The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1872, Page 4

4 United States Consul it Nne- toa santiago de Cuba, and in every “4 so much thoughtfulness and K make me feel under the greatest ob- ay Some other precautions that I found it necessary to take for tay safety in case I should afterwards find it advisable to return to Ha- yana I cannot recount now, By the 23d it was generally known throughout Havana that a correspondent of the Hera had come to Cuba, had been arrested for supposed | complicity with the insurgents, had been released and had received permission of the authorities to visit the insurrectionary districts, and 1 received information from a souree I believe perfectly relia- bie that some of the most influential of the Span- ish volunteer officers called upon Captaia General Ceballos to remoustrate against It. THR CAPTAIN GENERAL WAS FIRM, and refused to withdraw the permision he had given, It is, I believe, generally known that the present Captain General is the first one who hag been in power in Cuma since the breaking out of the present revolution that is not influenced by the volunteers. Upon the contrary, he has so often given them to Understand that he, and not they, will be obeyed, that he is hated by them almost as miuch as the lysurgents. Ina conversation subse- quently with Ceneral Riquelme he said he said he had no cov! the volunteers did endeavor to pre- vent my visiting the interior of she island, START FOR THE REBEL REGION, Liberal Steamer Travelling=Nenvitas and Puerto Principe=A Dinner with Acosta—Passes and Preparations, Lleft Havana at noon of the 28d, in the steamer Cuba, and reached Nuevitas on the morning of the 25th. The voyage was uninteresting, save for the opportuuity 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 WEBE PASSED AROUND ¢o 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 glassi At three P. M. Bass’ ale was furnished tn the same way, and every one partook. It was about nine o’clock on the morning of the 25th when we passed by a little, light armed fort, upon which stood a sentinel ight- ing spasmodically with a bandana bandkerchief @ cloud of mosquitoes, into the bay of Nuevitas, of which Irving says:—‘Columbus, on arriving hore, was struck with its magnitude and the grandeur of its features; its bigh and alry moun- tains, which reminded him of those in Sicily; its fertile valleys and long sweeping plains, watered by noble rivers; its stately forests, its bold pro- moutories and stretching headlands, which melted away into the remotest distance.’ The orea of this bay is said to be fifty-seven square miles, At Nuevitas I found that Bernard Watlington, ‘United States Consul, to whom I had a letter of in- troduction, had died a few aays before, and that Cornelio Porro, an ex-insurgent chief, to whoml had been recommended, was in Puerto Principe. 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 1s forty-five miles, and we made the journey in about three hours, arriving at the latter place at about four P.M, The train consisted, besides the engine and tender, of one passenger car, GUARDED BEFORE AND BEHIND, by cars arranged for and carrying soldters 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 precan- tions each passenger train is preceded by another carrying soldiers, and which runs about two miles ahead. These precautions of this nature, andthe military posts every mile along the route, made it evident that we were entering the disturbed or in- surrectionary districts, and as four-fifths of the passengers were arrayed in military garb, the journey was of decided aud almost exciting in- terest. The railroad itself wags old and very rough, and the passenger car old and dirty, provided with hatr-bottomed seats, Having no system of bag- gage checks in Cuba, but charging as freight for ali baggage the traveller docs not keep with him, | the consequence is the passageway, platforms and Beats are lumbered up with trunks and valises, Four or five prolonged whisties indicated 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 and mails from Havana, My first business to find Cornelio Porro, t reaso! I desired to see be- whom, for suiticte It to neral Fajardo; but as fore presentiag in, it was not uutil Munday (28th) that [got asight of him, Thad time to wander about aad study the town. PUERTO PRINCIPR, with a population of 40,000, 13 one of the most antl- quated wud Spanish of atl Cuban towns. Its nar- row, dusty or muddy, unpaved streets, oddly shaped, low houses, numerous stores, with, as in | Havana, all their contents exposed to view; ab- | sence of any sidewalks in the principal streets, | and the many one-mule volantes, give it a peculiar attraction to the stranger. It hds several queer old churches and several convents. Its hotel ac- commodutions are wretched, I had been recom- Inended to stop at the “Hotel Espatiol” as being the best in the city, and I found it well patronized aud nearly filled by military officers. The barroom, office aud dining room were one, while the bar- General efforts to purclise a horse for my march, in- formed me that it was unnecessary, for one would be furnished mo by himself. afternoon of