The New York herald. [volume], December 19, 1872, Page 4, Image 4

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ter? to the Tnlted States Consnls at Nne
vtaa and Santiago do Cuba, an?l In every
wav displayed no much thoughtiulnesB and
kindness as to make me feel under the greatest <.b
liii.itions to him. Some other precautious that I
found it necessary 10 take for my safety In case I
should afterwards llnd It advisable to returuto Ha
vana I cannot recount now.
By the 23d it was generally known throughout
Havana that a correspondent of the IIebald had
come to Cuba, hail been arrested lor supposed
complicity with the insurgents, had been released
and had received permission oi the authorities to
visit the Insurrectionary districts, and 1 received
information from a source I believe perfectly relia
ble that some of the most influential of the Span
ish volunteer otlleers called upon Captain General
Ceballos to remonstrate against it.
Tllh CAl'TAIV GENERAL WAS FIRM,
and refused to withdraw the peimlsion he had
Riven. It is, I believe, generally known that the
present captain General is the Urst one who has
been In power in ('mm since the breaking out of
the presi nt revolution that Is not Influenced by the
voluntccs. I'pon the contrary, he has so olten
sjiven thrni to understand that he, and not they,
will be obeyed, that lie Is hated by them almost as
much as t he ;i mrgents. In a conversation ?ubse
nueutly Wit/*i General Rlquelme he "aid he said he
liad uo .lor ? < the volunteers did endeavor to pre
vent my uiting tlie interior of the Island.
STAUT FOB THE REBEL REGION.
Liberal Steamer Travelling?Neurit a?
ami Puerto Principe?A Dinner wltli
Aeosta?Passes and Preparations.
1 left Havana at noon of the 23d, In the steamer
Cuba, and reached Nuovltas on the morning of the
25th. The voyage was uninteresting, save for the
opportunity given to study Spanish human nature
on the journey. One peculiar custom on the Cuba,
which I never found on any other Spanish vessel,
was the very liberal distribution of "drinks." At
eight o'clock A. M.
GIN COCKTAILS WISE PASSU) AROUND
to all the passengers, about forty in number, and
in half an hour a second round, and not one pas
senger on the deck declined the glass l At three
r. M. Rass' ale was furolBhed in the samo way, and
every one partook. It was about nine o'clock oq
the morning of the 25th when we passed by a little,
light armed fort, upon which stood a sentinel light
ing spasmodically with a bandana handkerchief
a cloud of mosquitoes, Into the bay of Nuevltas,
of which Irving says"Columbus, on arriving
here, was struck with its magnitude and the
grandeur of its features; Its high and airy moun
tains, which reminded him of those in Sicily; Its
fertile valleys and long sweeping plalus, watered
by noble rivers; Its stately forests, its bold pro
inoutories and stretching headlands, which melted
away Into the remotest distance." The area of
this bay Is said to be llfty-sevcn square miles.
At Nucvltas I found that Bernard Watlington,
Tnltod States Consul, to whom 1 had a letter of in
troduction, had died a few aays before, and that
Corncllo I'orro, an cx-lnsurgcnt chlcf, to whom I
toad been recommended, was In Puerto Prluclpo.
Alter ascertaining these facts 1 had barely time to
catch the cars for the last named place.
The distance from Nuevitas to Puerto Principe by
rail is forty-five miles, and we made the Journey in
about three hours, arriving at the lat ter place at
about four P. M. The train consisted, besides the
?ngine and tender, of one passenger car,
Ul'AKDKL) BEFORE AND BEUINI>,
by cars arranged for and carrying soldiers to pro
tect the train against the Insurgents. About sixty
soldiers accompany each train, and the cars which
carry them are built of heavy planks with loop
holes near the top. In addition to these precau
tions each passenger train is preceded by another
tarrying soldiers, and which runs about two miles
ahead. These precautious of tills nature, and.the
military posts every mile along the route, made it
evident that we were entering the disturbed or In
surrectionary districts, and as four-lift hs of the
passengers wore arrayed in military garb, tho
journey was of decided aud airnodt exciting in
terest.
The railroad Itself was old and very rough, find
the passenger car old and dirty, provided with
hair-bottomed seats. Having no system of bag
gage checks in Cuba, but charging us freight for
all baggage the traveller does not keep with him,
the consequence Is the passageway, platforms and
seals are lumbered up with trunks and valises.
Four or five prolonged whistles indicate 1 to us
that we were approaching Puerto Principe, and at
the same time to the Inhabitants of the latter place
that the train bore passengers aud mails from
Havana.
My first business was to find Corncllo Torro,
whom, for suiilcieut reasons, I desired to see be
fore presenting myself to General I'ajurdo; but as
it was not uutll .Monday (28th) that I got a sight of
lilrn, I had time to wander about an I study the
town.
PUERTO PUINTirn,
with n population of 40,000, is 011c of the most anti
quated ami Spanish of ail Cuban towns. Its nar
row, dusty or muddy, unpaved streets, oddly
shaped, low houses, numerous store.", with, as in
Havana, all their contents exposed to view; ab
sence ol any sidewalks in the principal streets,
and the many one-mule volautes, give it a peculiar
attraction to the stranger. It nas several queer
old churches aud several convents. Its hotel ac
commodations are wretched. I had been recom
mended to stop at the "Hotel Espailol" as being
tne best in the city, and I found it well patronized
and nearly illied by military officers. The barroom,
otllce aud dining room were one, while the bar
room opened Into the stable, where there was gene
rally a uorse or donkey. In the rear of tins room
were the bedrooms, 011 two sides of a court, while
the fourth was occupied by the kitchen, presided
over by a filthy, squalid-looking Chinaman. This
city is notal>le for having been the hotbed of the
present revolution and lor having sent out
nearly three-fourths of her young men to the pa
triot armies. Several engagements have taken
place between the contending parties in her
streets. Accompanied i>y C'orueTlo Vorro I
CAt.LKD vro* GENUAL I'A.I AllUO
On the tiisth, and was cordially received. II" had
received from Captain General Ceballos orders to i
give me every facility to study the military opera
tions In bis department and informed me I could,
ll 1 desired, join a Spanish column lu search of the '
Insurgents the next day, and that not only a horse
and servant would be furnished me, l>ut an inter
preter 111 desired it. I had already that day been j
called upon by a young man who had tendered his I
services as interpreter. I cm not able to deter- j
iuiue whether he was insane or deemed me so. In j
the short conversation I had with hitn he do- |
nouueed the Spaniards as robbers and assassins, I
spoke ol the Cubans 11s "our people," and men- I
tinned several lusu\Qf,ei vl JUa ^ I
volunteers and of their 6t>en hostility to Ameri
cans. And all this without any expression of my j
sympathies in the war. I declined Ills services. He
lore my interview closed the General furnished ino
wi#h the following sale conduct or permit:? 1
COMANDAXCIA CKNKRAL UKL OITAUTMENT DKL CKNTRO? I
Rstariwi mayok:?
I grant a pasa to sundry places of this department to
Sir. A. Hovu Henderson. citizen of the United Mates, i
correspondent ol the NVw York Iikhai.o. He carrlcs u 1
revolver. I Irus; to all the eivil authorities and com- j
inanrt to the militia, not to lay any obstacle whatever in <
liiti way. it. FAJAttDO.
Poi.uto I'mscipr, Oct 23,1872.
