaign. ! was in but n
battle where any great number of men
were engaged. The Spanish army num-
bered 5000 men and the Cuban army
contained about as many. 10000 of the
number being equipped with scythes,
%machetes, pitchforks, etc. The Cubans
win a majority of the skirmishes. When
properly equipped and provisioned the
Cuban army will do itself proud.
Though the Cuban force is reduced
by fevers, the spirit of patriotism and
independence burns as tiercely as ever.
| Heroic determination is visible in every
lineament of the co%untenances Of the
Cubans and the emaciated, hungry vet
Grams fight with a fierce valor that APP
proaches the s%uperhuman. Many pa
thetic scenes are witnessed on the bat
tleiield. Fingers stitfening in death,
tug viciously at cartridge belts or hold
out weapons in an endeavor to provide
living comrades with mean of redress
ing the wrongs suffered at the hands of
the Spanish. Their sole creed is viva
Cuba Libre," and every dying soldier
shouts it until breath is denied.
1.-The fac, that considerable jealousy
exists among the leaders, initiates
against the Cuban cause. The officers
are very ambitious and keen for promo
ton. And yet the same thing is condu-
Give to heroism and gallantry.
"Thcre is plenty of opportunity to
make money in Cuba. The soldiery are
well provided with money. but it is as
difficult to purchase anything with it
as it is to buy necessities in the Klon-
dixie"
Captain Ledwidge enlisted in a fill
clustering expedition composed of 60
Texans in June, 1896. They were land
ed in Cuba by the tilibustering schooner
Laureda. A party of 20 Cuban soldiers
met them at the landing and conducted
them to the interior of the province of
Santiago de Cuba, where they Joined
General Gomez command. Ledwidge
was later transferred to General Ma
coos army and still later was with Gen
eral Calixto Garcia, operating In the
eastern portion of the island. He served
as artillery gunner and was brevetted
captain for gallantry in the field at
the battle of Tres Puentas, Santa Clara
province. He received three wounds in
that battle.
During his year and three months
service on the island Captain Ledwidge
suffered both the fever and smallpox
and was finally given an honorable dis
charge by General Garcia and advised
to leave the island and seek some place
where he could ecure proper medical
attention.
His escape from the island was q
thrilling affair and was effected in a
sponger's boat which had blown ashore
on the coast Of Santa Clara province.
He left with important messages for the
Cuban junta and 5000 in money, and
when a short distance out was over.
hauled by a Spanish patrol boat. He
tied a rope and stone to the papers en-
trusted to him and sunk them in the
waters of the Nicholas channel, thus
evading suspicion of being an insurgent.
He reached the United States safely
and after recuperating his shattered
health, spent some time on the cattle
ranges Of Texas prior to his enlistment
with the quota Of New Mexico volun-
teers.
Captain Ledwidge is thoroughly fa-
miliar with the island of Cuba and will
be a valuable adjunct to the New Mex.
leo battalion Of mounted rifiemen, If II
operates in Cuba.