Wednesday, October 30, that every- thing was ready for our departure; but then the arrangements were complete. @ surgeon—“the bull-fighter’—two servants and twelve of the regular cavalry were placed at my disposal, with directions to hey my orders, General advised me to lose as little in_reachin, two operating columns were leaving, | the: ; NEW YURK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1872——-TRIPLE SHEET. time tts lapse unnoticed, and whe coffee, cigars and Cognac were brought on the table and the cloth removed, we were in an excel- lent condition to enjoy the ANTICS OF THR GENERAL'S MONKEY, whicn accoinpsnies him in all his campaigns and journeys, My host at the ead of the entertainment 80 earnestiy asked me to make his headquarters my home while I should remain in Puerto Principe, and was so evidently sincere, that I accepted his invitation, I was informed that I should be sent the next day with a proper escort to join a column then operating by rere the insurgenia, But there then being some dificulty in the way my departure for the field was postponed nntil the day following. In the meantime [ called upon the Cher of Police (“Guardia Civile’), whose jurisdiction embraced the territory in which THE AMERICAN, HENRY REEVE, was said to be operating, to ascertain what means there were, if any, of communicating with him. I found that not only was Reeve known throtighout the island as “Enrique el Americano," then in the immediate neighborhood, but had found a medium through which to communicate with the Spanish authorities, By the Chief's permission I addressed a short note to Reeve, asking him IN THE NAME OF THE HERALD for an interview, the time Bie pias to be fixed by himself, This message the Chief expiained would be currted and delivered to the party addressed by two women—mother and daughter—named Usa- torres, who residea in Puerto Principe, and that the answer, if there should be one, would be brought by them {tn about a week, 60 that I would have time to scour the conntry: in an oppo- site direction for a few days. fhe same day, Acosta learning I making was it was not until the Lieutenant Aguro, The time as possible Las Yeguas, from which every day or jut my wishes were to be suprema lex, TO THE BATTLE FIELD OF VIA- MONES, The Rebe)-Raided Country—Life at Span- ish Outposts—A Ride te the Battle Field—Shocking Sights—Atrocitles of the War—What Both Sidos Say of the Fight. And so your correspondent, having arrayed him- selfin light linen clothes, immense Panama hat, buckskin shoes, “leggins’ and spurs, armed with Tevolver, and with waterproof coat, blanket, ham- mock, and saddle bags strapped before and be- hind, on his saddle, at about one o'clock P. M., -between the lieutenant and the surgeon, led the way out of Puerto Principe, THE CUBAN HORSE, The horses ridden by our little company wore all natives, The Cuban horse deserves some atten- tion. The best authorities upon the subject say he is but the offspring of the Spanish horse affected by the peculiarity of the olimate in his breeding. He is now a fine animal, with short, stout, well- built body, neat clear limbs, fine intelligent eyes, thick neck, heavy mane and tail, and peculiar gaits under the saddle, The marcha ts a fast walk, and is the easist gait possible, and e! paso, something like what is known in our own Southern States as a “single-footed rack,” is more pleasant than any gait peculiar to American horses, But the most valuablo quality of the Cuban horse {3 his endurance. It almost seems as if no weight were too much for him in the opinion of his driver or rider, and it is said that he will make fifty or sixty miles per day under tho saddle for an indefinite time without the slightest sign of exhaustion, and this, too, on about halt the quantity of food necessary for the American horse, which latter animalis used only in carriages in the principal cities of the island. Owing to the great demand created by the present war, the price of a Cuban horse is now high, it being Lmpossible to ob- tain a good one for less than one hundred and seventy-five dollars, Tho dutles and expense of landing alone an imported horse are about one hundred and twenty dollars. Upon one of the easiest of these exceedingly easy-gaited animals, n, your correspondent, at the head of his little ulcade, left Puerto Principe on Wednesday, October 30, Putting our horses to tho gait “el paso,” in a short time we passed bayond the limits of the city aud struck into the open country under a broiling hot sun, Traversing “ROYAL ROADS, '? which were in wretched condition, and lay be- tween fences or hedges of gaavo or maguey, passing the ruins of many sugar estates destroyed by the Cubans, in about an hour anda half we reached the first of the military posts that form a line across ‘tho island south from Puerto Principe. This is Known as ‘San Antonio,” and had, when we visited it, a force of but cleven men, who were acting asa guard for the protection of a gang of laborers who were making some much needed re- pairs to the carmina real Two miles further on, passing a tall smokestack, wiich, with the enclosed spacious grounds above, showed where there had been one of the