Soon after my return to the hotel from the head
quarters of General Fajardo a young Spanish oltl- I
cer presented himself as being the interpreter as
signed me while in tne Central Department.
LIEUTENANT MANUEL KMII.IO AfllEHO,
who was my constant companion Iroin that time
until 1 left the lsiaud, deserves more than a passing
notice. He was among the tlrSt to join the patriot
army 111 the prcseut revolution. Indeed he was
one of the original conspirators who planned the
Insurrection. For three years and a half he was
with the Cubans, and it was only in March of tlio
present year when, with the rank of lieutenant
colonel, he "presented" or surrendered himself to
the Spaniards. In the Cuban ranks his brother
and brother-in-law had been killed by his
side, and when he Icit his former comrades
he left behind him his fattier, who has,
however, since presented himself. Ills action was
rewarded by the authorities by the presentation
of a lieutenant's commission. After his accept
ance of this he had been very active in endeavor
ing to persuade his former comrades (among
whom was (ieneral Agramonte) to follow Ills
example, and coules of some of his letters to them
have been published In the Spanish journals. lie
Is about tweutv-seven veurs of age and a Cuban by
birth. He speaks Inglish fluently, having spent
several years lu the United Siates, where he claims
to have served in our late war in a New York
regiment,
Ueuteuant Afruero was the bearer of an invita
tion from Urlgadler (ieneral Acosta to dine with
him, which 1 accepted and accompanied tiie Lieu
tenant.
ORNEKAL ACOSTA,
who Is said to be one ol the wealthiest men In
Cuba, his property consisting mostly 0: sugar es
tates, estimated to 10 worth $1;"),oou,<Xjo, Is a plea
sant, jovial, middle-aged gentl .'man, fond ol society
anil good living. 1 found him at a bountifully
served table, surrounded by elgh or ten ollVeis,
personal friends and m mliers ol his stuif, to each
of the latter 01 whom, in addition to his rlghtfel
cognomen, the (ieneral, had given a pet name, tne
explanation of which, as l was severally
introduced lo them, provoked much merri
ment. A gallnnt-looklng nia.ior wus known ns ' the
lady killer," and was aaid to be us fortunate with
the fair sex as lie was uniortunate at the gaming
table. "The Hull f ighter" vas a lather mild, In
oifenslve looKliur blonde, with a surgeon' 1 con nils.
*lon. For the two hours we were at the table,
where the scat of honor at the General's rigid was
occupied t>y your correspondent, serious conversa
tion, so mingled with jest and repaitee and sherry,
Madeira and 1Jana' ale. so quickly wluted away tho
tlm? tt.R lapse was unnoticed, and when, after
coffee, cigars and Cognac wore brought. on the
table and the cloth removed, we wore in an excel
lent condition to enjoy the
ANTICS or THH OINBRAL'H MONK BY,
whlen accompanies him in all ins campaigns and
journeys. My host at the ciid of the entertainment
bo earnestly asked me to make his headquarters
my home while l should remain in Puerto Principe,
aim was so evidently sincere, that I accepted his
Invitation. 1 was informed that 1 should t>e sent
the next day with a proper escort to join a column
then operating against the Insurgents. Hut there
then being some difficulty in the way my departure
for ttie field was postponed nntll the day following.
In the meantime I called unon tho Chief of Police
("Gnardia Civile"), whose jurisdiction embraced
the territory In which
TUX AMERICAN, IIENKY REEVE,
was said to he operating, to ascertain what means
there were, if any, 01 communicating with luin. 1
found that not only was Iteeve known throughout
the Island as "Enrique el Americano," then in the
Immediate neighborhood, but had found a medium
through which to communicate with the Spanish
autiioi itles. By the Chiefs permission 1 addressed
ashoit note to'ltce/e, asking him
IN THE KAMI OK TH* IIERALO
for an Interview, the linio and place to be fixed by
himself. This meesnge the Chief explained would
be carried and delivered to the party addressed by
two women?mother and daughter?named I'aa
torres, who resldeu in I'uerto Principe, and that
the answer, If there should be one, would bo
brought by them In about a week, so that I would
have time to scour the country In an oppo
site direction for a few days. The same day,
General Acosta learning I was making
eflurts to pure : im a horse for my march, in
formed me that It was unnecessary, for ono would
be furnished me by himself. It was not until the
afternoon of Wednesday, October 30, that every
thing was ready for our departure; but then the
arrangements were complete. Lieutenant Aguro,
a surgeon?"the bull-fighter"?two servants and
twelve of the regular cavalry were placed at my
disposal, with directions to obey my orders. The
General advised me to lose as little ttme as possible
In reaching Las Yeguas, Irom which every day or
two operating columns were leaving, but my
wishes were to be supretna lex.
TO THE BATTLE FIELD OF VIA
HONES.
The Rebel-Raided Country?Life at Span
ish Outposts?A. Ride t? the Battle
Field?Shocking Sights?Atrocities of
the War?What Both Sides Say of the
Fight.
And so your correspondent, having arrayed him
self In light linen clothes, Immense Panama hat,
buckskin shoes, "legglns" and spurs, armed with
revolver, and with waterproof coat, blanket, ham
mock, and saddle bags strapped before and bo
html, on his saddle, at about ono o'clock P. M.,
.between the lieutenant and the surgeon, led the
way out of Puerto Principe.
THE CUBAN HOUSE.
The horses ridden by our little company wore all
natives. Tlio Cuban horse deserves some atten
tion. The best authorities upon the subject say he
is but the otlSprlng of the Spanish horse affected
by the peculiarity of the olimate lu his breeding,
lie is now aline animal, with short, stout, well
built body, neat clear limbs, fine Intelligent eyes,
thick neck, heavy mane and tall, and peculiar gaits
under the saddle. The maroha is a fast walk, and
is the easiat gait possible, aud el paso, something
like what is known in our own Southern States as
a "single-footed rack," Is mora pleasant
than any gait peculiar to American horses.
Put the most valuablo quality of tlio
Cuban horse Is his endurance. It almost
seems as If no weight were too much for him In the
opinion of his driver or rider, aud It is said that ho
will make fifty or sixty miles per day under the
saddle for an indefinite time without the slightest
sign of exhaustion, and this, too, on about hall the
quantity of food necessary for the American horse,
which latter animal is used only in carriages in the
principal cities of the island. Owing to tho great
demand created by the present war. the price of a
Cuban hone is now high, it being impossible to ob
tain a good one for less than one hundred and
scventy-ilvo dollars. The duties and exponse of
lauding alone au imported horse are about ono
hundred and twenty dollars. Upon ono of tUo
easiest of these exceedingly easy-galted aninaals,
then, your correspondent, at tho head of his liltlo
1 cavalcade, left Puerto I'rincipe on Wednesday,
October 30. Putting our horses to tho gait "el
jinro," in a short tim,> we passed beyond the limits
of the city aud struok Into tho open country under
a broiling hot sun. Traversing
" ROYAL ROAPS,"
wluch wore la wretched condition, and lay be
tween fences or hedges or gnavo or maguey,
passing the rums of many sugar estates destroyed
by the Cubans, In about an hour and a half wo
reached the flrsrof tue military posts that form a
line across tho island south from Puerto Principe.
