Adolfo Fernández Cavada Captain Adolfo Fernández Cavada ( 1832 – December 18 , 1871 ) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who served in the Philadelphia 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment , a regiment of the Union Forces with his brother , Colonel Federico Fernández Cavada . He served with distinction in the Army of the Potomac in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg and was a " special aide - de - camp " to General Andrew A . Humphreys . After the war Fernández Cavada , joined his brother in the Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule and succeeded him as Commander - in - Chief of the Cinco Villas . Early years . Fernández Cavada was one of three sons born in Cienfuegos , Cuba to Isidoro Fernández Cavada and Emily Howard Gatier , an American citizen and native of Philadelphia . After his father ' s death in 1838 , he moved with his mother and siblings to Philadelphia . Fernández Cavada ' s mother met and married Samuel Dutton and the family resided at 222 Spruce Street , Philadelphia . Fernández Cavada received his primary and secondary education at Philadelphia ' s Central High School . American Civil War . Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War , both Adolfo and his brother Federico joined the Philadelphia 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment , a regiment of the Union Forces . The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac . Federico was transferred to 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment , while Adolfo remained with the regiment as an aide to General Andrew A . Humphreys . Adolfo participated in various battles including the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg . He was wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg when his horse was shot and killed from under him . Fernández Cavada kept a diary during the war which is considered to be one of the most vivid and articulate accounts of the Battle of Gettysburg . His eyewitness account of the famous conflict provided a descriptive and informative rendition of the battle . During one day of the July battle , he recorded how " The air was soon full of flying shot , shell and canister - - and a groan here and there attested their affect . . . . the roar of musketry and the crashing , pounding noise of guns and bursting shells was deafening . . . " Cuba ’ s Ten Years War . After the war Fernández Cavada was appointed United States consul at Cienfuegos , Cuba . Fernández Cavada resigned his position upon the Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule that became known as Cuba ’ s Ten Years War ( 1868 – 1878 ) . Together with his brother Federico , who had also resigned from his appointment as consul to Trinidad , he joined the Cuban insurgents in their quest for Cuba ' s independence . In February 1869 , Fernández Cavada attacked the town of Palmira . He led his men in the Battles of Altos de Potrerillo and Saltadero de Siguanea and in the attack against the Arimao armory . In November 5 , 1869 , the men under Fernández Cavada command took the town of Cienfuegos and a month later Arroyo Blanco . In April 4 , 1870 , Fernández Cavada was named Commander - in - Chief of the Cinco Villas with the rank of Mayor General , succeeding his brother Federico who was named Commander - in - Chief of all the Cuban forces . Death . Adolfo ' s brother , Federico was captured by the Spanish authorities and sentenced to die by firing squad in July 1871 . On December 18 , 1871 , Fernández Cavada was killed in battle at the coffee estate “ La Adelaida ” near Santiago de Cuba . Awards and decorations . Fernández Cavada ' s awards and decorations include the following :