largest and finest sugar estates in the department, now @& mass of ruins, we arrived at Camp Mercedes, which had also been @ fine sugar estate. It wil be impossible and useless to speak of the ruin and devastation caused by the war Toom crenee into the stable, where there was gene- rally a horse or donkey. In the rear of this room were the bedrooms, on two sides of a court, while the fourth was upied by the kitchen, presided over by a filthy, squalid-looking Chinaman. ‘This city 18 notable ‘for laving been the hotbed of the present revolution and for having sent out nearly three-fourths of her young men to the pa- Wiot armtes. Several engagements have taken place between the contendin; artics in her Streets, Accompanied by Cornelio Porro I CALLED UPON GENRRAL PAJARDO on the 28th, and was cordially received, He had received from Captain General Ceballos orders to | give me every facility to study the military opera- tions in his department and informed me I could, if | desired, join a Spanish column in search of the insurgents the next day, and that not only a horse and servant would be furnished me, but an inter- preter if 1 desired it. [had already that day called upon by a young man who had tendered his services as interpreter. I am not able tod mine whether I 8 insane or deemed me so. the short conversation I had with him he nounced the Spaniards as robbers and assassins, | spoke of the Cubans as “our people,” and mi tioned several instances Qf tne barkarity of th volunteers, and. of tet? simran to Amer ans. And all this without any expression of my ‘sympathies in the war. I declined his services. Be- fore my interview closed the General furnished me Wish the following sale conduct or permi COMANDANCIA GENERAL DEL DEPARTMENT DEL CENTRO ESTARDO MAYOR — T places of this department to Mr. A. Boyd Hend en of the United Sta correspondent of the New Yorw Mrnanp. He revolver. I trust to all the civil authoritic mand to the militia, not to lay any obstacle whatever in his way. BR. FAJARDO. Porito Prixctpa, Oct. 23, 1872, Soon after my return to the hotel from the head- quarters of General Pajardo a young Spanish of cor presented bimself as being the interpreter as- | sigued me while in the Central Department, LIEUTENANT MANUEL EMILIO AGUERO, Who was my constant companion from that time ‘until L left the isiand, deserves more than 4 passing notice, fle was among the first to join the patriot army in the present 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 tho present year when, with the rank of lieutenant grant & pass to sundr: colonel, be “presented” or surrendered himself to | In the Cuban ranks his brother had been killed by his leit. his former comrades he left bebind him his fatner, who has, however, since presented himself. His action was rewarded by the authorities by the presentation of @ 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 General Agramonte) to follow his example, and copies of some of his letters to them have been pub! edin the Spanish journa He is about twenty-seven years of age and a (| in by birth, He speaks English fuently, having spent several years in the United States, where he claims to have served in our late war in a New York regiment, Lieutenant Aguero was the bearer of an invita- fion from Brigadier General Acosta to dine with him, which 1 accepted and accompanied the Lic tenant, the Spaniards, and brother-in-law side, and when he among the sugar estates in the Central Depart- ment. It is enough to say that there is not left standing within fifty mics of Puerto Principe a single one of those formerly splendid buildings used for the manufacture of sugar. Everywhere the sight is the same. The chimneys generally standing a3 a monument to the ruined fortunes of their former owners, amidst the débris of fallen walls and heat-wrenched machinery, testify to the INTENSITY OF CUBAN HATRED to Spanish rule. For be it known most of these destroyed properties belonged, not to Spaniards, but to Cubans, who themselves applied the torch that impoverished them. 1t was enough that their beloved “Cuba Libre’? demanded the sacrifice, and believing that when the cost to Spain of carrying on the war would be greater than her reyenues 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, after a rest of haif an hour, leaving oor cavalry escort behind us, Aguero, the doctor and your correspondent, with our servants, galloped oi alone two miles farther, to a second CAMP SAN ANTONIO, assing through two magnificent groves, one of Pains nd the other of covoanuts, covering about seventy-five and a hundred acres respectively. This San Antonio was ¢ ded 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 we followed their example. Ina horribly filthy house made of palm leaves and skins we ate sowie bolled jerked 3 ef and a hasiy, into the composition of which en- tered, it seemed, every kind of meat and vegetable in Cuba, Soon after dinner our hammocks were slung in the same roon nd we sought repose, sought, but did net find it; for, in addition to the discordant noises outside from men, bulls and donkeys, the hovel swarmed with mosquitoes, and as there was no escape from them but by being