This is known as "San Antoalo," and had, when
we visited It, a force of but cloven men, who wero
acting as a guard for the protection of a pang of
laborers who were making some much needed re
pairs to the carmina real. Two miles further on,
passing a tall smokestack, which, with the
enclosed spacious grounds above, showed
where there had boen one of the largest
and finest sugar estates in tho department,
now a mass of ruins, wo arrived at
Camp Mcrced<'H, which had also been a riuo suifar
estate. It will be impossible and useless to speak
of the ruin aud devastation caused bv the war
among the sugar estates In the Central Depart
ment. It is enough to say that there is not left
standing within fifty unles of Puerto Principe a
single one of those formerly splendid buildings
used for the manufacture of sugar. Everywhere
the sight is tho same. The chimneys generally
standing as a monument to the ruined fortunes of
their former owners, amidst the dtfbrls of fallen
walls and heat wrenched machinery, testify to tho
INTENSITY OF CUBAN HATRED
to Spanish rule. For be it known most of theso
destroyed properties belonged, not to Spaniards,
but to Cubans, who themselves applied the torch |
that impoverished them. It was enough that their j
beloved "Cuba Libre" demanded the sacrifice, and
believing that when the cost to Spain of carrying
on the war would be greater than her revenues
from the island, they determined to make of their
beautiful country a waste in which the mother
country could find no profit. From Camp Mer
cedes, ' alter a rest of half an hour, leaving onr
cavalry escort behind us, Aguero, the doctor and
your correspondent, with our servants, galloped
oil' alone two miles rarther, to a second
CAMP SAN ANTONIO,
passing through two magnificent groves, one of
palms and the other of cocoauuts, covering about
seventy-five and a hundred acres respectively.
This San Antonio was guarded by about forty
mounted Infantry, or "guerillas," as they are called
officially. A provision train of thirty ox carts had
arrived an hour before, and the men accompany
ing It were then at their dinner, and wo followed
their example. In a horribly filthy house made of
palm leaves and skins we ate smiic boiled jerked
beef and a hash, into the composition of which en
tered, it seemed, every kind of meat and vegetablo
In Cuba.
Soon alter dinner our hammocks were slung in
tn? same room and we sought repose, sought, but
diil not find It; for, in addition to tun discordant
noises outside from men, bulls aud donkeys, the
hovel swarmed with mosquitoes, and as there was
no escape ironi tliem but bv being smothered In a
blanket they had to bo borne, amid curses loud and
deep from all our party.
A DANOUROUS GAME.
Much stress was laid by the officers I met here
and Aguero upon our ride from Mercedes to San
Antonio without a guard. Hie absence of danger
froiu the insurgents In this neighborhood was
dwelt upon until the thought forced itself upon
me thai this two-inile unguarded gallop had been
premeditated, and what Aguero, who had sug
gested it, had represented as being done on tlio
spur ot the moment was really but the carrying
out of orders given lu Puerto Principe. For,
I wherever I went after this, this little
atlair was cited as an evidence of tho
contempt in which Spaniards held Cubans, the j
former claiming that four of them would not liesl- I
tate to engage tifty insurgents. Captain Lander,
commanding this post, was very kind In explaining
to me tho operations of his command and the
wretched condition of the insurgents In tills de
j partment. lie produced belore me a couple of ne
! groes who were dressed, ho said, precisely as were
the insurgents. Their raiment consisted ol a coffee
sack tied about the waist and sandals of untanned
skins, secured to the feet by leather thongs passing
between the toes to the ankle. The next morning
we arose from our hammocks rested, but unre
freshed, and, after "raff, ' resumed our travels with
a new escort of mounted Infantry. About an hour
I alter leaving San Antonio we overtook the pro
vision train ttint bivoucked there the night betoro
and which had left before daybreak. Tuts train of
thirty carts, drawn by either six or eight bulls?in
no case oxen?and guarded by about thirty in
' fantrv, was about one mile long and moved very
slowly. I presume nothing but ti e shortness of
' the distances between the many military posts
saved It from attack; lor the creaking of the cart
wheels and shouts of tt)o drivers as they prodded
tlie bulls could be heard quite a distance. Passing
Military Camp Soiublas, three miles from Sau An
I tonio, lour miles further is
CAM I' PORCAYAS,
at which were the name number of men as at
soinbias?viz., thirty. Lieutenant Leopoldo Cento,
who was iu command, received us hospitably, and,
! In a trice, brought out the square bottle or "gin
evra" (gin), that seems to be a necessary part of
evory officer's equipment*, somhi is ,ui<i Poicayas
1 are small, three story torts, built of brie its, with
loopholes iu eaoh story, Mid are, doubtless, almost
j Impregnate against luiuia destitute of axtUlerj.
Lieutenant Oeuto was evidently a man of taste
aud sentiment, lor IiIh "office," though constructed
only of upright unhewn timbers, with the octagonal
roof, thatched wlthguavo leaves, was surrounded
and almost embowered by many beautiful twining
vines, it was situated near the lort, in a dense
grove of orange trees, full of half rlpo lrult, and
which were in the midst of a large grove of cocoa
nuts, bananas, palms, mangos and tamarinds;
while the well-luid out and orderly kitchen gar
den close by wai decorated with two rustic arbors
of beautiful designs over which the vines were be
ginning to climb. Nine o'clock, and seven miles
furtiier brought us to the village and military post
of
LAS YEOl'AS,
where Is stationed a body of five or six hundred
men and a well-constructed wooden fort, armed
with two twelve-pound mountain howitzers.
This village, built up since the breaking out of the
war, numbers about lltty houses, all built of palm
leaves, thatched with guavo, and are on either
side of one wide street, which is commanded by
the fort. Not moro than ten days beiorc our ar
rival this village had been
ATTACKED IN TOR NIGHT
by a squad of twenty insurgents and several
houses and a store or two sacked before the
soldiers from the fort could be brought against
them. There are, in addition to the houses above
mentioned, commodious quarters for the troops,
and four blockhouses guarding the approaches to
the town and about two huudred yards distant.
These are two stories high?wooden?with en
trances so narrow that but one man can pass at a '
time, and surrounded by ditches four feet deep.
Kach one is constantly guarded by seven men.
The main Tort Is surrounded by a ditch and
frieze. In the village there aie sixteen stores, at
all of which liquors are sold, and where the sol
diers lay in their supplies of strong drink when
going ou an expedition. We had Just fin
ished breakfast (at eleven o'clock) when a
great bustle aud confusion betokened the happen
ing of some unusual event, and ere long
we learned that the column of Lieutenant Colonel
Lorenzo, which had gone out four days before, was
about making a triumphant entrauce into the vil
lage, having the day before dispersed a bodv of in
surgents alter killing forty-three, witn a loss on
the Spanish side of only one dead and two
wounded. Iu a few minutes
TUK VICTOUIOUS COLUMN
entered amid tho plaudits of the people. The
strange way of showing their approbation was In
teresting. Cheering, as we know and practise lc,
was not heard; Instead there was a round or
excited remarks addressed by a single person
at a time to his companion or to a friend
in the ranks; and as olllcer after oillcer
would dismount from his horso he would
be clasped about the neck by and reoeive warm
embraces from his half score of personal friends.
Indeed, it seemed as If the populace were wild
with delighted surprise that any of these four hun
dred men had escaped alive from the two huudred
Insurgents they had engaged. Approaching 0110
large group that appeared in ecstaclts over some
thing 1 found them around a few muskets and
"machetes" that had been
CAPTURED HltOM THE INStTROENTS,
All made way for me to pass In to examine them
closely, aud ns 1 did so, and was counting them
they would look at them and then at me, their
eyes saying. "What do you thiuk now of Spanish
soldiers, Seflor Americano)"' One officer said to
me, "It must be true, tho rebels were routed,
or how would they lose their guns."
