The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-15
CUBA'S BOLD H0RSEMeN.
Record ofthe Ten Years War ana the
Present Struggle.


story Of her years struggle for liberty
rightfully will give prominence to the
deeds Of the Cuban cavalry. Some OF ms
most stirring pages will be those on
which are recorded the victories won oy
small bands of mounted patriots. CuDas
cavalry has never been large loIce'
To-day IL IS go reduced in numbers that
the work il can do Is limited. Gehetai
Gomez has few hundred mounted men
in his command, and there are sniah
cavalry forces in Camaguey, Sahct oPH-
titus. and the province OF Havana. Ihey
nave maintained vigorous sueIr'h~
warfare.
II has been lack OF horses, not men,
that has kept the Cuban cavalry force
small. When a mounted patriot loses MS
horse in an engagement or by slchheSs'
or by the necessity Of killing MN 10 lu'-
nish meat for the mess taOle-as Hds
bcen the case at times in this and IN the
ten years war-that cavalryman becomes
perforce an infantryman. He mas one
chance OF securing another mouht-uy
capturing the horse OF some Spanlaru'
But even that supply is limited. horses
are scarce in Cuba to-day.
With plenty Of horses the Cuhans could
organize A powerful cavalry. They are
fine horsemen. Cuban boys are taught 70
ride as soon az they are 10 walk or tdlA'
Thomas Estrada Palma, head OF the Cu-
ban delegation IN this country, learned 10
ride on "A goat before he was ola enough
to cling TO the saddle OF morse. Inc
native Cuban horses are small ana WHY
sound Of limb and deep OF cnest. Ana tHe
rnachete that weapon or the Cuoans'
can he welded with its full force in Il
cavalry charge.
II is true that the Spanish cavalry on
the island has not been such as 70 re-
feet credit on its government. Inc span
ish peasantry, from whom the men ior
SPANS Cuban army are drafted, are not
good horsemen in time Of peace, ana they
have not been good horsemen IN wal
When YOU mount a naturally poor morse
man and nut a carbine in one hand ana
sabre or macnete in the other you have
made life miserable for him. But the
Standards have always had the advan-
tspe Of largely superior numbers, ana so
their moor hOrsemanship does not take
any credit from the victories won by the
smaller Cuban forces.
The rnettle of these men was shown du-
ring the ten years war, when the CUBAN
cavalry was at his best The history
of that war, when II is written, VIII
bristle with incidents OF heroic caring
against superior Umters. In conVersa-
ton with a sun reporter a few days ago
Colonel Manuel Sanguily, OF TINS ci'y'
who with his brother, General julio SAN
gully. took a prominent part In the zen
years war. outlined the history or the
Cuban cavalry and recalled some sur
ring incidents Of that struggle
When the revolution broke out In 1868
the patriots gathered small force OF
mounted men Ramon Cantu. an oihcer
Of the Mexican army, who had Jolreu the
ia Il
did not do much under HIM and the HeXt
wear IIeutenant-Colonel Sanguily was
nut In charge. He brought the force up
10 two squadrons. Manuel Sanguily was
in charge Of one and Antonio Serrano
of the other. with these forces ne
fought number Of engagements In
November 1869 the Cuban Junta OF New
York sent Colonel Thomas JORDAN. OF
Virginia, TO Cuba with the rank OF COM
mander-in- Chief 10 organize the CUBAN
Army. Jordan fought in the civil war
Among one OF his changes was the sub
stitution OF the Prussian sabre lot lhe
machete as a cavalry arm, and with these
the Cubans fought just one battle. Ihat
was at San Jose In Puerto Principe pro
vince. and though the Cubans dispersed
and defeated a large force OF Spanish III
fantry, they discarded the SABRE tH'Ie-
after and have used the mdchete ever
since During the early part or lS'O COT
onel Sanguily resigned and Jordan ap-
pointed w. RI. e.. Ryan, an American
citizen TO the command of the cavalry
with the rank OF Colonel Ryan was born
in Toronto, but was educated In Bunalo
and became a citizen OF the United states
He fought I'm the civil war ana went 10
cuba I'm 1863 After good service there ne
returned 10 the United states on mis-
sion from the Cuban Government he
returned to Cuba on the Inflated virgil
MUS expedition. and was shot IN santiago
with Captain Fry and others.
While at the head OF the Cuban cavalry
RYAN introduced reforms in drill and
took part I'm a number Of engagements.
The fighting was so severe that the cav
airy dwindled until ar the end OF 1870
there were not nifty mounted patriots IN
the island Many Of the horses had been
killed in battle, and many more had Deen
killed and eaten 20 keep the men awe
Jordan had In the meantime returned 10
the United States. and ignacio Agra
monte was al the head OF the patriot
forces. He put Julio Sanguily now ori-
enlargement. again In command OF the
cavalry. Then began a campaign marked
hy brilliant victories for the Cuban cav
airy.
Sanguily was an example for his men.
lie has been lame In one foot from olrth
and a few months before resuming his
command was wounded IN the other.
He had to be lifted into the saddle and
he rode with one stirrup. side-sadule
fashion. But there was no Cuban VINO
could Guido him in bravery and daring
"Sanguily is the bravest man / ever
saw In battle" was Jordan's estimate
Of him.
The same Sanguily Is in Cuba to-day
fighting still. He is crippled in one hand
too now, but his spirit is the same as IL
was twenty-five years ago. The very day
he resumed command OF the cavalry he
was attacked by go Spdniards. bur with
his few men ne repulsed them few
weeks brought recruits, and Sanguily
took the offensive. He attacked a Span
ish force commanded by Ramon Faiardo
who later was Captain-G6neral Of Cuba
Faiardo's men were badly beaten. and In
that fight Sanguiy captured enough
Spanish horses TO 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 TOT
more men.
On October 8. ls7l. the Cubans perform
ed a daring feat. Sanguily was resting
with one companion at a ranch near "a
maguey when he was surprised oy
Spanish force OF 80 and taken prisoner.
His companion escaped and carried the
news to General Agregonte, VINO was
in camp a few mites away. Asrsmonte
was practically alone. too his men oeing
out on a foraging expedition. but ne oid
not hesitate.