smothered in a blanket they had to be borne, amid curses loud and deep from all our party, A DANGEROUS GAME. Much stress was laid by the oiticers I met here and Aguero upon our ride from Mercedes to San Antonio without a guard, The absence of danger from the insurgents in this neighborhood was dwelt upon until the thought forced itself upon me that this two-mile unguarded galiop had been premeditated, and what Aguero, who had sug- gested it, had represented as being done on tho Spur of the moment was really but the carrying out of orders given in Puerto Principe. For, wherever [ went after this, this — little atair was cited as an evidence of the contempt in which Spaniards held Cubana, the former claiming that four of them would not hesi- tate to engage fifty insurgents. Captain Lander, commanding this post, was very kind in explaining to me the operations of lus command and the wretched condition of the imsurgents in this de- partment, He produced before me a couple of ne- groes who were dressed, he said, precisely as were the insurgents, Their ratment consisted of 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 “café, ’ resumed our travels with | a new escort of mounted infantry. About an hour GENERAL ACOSTA, Who 18 said to be one of the wealthiest men in Cuba, his property consisting mostly o tates, estimated to be worth $15,000,000, Bant, jovial, middie-g and good living, served table, surrounded by eight or ten ofleer personal friends and members of his stad, to each of the latter of whom, in addition to his ri cognomen, the Gene explanation of which, introduced to them, provoked ment, A gallunt-looking major we lady killer,” anc was 8 merri+ as Sule much kuown fortunate th the fair sex as he was Unlortun the gaming | table. “The Bull Fighter” was mild, ins offensive looking blonde, with a surgeon's coms. | sion. For the two hours we were at the t " where the seat of honor at the ‘a right was | occupied by your correspondent, serious couversa- tion, 6o mingled with jest and repartee and sherry, Madeira and Base’ ale, 60 quickly Wiiled away the aiter leaving San Antonio we overtook the pro- vision train that bivoucked there the night betore | and which had left before daybreak, This train of | thirty carts, drawn by cither six or eight bulls—tn no case oxen—and guarded by about thirty im- | fantry, was about one mile long and moved very | siowly. I presume nothing but the shortness of the distances between the many military posts saved it from attack; for the creaking of the cart wheels and shouts of the drivers as they prodded | the bulls could be heard quite a distance. Passing | Military Camp Somblas, three miles from San An- | tonio, four miles farther is CAMP PORCAYAS, h were the same number of men as at 4—Vviz,, thirty, tenant Leopoldo Cento, Sin command, r ved us hospitably, and, ice, brought out the square bottle of “gin- evra” (gin), that seems to be a necessary part of every ofticer’s equipments, Sonmblas ana Porcayas are small, three story forts, built of bricks, with | loopholes'in each story, and’ are, doubtless, almost | impregnatie against forces destitute of artuiery. Lieutenant Cento was evidently a man of taste and sentiment, for his “office,” though constructed only of upright unhewn timbers, with the octagonal roof, thatched with guavo leaves, was surrounded and almost embowered by many beautiful twining Vines, It was situated near the fort, in a dense grove of orange trees, full of half ripe fruit, and which were in the midst of a large grove of cocoa- nuts, bananas, palms, mangos and tamarinds; while the well-laid-out and orderly kitchen gar- den close by was decorated with two rustic arbors of beautiful designs over which the vines were be genes, to climb. Nine o'clock, and seven miles urtaer brought us to the village and military post 0 it LAS YEGUAS, where 1a stationed a body of five or six hundred men and a@ well-constructed wooden fort, armed with two swetve-pouna mountain howitzers, This village, built up since the breaking out of the war, numbers about filty houses, all built of palin jeaves, thatched with guavo, and are on either side of one wide street, which is commanded by the fort. Not more than ten days before our ar- rival this village had been ATTACKED IN THE NIGHT by @ 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, commodtous quarters for the troops, and four blockhouses guarding the approaches to the town and about two hundred 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. Each one is constantly guarded by seven men. The main fort is surrounded by @ ditch and frieze. In the village there ate sixteen stores, at all of which liquors are sold, and where the so0l- diers lay in their supplies of strong drink when goin on an expedition. We had just fin- ished breakfast (at eleven o’clock) when a@ great bustle und 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 entrance into the vil- lage, having the day before dispersed a body of in- surgents after killing forty-three, witn a loss on the Spanish side of only one dead and two wounded, In afew minutes THE VICTORIOUS COLUMN entered amid the plaudits of the people. The strange way of showing their