The spoils of . tliia conilict consisted of
eight muskets, three machetes, two cart
ridge boxes and some tclegrapn wire which the
Insurgents had removed from the poles In the
neighborhood a few days before. Lieutenant Colo
nel Lorenzo invited me to accompany his column,
which would the next day start In pursuit of the in
surgent band he had just encountered, and, upon
due consideration and alter inquiry as to the
whereabouts ol other columns, I thought it best to
accept his invitation. After cafd at six o'clock the
next morning, November l,
TUB COLUMN MARCHED OUT
of town In Hie following order, which was observed
in all subsequent marohes i?Fifty guerillas
(mounted infantry), commanded by a'major, led
the van, about, live hundred yards ahead of the
main body. The commanding officer, his aides,
bugler and the Herald commissioner, with his in
terpreter, rode at the head of 150 guerillas, who
Were followed by 200 lnlautry. (the officers
alone mounted), the pack mules, with provisions,
tents, Ac., some forty lu number, bringing up the
rear. Spanish soldiers as they are found in Cuba
are not a very Imposing body. Indeed, except
those who arc kept lor garrison duty in and about
the largest towns, they arc au unclean, unhealthy
looking and under-sized body, In whoso apparel it.
is difficult to discover au.vtiiing resembling a uni
form. Whites and negroes are fonnd enrolled iu
the same companies, marching side by side, frater
nizing perfectly and "drinking out of the same
canteen." They seem to be on terms of perfect
equality. The town garrisons, when there is not a
sufficiently strong "GuardlaCivil," are usually se
lected from the finest looking soldiery about.
Kutj to resume our march. After p march of
about nine miles, crossing numerous little streams,
here dignified by the name of rivers, following
gladly the "ro.vai roads" wherever possible, now
passing through a wide savannah, around tho
edges of which our advance guard rides waiily and
suspiciously, and now seeking a short cut through
the dense woods by an almost imperceptible path,
over anil across which boughs, fallen limbs and
thick trunks are hanging and lvlng, now sweeping
aside, stooping under or cutting awpy with our
machetes tlie Fcstoous or vines floatiugftcroas our
path and almost saying with Dante:?
Wo had |>ut ourselves within a wooil
That was not marked by any path whatever:
Notioliape Kicen, hut 01 n dusky color ;
Not branches smooth, but Hiiurn-J ami intorinn?!ed;
Not apple-trees were there, but thorns with poUou;
Such tangled thicket's have not, nor so dense,
Those savage wild i>easts that iu hatred hold
'Twlxt Cecina anil Cornetolhe tilled places.
At nine o'clock we encamped for breakfast. We
did not resume onr march until half-past tluee P.
M., and at six we reached Dlvorclo, a military post
with a strong two-storied wooden lort, surrounded
by chevaux d* frite and ditch, in our afternoon's
tramp we passed a law haciendo ami several
herds of wild cattle, among them some bulls mug
nllleent in size and contour. It is from this region
most of the bulls were obtained for the "fights7' in
Havana before the war. they being famous lor their
size and temper. These, with a few flocks of
Guinea fowl and small parrots, were about aU the
animated naturo wo encountered. Soon after
dinner at Dlvorclo a
COURIER FROM US YEOtTAfl,
with (lespatcnea for Colonel Lorenzo, arrived.
He bore a telegram from the General directing tne
Colonel to take the Herald commissioner to the
battlefield ofViamonees, and also to notify the
latter that General Kignelme, the Commander-in
Chief, desired the commissioner to visit him at
San'iago de Cuba, his present headquarters, within
eight days, if possible. For reasons at
the time best known to himself, though ex
plained by circumstances afterwards, Lieutenant
Colonel Lorenzo did not appear to lie as much de
lighted with this opportunity of showing the scene
of his recent triumph as one would suppose. Find
ing, however, that your correspondent could not
be prevailed upon to express his unwillingness to
visit the battlefield in spite of the
HINTS OF IIAXOKR
from an nmbtish of enraged Insurgents and tho
disgusting sight of the dead, he at length yielded
with apparent cheerfulness <o the order. After a
comfortable night in my hammock, swung in one
of the oUlcer's guano-leafed houses, we left Dlvor
clo at half-past six, passing several corrals made
by the insurgents for the capture of wild horses,
which are numerous In tills neighborhood, aud two
or three of what were pointed out to me
as Cuban picket posts. At eb'lit o'clock a
cloud of turkey buzzards hovering over a piece of
woods in the distance marked our destination, and
we in front pressed more eagerly on and lessened
the distance between ourselves and our advanced
guard. Soon, upon emerging from the woods Into
a ueautllul semi-circular savannah, containing per
haps live hundred acres, the odor of decomposing
flesh was borne on the wlud sweeping irom the
point we were approaching, anil on the opposite
side of the savanna an Innumerable host of the
filthy buzzards were circling through the air and
sweeping rapidly to the ground or slowly flopping
upwards. Holding to our nostrils the camphor
wtth which we had provided ourselves at Dlvorclo,
we galloped rapidly across the open space to
TIIK BATTi.F. FIKI.D OK VIAMONES,
where, stretched upon the ground, were two score
of horribly loathsome obiects that four days before
had been men. In groups of twos and threes,
blacks and whites side by side now as they
lud fought In life ami fallen at last, lay the
bloated carcasses, surrounded on every tree
and bush by tho foul birds. The buzzards
scarcely moved for us, aud then only flew
heavily a few feet, waiting evidently until decom
position would mark the lime for then horrid feast.
In every attitude aud posture thtse bodies were
lying, and mauy showing the ghastly cuts of the
terrible machete. The nature and location of some
of these gashes suggested to my mind, or rather
recalled to my recollection, one peculiarity of this
Inhuman war.
NO PRISONERS ARF. EVF.R TAKTV.
The enemy's wounded left upon the battle field
are all slain by the victors, and as I saw the gap
ing wounds in the throats of two ol the bodies, the
heads being almost severed from the trunks; lu
another the whole top of th? head, above the eyes,
cut off by a clean stroke, and lu another
the right arm and shoulder cut through
bono and sinew In four places, It did
rot need a very powerful Imagination to picture
the scene enacted on this ground lour days before,
when the defeated party left the field lu the pos
session of the Spaniards. Hut If anything were
needed to indicate what hail taken place there, tho
want was supplied by the sight of two bodies?one
with both arms cut off at, the shoulders, the other
uamelessly mutilated, and
BOTH WITH R01'ES AROUND Til FIR NRCKS,
The human mlml recoils at the Ideas suggested
by the appearance of these bodies?viz., that the
' wounded left by the insurgents upon the battle
' field of Viamonees wore not only killed, but barbar
ously tortured. Your correspond nt, alt'r having
I associated freely with Spanish officers of all grades
lor several weeks, could find It 'illllcult to believe
that barbarities similar to the above should
be perpetrated bv their orders o with
their consent. Their orders to ill ail
Cubans found with arms in tlieli ha;,ds are
Imperative, and as long a" they retain their corn
I missions they are bound to obey. Hut at least two
1 Spanish officers while they deplored the necessity,
| as tliey termed it, of killing the wounded ami pris
oners, informed me tnat while they always directed
It should be done, they themselves wou <1 not and
could not witness It, because, In tho language of
one of them, "After a battle our soldiers are riot
wen but devils, and If we attempted to restrain
them in anythihg they would turn on us, and
Home of
Til Kill ACTS AKK TOO HOItltlHM? TO LOOK UPON."
