The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-17

mand OF the cavalry, with the rank OF
colonel. Ryan was born in Toronto,
but was educated in Buffalo and be-
came a citizen of the United States.
He fought in the civil war and went to
Cuba in 1869. After good service
there he returned to the United States
on mission from the Cuban. Govern.
ment. He returned to Cuba on the
Inflated Virginius expedition, and was
shot in Santiago with Capt. Fry and
others.
While at the head of the Cuban cav.
airy Ryan introduced reforms in drill
and took part in number of engage
ments. The fighting was 30 severe
that the cavalry dwinded until at the
end of 1870 there were not fifty mount
ed patriots in the island. Many of the
horses had been killed in battle, and
many more had been killed and eaten
to keep the men alive. Jordan had in
the meantime returned to the United
States and Ignacio Agramonte was at
the head of the patriot forces. He put
Julio Sanguily, now brigadier-general,
again in command of the cavalry.
Then began a campaign marked by
brilliant victories for the Cuban cav
airy.
Sanguily was an example for his
men. He has been lame in one foot
since birth, and few months before
in the other. He had to be lifted into
the saddle and he rode with one STIR
rup, side-sadde fashion. But there
was no Cuban who 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 it was twenty-five years ago.
The very day he assumed command of
the cavalry he was attacked by $50
Spaniards, but with his few men he re-
pulsed them. A few weeks brought
recruits, and Sanguily took the often
sive. He attacked a Spanish force
commanded by Ramon Fajardo, who
later was Captain. General of Cuba.
Fajardo's men were badly beaten, and
in that fight Sanguily captured enough
Spanish horses to mount most of his
recruits. A few days later he led dar-
ing charge against the Spanish force at
the corral of Spanish horses at San An
tonic, drove them away, and secured
mounts for more men.
On October s, 1871, the Cubans per-
formed daring feat. Sanguily was
resting with one companion at ranch
near Camaguey when he was surprised
by Spanish force of $50 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 foraring expe-
dition, but he did not hesitate.
"Sanguily is captured" he said to
the few men in camp. "We must res
cue him. Who will go?"
Every man volunteered. There were
just thirty.four of them. And those
thirty -four gave chase after the $50
Spaniards, caught up with and dis.
persed them and rescued SangHiley
without single Cuban lost.
Gomez has led many a notable
charge. The Commandel-i Chief of
the Cuban army to-day is seventy e
years old and known best TO Americans
as a calm, deliberate planner of CAM
paigns. Twenty-six years ago he was
as dashing a cavalry leader as ever led
charge. He could swing the machete
with the best man in the army. He
distinguished himself in November
1873, when at the head of 200 cavalry
men, he engaged for two hours the
Spanish General Don Manuel Bascones,
who had force of 1900, infantry, cav
airy and artillery. Gomez drove the
Spaniards back, iuflicting severe losses
and taking several prisoners. A month
later Gomez led the cavalry forces at
the battle of Palo Seco in Camaguey
province, where, with 200 men, he en-
gagged force of 700 Spanish infantry
and cavalry in charge of Col. Witches.
In this battle the Cubans used their
favorite tactics. They charged in a
solid body, Gomez at the head, and,
with 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 51l
Spaniards were killed. Fifty three Of
the remaining Spaniards were taken
prisoners, among them Lieut.. Col
Martitequi, to-day general. The
Cubans had only nineteen killed an6
wounded.
The present campaign around Santi.
ago furnishes little opportunity for the
use of cavalry, because of the billy ma
ture of the country and the thick brush
But if it is necessary 10 carry the wal
into the western provinces for an at
tack on Havana these fighting Cubans
if horses are furnished, will prove {
powerful auxiliary.
eff the American Government de
cides after taking Santiago" says Col
} Sanguily, so carry the war into thu
west, it would be advantageous to brinl
horses and equipment to organize {
force of Cuban cavalry. l believe
there could be organized force o
, 1000 in Santiago province, 1900 il
Puerto Principe, 1000 in Las Villas
and ], 900 in the province of Havana
These bodies could be organized b,
September or October, and by the be
ginning OF the cool season there would
be ready force which would be in
finitely superior in quality to any tina
the Spaniards could put into service.
VOrlr