approbation was in- teresting. Cheering, as we Know and practise tt, was not heard; instead there was a round ol excited remarks addressed by a single person at @ time to his companion or to a friend in the ranks; and as officer after officer would dismount from his horse he would be clasped about the neck by and receive 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 hundred insurgents they had engaged. Approaching one large group that appeared in ecstacics over some- thing 1 found them around a few muskets and “machetes” that had been CAPTURED FROM THE INSURGENTS, All made way for me to pass in to examine them closely, and as I did 30, and was counting them they would look at them and then at me, their eyes saying, “‘What do you think now of Spanish soldiers, Sefor Americano?” One officer said to me, “It must be true, the rebels were routed, or how would they lose their guns.” The spoils of ,this conflict consisted of eight muskets, three machetes, two cart ridge boxes and some telegraph wire which the Ingurgenta 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 after inquiry as to the whereabouts of other columns, I thought it best to accept his invitation, After café at six o’clock the next morning, November 1, ‘THE COLUMN MARCHED OUT of town in the following order, which was observed in all subsequent marches :—Filty guerillas (mounted infantry), commanded by a major, led the van, about five hundred yards ahead of the main body. The commanding officer, his aides, bugler and the H&raLp commissioner, with his in- terpreter, rode at the head of 150 guerillas, who were followed by 200 Iniantry. (the officers alone mounted), the pack mules, with provisions, tents, &¢c., some forty in number, bringing up the rear, Spanish soldiers as they are found in Cuba are not a very Unpoaing body. Indeed, except those who are kept for garrison duty in and about. the largest towns, they are an unclean, unhealthy looking and under-sized body, in whose apparel it is diiicult to discover anything resembling a uni- form. Whites and negroes are found enrolled in 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 suficiently strong “Guardia Civil,” are usually se- lected from the finest looking soldiery about. But to resume our march, After @ march of about nine miles, crossing numerous little streams, here dignified by the name of rivers, following gladly the “royai roads’? wherever possible, now passing through a wide savannah, around the edges of which our advance guard rides warily and suspiciously, and now seeking a short cut through the dense woods by an almost imperceptible path, over and across which boughs, fallen limbs anc thick trunks are hanging and lying, now sweeping aside, Stoo Ws under or cuttlg Arey, with our machetes the festoous of vines Noating across our path and almost saying with Dante;— We had put ourselves withta a wood That was not marked by any Not folia en, but of a dusky color; Not branches smooth, but gnarfed and’ intertangled; Not apple-trees were'there, but thorns with poison; Such tangled thickets have not, nor so dense, Those savag sts that in hatred hold ‘Pwixt Cocina and Corneto the tilled places. At nine o'clock we encamped for breakfast. We did not resume our march until half-past three P, M., and at six we reached Divorcio, a military post with a strong two-storied wooden tort, surrounded vert by chevauz de srise and ditch, In our afternoon's tramp we passed a large haciendo and several herds of wild cattle, among them some bulls mag- nificent in size and contour, It is from this Tegion most of the bulls were obtained for the “fights” in Havana before the war, they being famous for their size and temper, These, with a few flocks of Guinea fowl and small parrots, were about a¥ the animated nature we encountered. Soon aiter dinner at Divorcio a COURIER FROM LAS YEGUAS, with despatcnes for Colonel Lorenzo, arrived. He bore a telegram from the General directing tne Colonel to take the HERALD commissioner to the battle fleld of Viamonees, and also to notify the latter that General Rignelme, the Commander-in- Chief, desired the commissioner to visit him at Santiago 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 Volone! Lorenzo did not appear to be 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 (ae ailed upon to express his unwillingness to visit the battlefield in spite of the MINTS OF DANGER from an ambush of enraged insurgents and the disgusting sight of the dead, he at length yielded with apparent cheerfulness to the order, After a comfortable night 19 my hammock, swung in one of the oficer’s guano-leafed houses, we left Divor- clo at half-past six, passing several corrals made by the insu! 3 for the capture of wild horses, which are numerous in this neighborhood, and two or three of what were pointed out to me as Cuban picket posts, At eight o'clock a cloud of turkey buzzards hovering over a picce of woods in the distance marked our destination, and we in front pressed more eagerly on and | the distance between oursel and our advanced guard, Soon, upon emerging from the woods into a peautiful semi-circular savannah, containing per- haps five hundred acres, the odor