Federico Fernández Cavada Colonel Federico Fernández Cavada ( 1831 – July 1871 ) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Because of his artistic talents , he was assigned to the Hot Air Balloon unit of the Union Army . From the air he sketched what he observed of enemy positions and movements . On April 19 , 1862 , Fernández Cavada sketched enemy positions from Thaddeus Lowe ' s " Constitution " balloon during the Peninsular Campaign in Virginia . He was captured during the Battle of Gettysburg and sent to Libby Prison for Union officers in Richmond , Virginia . Released in 1864 , that year he published a book which told of the cruel treatment which he received in the Confederate prison . After the war , Fernández Cavada was appointed by the United States government as consul to Cuba . When the insurrection began against Spanish rule , he resigned his commission and joined the insurgents . He was commissioned as a general . Cuban authorities eventually commissioned him as the Commander - in - Chief of all the Cuban forces during what became the island ' s Ten Year War for independence . Early life and education . Fernández Cavada was one of three sons born in Cienfuegos , Cuba , to Emily Howard Gatier and Isidoro Fernández Cavada . Their mother was an American citizen and a native of Philadelphia . After his father ' s death in 1838 , his mother returned to Philadelphia with her sons . There the young widow met and married Samuel Dutton . Together , the family resided at 222 Spruce Street . Fernández Cavada received his primary and secondary education at Philadelphia ' s Central High School . After being certified in a training program , he later worked as a civil engineer and as a topographer in the Panama Canal . American Civil War . Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War , both Federico and his brother Adolfo Fernández Cavada joined the Philadelphia 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment , a regiment of the Union Forces . Federico was transferred to the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment . The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac , which participated in such battles as the Second Battle of Bull Run , the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg . Sketches . Fernández Cavada ' s artistic talents became evident because of his writings , sketches and paintings . Because of his artistic talents , he was assigned to the Hot Air Balloon unit of the Union Army . From the air he sketched what he observed of the enemy movements . In 1862 , Fernández Cavada wrote a poem in which he stated : " I have pulled through many a march , I have been in many a battle , I have seen the bomb - shell burst , I have heard the grapeshot rattle ! With the bravest , in the strife , I have nobly risked my life . " On April 19 , 1862 , Fernández Cavada sketched enemy positions from Thaddeus Lowe ' s Constitution balloon during the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia . Battle of Gettysburg . On August 29 , 1862 , was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel . During the Battle of Gettysburg , a number of the regiment fell into the enemy ' s hands including Fernández Cavada ; he was then succeeded by Major Edward R . Bowen . In July 2 , 1863 , the 114 the Pennsylvania regiment was engaged in battle against General William Barksdale ' s Mississippi troops , known as Barksdale ' s Brigade , at Peach Orchard near the wheat field where the bloodiest part of the Battle of Gettysburg , occurred on the second day of the encounter . Even though Barksdale ' s troops were defeated , Fernández Cavada was captured and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond , Virginia . Fernández Cavada was released from prison in 1864 , as part of a prisoner of war exchange between the Union and Confederate Forces . He returned to his unit and continued to serve until April 1865 . " LIBBY LIFE " . Fernández Cavada published a book titled " LIBBY LIFE : Experiences of A Prisoner of War in Richmond , Virginia , 1863 - 64 " , in which he drew sketches and told of the cruel treatment which he and other prisoners received in the Confederate prison . In the introduction of the book he wrote , in pages 19 and 20 , the following : " It was a beautiful country through which we had just passed , but it had presented no charms to weary eyes that were compelled to view it through a line of hostile bayonets ; we felt but little sympathy for the beautiful ; on our haggard countenances only this was written : " Give us rest , and food . " " On the evening of the same day , our sorry column was marched through the streets of Richmond from the depot of the Virginia Central Railroad to the Libby Prison . The gloomy and forbidding exterior of the prison , and the pale , emaciated faces starring vacantly at us through the bars were repulsive enough , but it was at least a haven of the rest from the weary fast - march , and from the goad of the urging bayonet . Had we known that we were entering this loathsome prison - house not to leave it again for many , many weary days and months , more than one heart would have grown faint with a mournful presentiment , for there were among us some who were doomed never to recross its threshold as living men . " Commander in Cuba ’ s Ten Years War . After the war , Fernández Cavada was appointed United States consul at Trinidad , Cuba . Fernández Cavada met and befriended General Thomas Jordan , who was chief of staff of the Cuban Liberation Army under the provincial government presided by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes . Jordan was a United States citizen who had served as a General in the Confederate army during the American Civil War . The friendship inspired Fernández Cavada to resign his position as consul upon the Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule , a conflict that became known as Cuba ’ s Ten Years ' War ( 1868 – 1878 ) . Together with his brother Adolfo , who had resigned from his appointment as consul to Cienfuegos , Federico joined the insurgents . He was named General for the District of Trinidad , Commander in Chief of the Cinco Villas . In January 5 , 1869 , Fernández Cavada established the " Logia Luz del Sur ” ( Southern Light Lodge ) in Trinidad , which was used as an active recruiting center for insurgents . In April 4 , 1870 , Fernández Cavada was named Commander - in - Chief of all the Cuban forces . He became known as “ General Candela ” ( General Fire ) because of his battle tactic of burning and destroying Spanish property . Fernández Cavada wrote an article about the beauty of the Caves of Bellamar , located near the town of Matanzas in the northern coast of Cuba . The article was published in " Harper ' s New Monthly Magazine " on November 1870 . He describes the Caves of Bellamar in the following way : " Although discovered but a few years since , already enjoys a world - wide reputation . At the present day no visitor to Cuba fails to repair to that wondrous subterranean palace , unrivalled , perhaps , in the grandeur of its stalactite masses and the exquisite detail of its starry decorations . Easy of access from Havana by railway , and commodiously and safely prepared for the reception of visitors , it fully repays one for a day ' s absence from the busy scenes of the capital . " Death . Federico ' s eldest brother Emilio remained in Philadelphia , where he was an active fundraiser for the Cuban insurrection . He relayed the news which he received from his brothers to the exiled strategists and other Cuban exiles in Philadelphia and New York . The funds he raised were funneled together with arms and munitions to the insurgent forces in the island . In 1871 , Fernández Cavada took charge of the military division in Camagüey and , together with fellow rebel Bernabé de Varona , planned an armed invasion on the western coast of Cuba . The Cuban Liberation Army approved a resolution to permit Fernández Cavada to travel to the United States . He intended to seek support among his military contacts for the cause of Cuban independence . He traveled to " Cayo Cruz " in the northern coast of Camagüey to wait for his transportation ; but he was captured by the Spanish gunboat " Neptuno " in 1871 and taken to Puerto Principe . He was transferred to the town of Nuevitas from Puerto Principe . Tried by the Spanish authorities , he was sentenced to die by firing squad . Generals George Gordon Meade , Daniel Sickles and Ulysses S . Grant , his military compatriots in the United States , attempted in vain to obtain his release . Fernández Cavada was executed in July 1871 . His last words were " Adios Cuba , para siempre " ( Goodbye Cuba , forever ) . Awards and decorations . Fernández Cavada ' s awards and decorations include the following :