Alter counting the number of dead, which 1 made
thirty-eight, though some or the officers insisted
there were forty-one, in addition to three or lour
heaps of ashes which they said were the remains of
bodies burned by a .Spanish column that had camped
close by two nights previous, we directed our steps
to the old Cuban camp, where we breakfasted.
This camp was in a large grove of the largest man
goes I hail seen, and the rude houses built of
boughs and palm leaves were still standing, with
here and there the remnants of drinking gourds
and pieces of bull's hide.
THB VICTORS' STORY OK THR nOITT.
Tho Cubans, as Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo ex
plained, lay encamped In this sj>ot at the base ol
the semicircular savannah, and were utterly sur
prised and routed on the morning of October 30.
When they found the Spaniards on both Hanks
within the woods?that is, on both sides or the sa
vanna?they attempted to escape in the rear,
where, however, their retreat waB so delayed by a
Dond about fifteen feet wide and three feet deep
that fortv-three were slain, with a loss to the Span
iards of but one killed und two wounded.
TIIK CUBAN ACCOUNT OP TIIE IIAITLI
as given to me subsequently by Major General
Agramonte 'who at the time presented me with
the original olficial report of Major Suarin who
commandod the Cubans In this engagement) differs
materially from that of the Spaniards. The Cubans
not only wore not surprised by the enemy, but, on
the contrary, laid an ambuscade on the right of their
camp and decoyed the Spaniards into it by a feigned
retreat from the camp. The Cuban loss by their
accouut was but three killed and eight wounded,
and they (lid not pretend to estimate the Spanish
loss. They claim that they fought the battle in ac
cordance with their usual plan?viz., to lay in am
bush, kill as many of the enemy as possible by
a single fire, and then retreat. > And they
point to the number of whites upon the
Held as an evidence that those are mostly
TIIE BODIES OF SPANISH AND NOT CUBAN SOLMKKS.
The great majority or the Cuban rank and file are
blacks. From the examination of the bodies made
by your correspondent he is or the opinion that at
least eighteen were those of white men, though
from the condition they were In it was difficult to
decide with any degree of accuracy. But there
were several circumstances wlucb may assist to
something like a correct conclusion. First, tho
number of bodies upon which were plainly notice
able the cuts of the machete did not exceed seven
or eight, and second, a young lieutenant of
Lorenzo's column, a short time after our arrival in
Las Zeguas, said, in reply to a question as to the
result of the battle, "They lost as many as we, and
we drove them from the field, so the battle was
unquestionably ours." Third, tho number of
whites; fourth, what I deemed the disinclination
of Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo to take me
to the field; filth, the number of
arms captured. Upon the other hand, an
Item of evidence that they were Cuban
and not Spanish dead is, that they were unburied.
Ucneral Agramonte suggested that the Spaniards
might have disinterred the bodies for my beneiit,
and that the ropes I had sccu might have been I
used po drag tliom to where they were lying.
On the 4th or November, having stopped two days
al Uivorclo, I accompanied Major Obregon. with a
body or sixty guerillas, to Las Yeqnaes. About six
milos from Divorcio our guide reported
l'rcsh tracks of insurgents, about two hundred
strong, leading In the same direction we were
going. At once the hitherto somewhat straggling
ranks closed up,
MU3KET9 WERE PNSLUNQ,
and, with & sharper lookout from the advance
guard, our speed was Increased. Major Obregon,
solicitous for your correspondent's safety, advised
him to go to the rear: but, however much 1 might
have desired personally to profit by his advice, my
representative character decided me to hold my
position, and iortun&tely wo did not come up with
the Cubans uutil their truck diverged from ours.
AMONG THE PATRIOTS MILITANT.
Missive from Enrique el Americano?De
parture for lUe Insurgent Camp?Henry
Reeve anil Agramonte.
At flve o'clock the next morntngl was awakened
with the information that a courier had just ar
rived from General Fajerdo with orders to Major
Obregon io send mo immediately to Puerto Prln
clpe, which place wc reached at about eleven
o'clock. General Fajerdo immediately delivered
me a .?i?cr irom
"ENRIQUE EL AMERICANO,''
of which the following is an exact copy:?
Division or Camaovky, District ok thb Sorm,)
Camp in Opkkacionks, Nov. 2, 1S7-'. J
To A. Horn Hevphiison, Esq.?
DkarSir?Received yours ofthe 29th imt.,ln which you
ininriii inc that you are iim agent ''sent by Hie hditor ot the
Nkw Youk IIkhaj.u, with tie object <>r ascertaining the
real condition of those iu arms against the Spanish gov
ernment."
In respect to the same, I have the honor to renlv tliat,
being authorized by superior orders to accede to the
requested interview, I place the Colli.wing conditions,
which conditions are really necessary on account of tlie
peculiar class of warfare onsen ed in this country.
Vou will come to the camp or Vista Ilermosa, and where
you will find awaiting you two women (the same through
whom I have received your letter), and without any
more companionship than that of the women, start out,
(in 1 1 will meet you in a very short space ul time fi'utn
your departure from the lin t.
You possess, of course, my word that yon will not be
molested in the least, nor will you be obliged to-pass
more tlisn a few hours before seeing the subscriber.
You will leave the caiiiu ol Vista Hcnuosu on the fifth
instant (.rith), A. M.
I remain. Sir, yours Ac., II. M. REEVE.
A. ltovn Hendkhson, Esq., Camagney.
P. S.?I should feel extremely obliged to you, Mr.
Henderson, U"you would be kind enough to procure and
bring me one ot Robertson's Spanish and English gram
mar^ with Vocabulary. I will fully reimburse what you
mav expend In the purchase of the work, and my grati
tude mav even be advantageous to you at some tuturo
time.?Yours Ac., REEVE.
The General had sent back to Major Reeve the
woman who had borno the message with the infor
mation that the Herald correspondent could not
possibly reach Vista Uermora until the next day.
After informing me that he had ordered
A TOTAL SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES
In the Camaguey Department for four days, that
the Herald Commissioner might have no diffi
culty in meeting Major Reeve and Major General
Agramonte, who was believed to bo in the neigh
borhood of Viola Ilermosa, General Fajerdo in
structed me to offer In his name, and that of tho
Spanish government, the Allowing terms to all
Cubans I might see:?
TnE IIERALD-SrANlSn COMMISSION.
To all persons thon in arms against Spain who
would "present" themselves, with or without their
arms, within one week, a full, free and uncondi
tional pardon would be granted, accompanied by a
complete restoration of confiscated estates with as
little delay as possible.
EXCEPTIONS.
The only persons not included in the above offer
were:?
First?iThe President, Cabinet and Members of
Congress ol the so-called Republic oi Cuba.
Second?Officers of and above the rank ol briga
dier.
Third?Deserters from the Spanish army.
Fourth?Slaves.
The lives of those included in these excepted
classes would be spared if they surrendered within
a week, and the highest punishment indicted upon
the first two classes would bo banishment from
Cuba and the confiscation of tlieir estates.
I)es#rters would be returned to the Spanish
army, where they would be compelled to serve out
their full time, without any deduction for service
before their desertion.
Slaves would be restored to their masters.