of decomposing flesh was borne on the wind sweeping irom the point we were approaching, and on the opposite side of the savanna an innumerable host of the filthy buzzards were circling through the air and sw ing rapidly to the ground or slowly fopping upwards, Holding to our nostrils tue camphor with which we had provided ourselves at Divorcio, we galloped rapidly across the open space to THE BATTLE FIELD OF VIAMONES, where, stretched upon the ground, were two score of horribly loathsome objects that four days before had been men. In groups of twos and threes, blacks and whites side by side now as they had fought tn life and fallen at last, lay the bloated carcasses, surrounded on every tree and bush by the foul birds, The buzzards scarcely moved for us, and then only flew heavily a few fect, waiting evidently until decom- osition would mark the time for their horrid feast. in every attitude and posture these bodies were lying, and many showing the ghastly cuts of the terrible machete. The nature and location of some of these [ili suggested to my mind, or rather recalled to my recollection, one pecultarity of this inhuman war, NO PRISONERS ARE RVER TAKEN, The enemy's wounded left upon the battle fleld are all slain by the victors, and as I saw the gap- ing wounds in the throats of two of the bodies, the heads being almost severed from the trunks; in another the whole top of the head, above the eyes, cut of by a@ clean stroke, and in another the right arm and shoulder cut through bone and sinew in four places, tt did Not need @ very powerful imagination’ to picture the scene enacted on this ground tour days before, when the defeated party left the field in the pos- session of the Spaniards. But If anything were needed to indicate what had taken place there, the want was supplied by the sight of two bodies—one with both arms cut off at the shoulders, the other hamelessly mutilated, and BOTH WITH ROPES AROUND THEIR NrcKa, The human mind recoils at the ideas suggested by the appearance of these bodies—viz., that the wonnded left by the insurgents upon the battle field of Viamonees were not only killed, but barbar- ously tortured. Your corresponuc 1 ver having associated freely with Spanish oficers of all grades for several weeks, could find it dimicult to believe {hat barbarittes similar to the above shoula be perpetrated by their orders or with their consent, Their orders to il all Cubans found with arms in thetr hands are iinperative, and as long a@ they retain their com- Missions they are bound to obey. But at least two Spanish omcers while they deplored the necessity, a8 they termed it, of killing the wounded and pria- oners, duformed me that while they always directed it should be done, they themsclyes woud not and could not witness it, because, in the language of one of them, “After @ battle our soldiers are not them Uy apythihg they would turn on us, and some oO! THEIR ACTS ARE T00 HORRIBLE TO LOOK UPON," Alter counting the number of dead, which I made thirty-eight, though some of the officers insisted there were forty-one, in addition to threo or four 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- nee I had seen, and the rude houses built of ughs and palm leaves were still standing, with here and there the remnants of drinking gourds and pieces of bull’s hide, THE VICTORS’ STORY OF THE FIGHT. ‘The Cubans, as Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo ex- panes, Jay encamped tn this spot at the base ot he semicircular savannah, and were utterly sur- pase and routed on the morning of October 30, When they found the Spaniards on both flanks within the woods—that is, on both sides of the sa- vanna—they attempted to escape in the rear, where, however, their retreat was so delayed by a pond about fifteen feet wide and three feet deep that forty-three were slain, with a loss to the Span- larda of but one killed and two wounded, THE CUBAN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE a8 given to me subsequently by Major General Agramonte ‘who at the time prewentia me with the original official report of Major Suarin who commanded the Cubans in this engagement) differs materially from that of the Spaniards. The Cubans not only were 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 did 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 joint to the number of whites upon the eld as an evidence that those are mostly THE BODIES OF SPANISH AND NOT CUBAN SOLDIERS. The great jority of the Cuban rank and file are blacks. From the examination of the bodies made by your correspondent he is of the opinion that at least eighteen were those of white men, though from the condition they were in it was dificult decide with any degree of accuracy. But there were several circumstances which may assist to something like @ correct conclusion. First, the umber of bodies upon which were plainly notice- able the cuts of the machete did not exceed seven or eight, and second, @ 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 fleld, so the battle was unquestionabl ours.” Third, the number of whites; fourth, what Ideemed the disinclination of Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo to take me to the field; fifth, 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, General Agramonte suggested that the Spaniards might have disinterred the bodies for my beneiit, and that the ropes I had seen might have been used fo drag them to where they were lying. On the 4th of November, having stopped two days at Divorclo, I accompanied Major Ubregon, with a body of sixty guerillas, to Las Yequaes, About six miles from Divorcio our ide reported fresh tracks of insurgents, about two hundred strong, leading in the same direction we were going, At once the hitherto somewhat straggling ranks closed up, MUSKETS WERE UNSLUNG, and, with s sharper lookout from the advance guard, our speed was increased. Major Obregon, solicitous for your correspondent’s safety, adv: ised him to goto the rear; but, however much I might have desired personally to profit by his advice, my representative character decided me to hold a position, and tortunately we did not come up wit! the Cubans until their track diverged from ours, AMONG THE PATRIOTS MILITANT. Missive from Enrique el Americano—De- parture for the Insurgent Camp—Henry Reeve and Agramonte. At five o’clock the next morning I was awakened with the information that a courier had just ar- rived from General Fajerdo with orders to Major Obregon to send me immediately to Puerto Prin- cipe, Which place we reached at about eleven o'clocx. Ceneral Fajerdo immediately delivered me a .wer from SRIQUE EL AMERICANO,” of which the following is an exact copy:— Diviston oF Camacuey, Disteict or tur Sovrn, } Camp iy Orexactonns, Nov. 2, 1872. '$ ‘the 20th inst., in which you an agent “sent by the Editor of the ; .b, with the of ascertaining the ition of those in arms against the Spanish gov- ae 'n respect to the same, Thave the honor to reply that, being authorized by superior orders to accede ‘to the requested interview, I place the following conditions, which conditious are’ really necessary on account of the iar class of warfare observed in this country. You will come to the camp of Vista Hermosa, and where you will find awal 1 two Women (the same through Whom I have received your letter), and without any more companionship than that of the Women, start out, and Twill meet you ma very short space of time frou your departure irom the fort. You possess, of course, my word that you will not be molested in ‘the least, nor you he obliged to-pass more than a few hours before seeing the subscriber, You will eave the camp of Vista Hermosa on the Mth instant (th) eae eee Tremain, A. Bory Iv ,» Camagney, RSON, §.—I should fecl’ extremely obfied to you, Mr, Henderson, if you would be kind enough to procure and bring me one of Robertson's Spanish and English gram. mars, with vocabulary. Twill fully reimburse what you may expend in the purchase of the work, and my grati- tude may even be advantageous to you at some future time. —Yours &e., REEVE, The General had sent back to Major Reeve the woman who had borne the message with the infor- mation that the HEXALD correspondent could not possibly reach Vista Hermora 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 HreraLp Commissioner might have no diM- culty in meeting Major Reeve and Major General Agramonte, who was believed to be in the neigh- borhood of Viola Hermosa, General Fajerdo in- structed me to offer in his name, and that of the Spanish government, the following terms to all Cubans I might see:— ‘ THE HERALD-SPANISH COMMISSION, To all persons then in arms against Spain who would “present’’ themseives, with or without their arms, within one week, @ full, free and un¢ondl- tional pardon would be granted, accompanied by a yours & | | } men bul devils, and if we attempted (o restrain, complete restoration of confiscated estates with as little delay as possible. EXCEPTIONS. The only persons not included in the above offer were :— First—The President, Cabinet and Members of Congress ot the so-called Republic of Cuba, Second—Omcers of and above the rank of briga- ‘Thira—Deserters from the Spanish army. Fourth—Siaves. The lives of those included in these excepted classes would be spared jf they surrendered within a week, and the highest punishment inflicted upon the first two classes would be banishment from Cuba and the confiscation of their estates, Deserters 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 allaccepting this offer of amnesty should be spared, your correspondent was directed to be prepared to start for Camp Vista Hermosa at four o'clock the next morning. WITH AN ESCORT OF THIRTY of the “guardia civil’ we reached Vista Hermosa at about seven o'clock the next day. Here I found the Chief of Police, who had preceded me a day with the order for a suspension of hostilities, and learned from him that the Sefiora and Seflorita Usatorres, the ee selected by Reeve to lead me to 18 presence, had not yet returned from his ci ‘a: where they had gone the day before with General Fajar- do's message, This message, it will be recalled, was that I could not be there until a later than that fixed by Reeve, After a little delay, however, two brothers, named Ramon, who held a safe conduct from Reeve, consented to endeavor to take me