With these instructions and reiterations that the
lives of all accepting this offer of amnesty should
be spared, your correspondent wns directed to be
prepared to start for Camp Vista Iiermosa at four
o'clock the next morning.
WITH AN ESCORT OF TnillTT
of tho "gnardla civil" we reached Vista Ilermosa
at about se\en o'clock the noxt day. Here I found
the Chief of Police, who had preceded me a day
with tlio order for a suspension of hostilities,
and learned from him that the Beflora and
Seilorita Usatorres, the guides selected by
Reeve to lead me to tils presence, had
not yet returned from his camp, where they
had gone the day before with General Fajar
do's message. This message, it will be recalled,
was that I conld not be thero until a diy later than
that fixed l?y Reeve. After a little delay, however,
two brothers, named Ramon, who held a safe
conduct from Reeve, consented to endeavor
to take mo to the latter. Rcfore wc
started the Chief warned me not to Judge
of the actual condition ol the Insurgents from the
few I would meet, saving that Maior Reeve was in
command or loo cavalry, all of whom were picked
men, better clothed and mounted than any other
body ol the insurgents. He rurthor said that they
would make great efforts to impress upon me that
they were fair representatives of the whole Cuban
army. Nor could I judge, he said, of the Cuban
officers from those I might meet. Kmillo and An
tonio Luaces, who were Major Reeves inseparable
companions, and General Agramonte, all of whom
I would probably see, wero gentlemen by birth
and education, infinitely superior to the moss of
whites in the Cuban ranks. The I.uacea brothers,
i may say, were nephews of this Chief of Police.
THK INSURGENTS.
Accompanied by the tho two guides, I left ramp
Vista Ilermosa abont eiffit o'clock on 'lie morning
o November 6 and rode about nine miles, without,
however, seeing any American or Emllio Luuoes.
We hailed two hoars on a royal road under sago,
cio-ic by a ruined sugar e tate, the only living thing
In the vicinity helm* a lull) bearing orange orchard.
After pursuing our course for about two hours the
guides by signs gave nie to understand that there
?as no possibility oi seeing Henry Reeve that day,
and we accordingly started to return to Camp
Ilermosa. Half way between our halting place
and the ramp I got my first glimpse
of the Cuban Insurgents, about six hundred yards
it ho ad three men on horseback crossed Horn the
guano fence Into the royal road and made signs,
wulch were promptly responded to by iny leading
guide, siguii/tng wat (i was yroper tgr me tv r?
main with the other guide while he conversed with
the strangers. Their conversation lasted about
hair an liour or more, at the end of which time wo
were motioned to proceed. On approaching the
mounted men I at once discovered by their dress
and equipments that they were
CUBAN PATRIOTS.
We halted, and having exchanged salutations a
further conversation In Spanish ensued betweeu
them and the (rubles.
Tile safe conduct held by the guides, the Cubans
explained, waa good only for November 8 and
not available for four days until that date, as wc
had believed. It was suggested, however, that we
might return to the same place next day, as we
would not be molested. Wo then took our leave
and arrived at Camp llermosa about two o'clock,
whero we remained during the day.
HI'ANI.SII SOI.DlKltS AN1> CUBAN WOMEN.
For a couple of hours that evening I accompanied
two or three of the oincers to the houses of some of
the villagers. If the remarks of the oillcers to the
females we saw, many of them young and pretty,
and their observations to each other in the pres
ence of these women were correctly interpreted to
me by Aquerro, they were of the vilest and most
obscene nature. Not only were the ideas ex
pressed Impure, but the words used were most
vulgar. Aquerro, in reply to my Inquiries, assured
me that these girls were all of good character, but
that they were accustomed to hear such language
from Spanish oillcers. Indeed, they were
compelled to listen to it, for, having the
mlsiortuno to be of Cuban birth,
not only their honor and Uvea, but tho lives of
their parents were at the mercy of tho Spaniards.
I was also assured tnat cases of violation of lemale
chastity by tho Spanish offlcora and soldiers wero
common, aud, of course,
THERE WAS NO RBDRESS.
Upon the breaking out or the Insurrection the
wives and daughters of the patriots aocompauied
them to the camps, and then It was a rare thing
for one of these women to escape a worse late than
death if she fell into the enemy's hands. No
charges of this nature are made against the
Cubans?the Spaniards explaining that there are
no Spanish women in the Insurrectionary dis
tricts.
ONCB MORE FOR TIIE REBEL CAMP.
On the following morning, again accompanied by
the guides, I pursued the same royal road. After
journeying about six miles, one of the guides called
my attention to tho presence or cavalry behind us,
and as I looked around I saw live or six
men belonging to the Cuban cavalry. We
halted, Duf they signalled us to proceed. When
we had ridden about two miles we were met by
another squad of Cuban cavalry, and came to a
stop. A small-sized, delicate lookin* blonde
soldier, well mounted, came forth, aud, addressing
me in English, called me by name, at the same
time Introducing a boyish-looking otllcer, saying,
"This Is Major Keovo, and 1 am Dr. Kmllio Luaces."
He then formally introduced two or three Cuban
oillcers. Just at this stage the horsemen In tho
rear joined us, the parly altogether numbering
thirteen, and consisting of live whites and eight
negroes, all
WEI.L MOUNTED, WEI.I. DRE8SED AND WELI. ARMED.
Some of the bridles of the negroes' horses wore
made of ropes, but they all had good, substantial
leathern saddles, resembling what Is known as
"the McClellaa saddle."
Til* AMERICAN.
Major Henry M. Reeve Is a tall, thin-faced man,
who looks as If he wero not more than two or tlireo
and twenty years old, though he Is, I believe,
twentv-eight. He Is or the blonde type, and his
race is destitute of any symptoms of a beard. There
is, however, nothing eireminate in his appearance;
upon the contrary, the development of the lower
jaw and the Intensity of the gaze of his blue eyes
more than hint at extraordinary determination
and penetration. His speech, short and quick,
showed education, while his plainness or blunt
ness lu asking Just the question ho wanted |
answered, or expressing in a lew well selected
words precisely what he meant, pre
sented a striking contrast to the diplo
matic mode of expression in vogue among
the Spaniards, and which the 11krai.d cor
respondent had almost involuntarily adopted.
Major Iteevo was dressed, as were Dr. Luaces and
Captain Diego (the latter, by the way, being ol one |
or the best ramllics of Havana) lu brown linen
coats and pants, rudely tanned shoes and leggings
and straw lints. All were armed with swords
(machetes) and revolvers.
nis HISTORY.
At the time or the fitting out of the Terrltt with
an expedition for Cuba, under command of Gen
eral Jordan, an American youth presented himself
to the commander as a volunteer, giving his name
as Henry Karle, and stating that he was employed
as a clerk in a mercantile otllce In this city and
eagerly seeking to be taken ont to light for the in
dependence of the young Republic. After some
scrutiny he was readily accepted by Jordan, who
detected some decision, activity aud frankness,
plainly indicating a man of Integrity and capable
oi brave exploits. On the landing of Jordan in
Cuba he shared the perils attending It with credit,
011 the San Ramon Peninsula, and ou the succeed
ing days, or two mouths afterwards, he was made a
prisoner by the Spaniards In front ol the intrenched
position of has Cuabas. and there, according to
' the Inveterate practice of kls captors, was shot,
leaving Uis body tinburled, In order that, his re
mains might ailord food to the turkey buzzards.
Rut Providence had ordained H otherwise. He was
onlv dangerously wounded and temporarily un
conscious. Reviving as the night advanced, from
the cool atmosphere, he was able to crawl s'.owly
to a hut hard by. inhabited by Cuban women,
who took him In and dressed,-his wounds as well
us thev knew liow. There he remained concealed
until convalescent. When strong enough he joined
a force of patriot cavalry, ami was shortly aiter
wards brevetted captain, lor gallant conduct. On
beiuir notified of Uis promotion lie stated that Karle
was not bis real name, but an alias uuder which
lie had joined the army, aud that upon being the reel
I pient of a captaincy he desired to assume the rank
I under his own name, which was Henry M. Reeve.
I Later on he was promoted to a cavalry colonelcy
' under IJcmbeta aud other leaders in the Catnaguey
district. He is a general favorite with his comrades
in arms, who will not call him Henry Reeve, but
Knriijiw el Americano. Major Reeve, by the way,
is a New Yorker and a courageous isoldier, who has
already distinguished himself in several desperate
engagements, having been wounded as many as
eight times. ATter a short conversation with the
Major, In which I explained to him fully the object
of niy mission, he finally informed me that General
Agramonte and Vicente Garcia were in tho im
mediate neighborhood, and that If desirable I would
be conducted to their presence without delay. At
onco expressing myseir anxious to see those gen
tlemen, orders were given to proceed la the direc
tion or their whereabouts.
TUB CniEK OK POLICE AND HIS HORSE.
One or tlic guides was sent hack to Camp Vista
Hermosa, bearing a message from me to tlic Chief
of Police. He had kindly lent me his horse, with
the understanding that I should return it when I
visited General Agramonto's camp. Major Reeve
ami his companions seemed to feel very indignant
at the want of faith manifested in them By the
i Chief of Police, and assured tne positively that his
horse would ue as safe as I was. I retained the
horse, and wo went our way. We rode cautiously
for about two miles, and alter passing two or three
picket posts, at each of which lour or Ave men
were stationed, we halted, and without much cere
mony 1 was ushered Into the presence of
GENliRAL yonatius AGRAMONTE.
When I caught my fltst glimpse of him he was
seated at a table made of t wigs intently perusing
pome book, which I afterward ascertained was an
American work on Military tactics. General
Agramonte la a handsome young man, though
etVeminate looking, liis dark beard and mous
tache are line, silky and flowing, and with his
aqniline nose, he looks not unlike a wax figure I
have seen ot St. John t!ie Apostle. His military
record, however, lias proven him to be a man of
remarkable courage, energy ami intellect. He is
par exeelhTiee the greatest righting man of his rank
In the Cuban service. In addition to the same
brown linen clothes worn by lils otllcers, he, the
General, was so fortunate as to have a shirt, an
artielo of raiment not worn by Ills subalterns.
He rose at my approach and shook hands with
ine cordially as I was introduced by Einillo
Luaces. i'pon my removing my hat he politely re
quested me to replace It and invited me to be
seated at the twig table with Major Reeve, Dr.
Luaces and Captain Diego, who acted as in
terpreters. A pleasant conversation ensued
on the object ol' my mission, and the
General Dccame somewhat enthusiastic
about the Herald enterprise. Ho was
eager In his Inquiries concerning the affairs of the
outside world: but in no subject did he appear to
feel so much Interest as In the election of President
01 the United States. I frankly Informed him that
while as yet 1 had not heard the result of the Presi
dential contest, Grant must certainly be elected,
basing my opinion on tho issue of the State elec
tions in Pennsylvania and Ohio. No sooner had I
said this than a cloud or disappointment settled
over his face. In a moment his cheerful look
returned, and In a tone of confidence remarked,
"It may be as vou sav, sir, but I doubt it very
much." As I did not pursue this topic he adverted
to the settlement of
the ALABAMA CLAIMS,
and was Joined by all the officers present In his ex
pressions of satisfaction at the final disposition of
that vexed question. The General then alluded to
the discovery ol Livingstone by Stanley, and at
length adverted to a subject which seemed of the
deepest Importance to all.
"Let me ask you, sir," said General Agramonte,
In a moasured tone, "whether the sympathies of
the people of the United States are with us or with
the Spaniards 1 I am, indeed, exceedingly irratefnl
that an opportunity through you has at length been
given for an csitosC of the real condition of the
Cubans."
1 repliod that so far as I know the Cuban patriots
had aroused tho most sympathetic reelings on tho
part of the American people; that tho prevailing
sentiment in the United States was that their hour
of triumph was not very tar distant.
Upon hearing this all the officers, as well as tho
General himself, burst forth in enthusiastic ex
pressions of admiration of the freo institutions of
America, and with no little determination avowed
their readiness to die rather than yield to the
enemy; and now that we had so far progressed
the entire party seemed to be in the very bast, of
spirits, if ever i hud seen true patriots in my life
1 firmly believed tlicy were then beside me.
After a short pause, during which bright pros
pects, doubtless, passed before their minds, Gen
eral Agramonte. Using, observed that in order
to obtain a fair Idea or the situation I must travel
through w hat, was known as
the insurrectionary territory
and see lor mysell' tho number, condition and
nuirnU' of the insurgent troops; but lestl had made
some engagement or there were some
why this could not be done, having had a week s
notice ol tof yropohcd Visit, l'temdeut Ceapcuea
was wlfilo easy reach or Camp Wajasa, and th it
the army ''orps ol Vlcent" Garcia wax also at hand.
Tlie Oenerai Jul not hesitate to explain that while
it would l>c yery desirable that I should travel
through the insurrectionary region In order to
form a correct i lea ol' the situation, the journey
would nevertliftle.V be attended with considerable
danger and personal risk, especially on account oi
the disluclitialloa of the Spanish authorities to
have
TI1K RFAT. CONDITION OP AFFAIRS
known. I explained to them that tue Spaniard#
were under the impression that I would see Major
Reeve and Emilio Luacs without the possibility ol
meeting General Agramonte, and that I had been
cautioned against forming an opinion of the whole
insurgent troops from the soldiers I waa to meet
uuder the command of Major Iteevo, they being an
independent body of picked men, and that 1 had
promised to return to the Spanish camp on the
following day at the furthest. I may mention that
un to this time 1 had not been asked lor any cre
dentials, but I voluntarily presented to General
Airramoute the document given me by the Cuban
Commissioner in New York, of which the following
Is a translation:?
Whereas Mr. A. B. Henderson, cltlzcn of North
A.aerica, has been commissioned by Jnmes liorilon Be?
r lit*. Kan., proprietor of the Nkw Yoiik IIkmalo. Io travel
mi the territory ol Cuba l.ibrc, and I here to gain a trua
knowledge of the state ot that revolution: Whereas suet*
commission here, entrusted to Mr. A. U. Ilendersou, is
one of great Importance to the t'reo press, and eonte
quently to the cause ol the iudpeudeuce of Cuba,
Beit kuown that I, the subscriber,-tieneral Koreinlg,
Agent of the Kepnldie, do hereby grant the present
sale conduct to the said A. B. Henderson, anil
pray all the citizens, chiefs and officials. of what
?yer? rank, belonging to the liberating army
ot Cuba, and all re-idunU in said Kepnldie, U>
whom said A. B. Henderson, Eso., mav gain access, to
atrord every possible attention ana courtesy as well us
all the reliable information without inlurv of the move
ments amt operations of tile army, and to leim him all
the necessary means to reach the residence of the Kxeca
tivo or whatever place within the territory as may ha
agreeable to the best interest of the Kepnblie.
Given, signed and sealed with the seal of the Legation of
the United States ot America, In the cltv of New York,
this 3uth day of September, It)?-, and tilth ot our liule
pendeuco. UAMON OESl'EDKfl.
[Seal. J
The letters of introduction to President Cespede?
and the leading Generals of the Cuban army fur
nished me by the Cuban Commissioner 1 had
deemed prudent to destroy at Havana. General
Agramonte expressed himself thoroughly satlsiled
with tho credentials I had presented, and sug
gested tuat If I did not feel too much fatigued we
would visit the President of the Cuban llepubiic,
who was not more than live or six miles distant.
Upon m.v hinting that I had had nothing to eat for
some time breakfast was ordered, and in thccourso
of half an hour it was served up at the twig table.
It was neither a rich nor a rare gem in a gastro
nomical point of view, but the kindness with winch it
was proffered and the genuine hospitality made It
taste far sweeter than many a more pretentions
meal. The repast consisted of one dish?roaae
beef?and nothing else, and In the way of liquids
we were Invited to hot water, sweetened with
honev?a decoction known as -'Cuba Libre." The
beef was cooked over a wood lire and well singedL
It was served in deep tin pans and carved with
machetes. Accompanied by fyajor Reeve, Emilio
Luaces, Captain Diego and Raman Iloa, the private
secretary of General Agramonte, the Uerald Com
missioner proceeded towards the quarters of
President Cespedes. Tho pathways were ex
tremely narrow and the surrounding woods ot
dense thickness. After riding tor Ave or six miles,
we halted; and a solitary picket issuing from ?
thick gnavo rence, entered into a hurried conversa
tion with Major Reeve. A3 1 turned around
to survey the scene I was somewhat surprised to
see a body of eight or ten soldiers advancing, undea
tho command of a lieutenant, as I could not
imagine whence they had emerged. Little was
said, lor I made no inquiries, and quietly awaited
the issue or events. The order was given to pro
ceed, and the party moved forward without delay:
We had gone about a mile when we passed another
picket post, and wheeling suddenly to the right we
found ourselves in
THE INSPROKNT CAMP.
Tents were nowhere to be seen. There waa
nothing marshal-looking about the place, and save
that two rows of muskets were carefully stacked,
sufficiently wide apart to form a pathway, the
appearanco of the surroundings was suggestive ot
an open air prayer meeting. It was no such thing,
however, but a genuine camp of the Cuban patriots.
In the vicinity were about
FIVE UL'N Ml EH INSURGENTS,
including coo cavalry, three-fourths of the entire
number being colored men. Their wearing apparel
was not extensive. Very few of the negrois had
more than pantaloons arid shoes. Some hail shirts.
Many were only provided with breech cloths. The
white soldiers had pantaloons and shoes, but)
probably not more than live could boast tho pos
session at once of a coat and shirt. 1 may add, of
course, that as the heat was intense the absence of
those necessaries was not felt, and, besides, long
experience had taught them to dispense with tho
use of what they could not obtain. The
majority woro straw hats, but a noticeable
feature with the cavalry was that, although many
of tliom were destitute of trousers, all wore short
leggings to protect their limbs when on horseback.
To a stranger the spectacle was not without Its
shade of humor, but a better acquaintance with
the situation would quickly teach him that those
Insurgents stood in little need of anything In the
way of raiment. Both cavalry and infantry were
armed with Henry rliles; almost every man c trricd
a machete by his sine. VVheu 1 entered tho pre
cincts of the camp breakfast was in course of
preparation. Wo rode down between the two
stacks of guns, and as we passed 1 could see tho
look of astonishment on many a dusky faco as we
went along. A good way off reclined a group ol
men, some white, some black, in a thick
and shady grove, through which flowed a
beautiful stream. They were sitting on the
bank, evidently awaiting the summons to their
morning meal. When within some twenty yards
ot the romantic little spot Major KeeveInformed me
that President Cespedes was among the group, and
all at. once dismounted, as that official was himself
on loot.
CATvLOS MANUEL CESPEDES.
Interview with the President of the
Cuban Republic?.\ Bitter Fight?*
Hopes?Cuban Advantages and Rc
?onrcea?'What Tlicy Kxpectcd of the
United States?No Surrender.
At a signal from one of the officers a few soldier#
came up and took charge of our horses. There waa
no ceremony, no formality, nothing of a preten.
tlous character around the place to Indicate that ia
this lovely spot the President of the Cuban Republic
was at band. Ah wc approached the group all rose
from their rccumbent position, and foremost to
advance was Cespedes himself, and without much
ado I was kindly presented by Major Keovc.
CAKLOS MANrSL CESPEDES,
President of the Republic of Cuba, is a medium
sized, broad-chested man of apparently fifty years
of age. Ilis fair, full, closely shaven face beams
with amiability and good nature. With dark hair
which time is just beginning to silver, undlmmed
dark brown eyes and a perfect set of teeth behind
lips whose compression often shows the fire and
determination of youth, his years appear to sit
lightly upon him. He was arrayed In a full suit ot
the same brown linen worn by his officers, and
boots reaching to the knees, with silver spurs. He
was armed with a sword and revolver.
After a few salutations the officers who had ac
companied me threw themselves on tho bank hard
by the stream. I was not slow to follow their ex
ample, and beaeath the thick shade of the trees
President Cespedes spoke his mind freely on tue
Bubjoct of Cuban Independence. Nor was the con
versation marked by any subtloty on his part, for
he uttered his views without hesitation and con
versed with a sincerity that could not be mistaken.
Strange enough the first topic to which he alluded
was that of the Presidential election?asked al
most the same question that had been put by Gen
eral Agramonte, "Who is going to be tho next
President of the United States v* I made almost
the same response I had previously given, to the
effect that General Grant would be the successful
candidate.
TOE STRBVOTTI OF THB IN3tntOKNT FORCES.
"I am glad, sir,'! remarked President Cespedes,
after a brief pause, "that you have como here.
What the ,result of your mission may be I cannot
tell, buf it will be a source of consolation to the
patriots of this sSrcly distressed country if you
can let the world know the actual condition of
the Cuban patriots. Full well you know that
stories wore spread abroad with no intent other
than to dishearten our sympathizers. But now
you may see for yourself, and for one j let the truth
go forth."
President Cespedes spoke these words in a slow,
yet earnest tone, nil the officers meanwhile listen
ing with rapt attention, and I could seo that
every eye was turned towards me to watch what
cfTect they might produco.
"Mr. President," I obsarved, "my mission to
Cuba has been t,o ascertain the aotual couditlou of
affairs, and let mo assure you, sir, it will be no
fault or mine should the truth not be mado known.
I would like to ask, In the first place, what t,ho
strength of tho enir? Insurant army Is at. thts
present time V
"Well, sir," rcpilod tho President., "I underesti
mate our lorces wnen I say wa have 12,0<X) men,
cavalry and Infantry, at our command; but If wu
had arms enough the Insurgent troops in Cuba
would number 50,000 men. Lot me explain to you.
Wo have now waged the war of Independence foi
four long years. Those who have seen ser<
vice during that period will always staud bj
our colors. Long ago many surrendered and wer?
patdyncd hv the Sj?aa?tfU authorities, believing ||