to the latter, Before we started the Chief warned me not to jud of the actual condition of the insurgents frem the few I would meet, saying that Major Reeve was in command of 100 cavalry, all of whom were picked men, better clothed and mounted than any other body ot the insurgents. He further 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. Emilio and An- tonio Luaces, who were Major Reeves inseparable companions, and General Agramonte, all of whom I would probably see, were gentlemen by birth and education, infinitely superior to the mass of whites in the Cuban raiks, The Luaces brothers, I may say, were nephews of this Chief of Police, THR INSURGENTS, Accompanted by the the two guides, I left Camp Vista Hermosa about eight o'clock on the morning o! November 6 and rode about nine tniles, without, however, seeing any American or Emilio Luaces. We halted two hours on a royal road under Sago, close by a ruined sugar estate, the only living thing in the vicinity being a fully bearing orange orchard, After pursuing our course for about two hours the guides by ¢igns gave me to understand that there Waa HO possibility Of seeing Henry Reeve that day, and we accordingly started to return to Camp Hermosa, Half way between our halting place aud the camp got my = first glimpse of the Cuban insurgents, about six hundred yards ahead three men on horseback crossed from the guano fence into the royal road and made signs, which were tg Ld responded to by my leading ulde, siguilying Veal (t waa proper lor me to re s main with the:other gutde while he conversed with the strangers. ‘Their conversation lasted abo half an hour or more, at the end of which time we were motioned to proceed. On Se ogerry | 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 between them and the guides, ‘The safe conduct held by the guides, the Cubans explained, was good only for November 8 and not available for four days until that date, as we had believed. It was suggested, however, that we might return to the sam ‘e next day, as we wend. not be pislaaied, e then took our leave ived at Camp Hermosa abo "clock, where we remained during the aay. ae SPANISH SOLDIE! AND CUBAN WOMEN, For a couple of hours that evening I accompanied two or three of the officers to the houses of some of the villagers. If the remarks of the oficera to the females we saw, many of them young and pretty, and their observations toeach other in the pres: ence of these women were correctly interpreted to me by Aquerro, they were of the vilest and most. obscene nature. jot 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 officers, Indeed, they were compelled to listen to f for, having the misfortune to be ol Cuban, birth, not only their honor and lives, but the lives of their parents were at the mercy of the Spaniards, I was also assured that cases of violation of female chastity by the Spanish officers and soldiers were common, and, of course, THERE WAS NO REDRESS, Upon the breaking out of the insurrection the wives and daughters of the patriots accompanied them to the camps, aid then it was a rare thing for one of these women to escape a worse fate 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, ONCE MORE FOR THE REBEL CAMP. On the following morning, again accompanied by the guides, I pursued the same worel road, After journeying about six miles, one of the guides called my attention to the presence of cavalry behind us, and as looked around I saw five or six men belonging to the Cuban cavalry. We halted, but they signalled us to proceed. When we had ridden about two miles we were met by another squad of Cuban cavalry, and came toa sae A small-sized, delicate looking blonde soldier, well mounted, came forth, and, addressing me in English, called me by name, at the same time introducing @ boyish-looking oflicer, saying, “This is Major Reeve, and Lam Dr. Emilio Luaces,” He then formally introduced two or three Cuban ofiicers. Just at this stage the horsemen inthe rear joined us, the party altogether numbering thirteen, and consisting of five whites and eight negroes, al WELL MOUNTED, WELL DRESSED AND WELL ARMED, Some of the bridies of the negroes’ horses were made of ropes, but they all had good, substantial leathern saddles, resembling what Is known as “the McClellam saddle," THE AMERICAN. Major Henry M. Reeve 13 @ tall, thin-faced man, who looks as if he were not more than two or three and twenty years old, though he is, I believe, twenty-eight. He 1s of the blonde type, and his face is destitute of any symptoms ofa beard. There is, however, nothing effeminate 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 in asking just the question he wanted answered, or expressing in a few well selected words precisely what he meant, re- sented a striking contrast to the diplo- matic mode of expression in vogue among the Spaniards, and which the HERALD cor- respondent had almost involuntarily adopted. Major Reeve was dressed, as were Dr. Luaces and Captain Diego (the latter, by the way, being ot one of the best families of Havana) in brown linen coats and pants, rudely tanned shoes and leggings and straw hets. All’ were armed with swords (uachetes) and revolvers, DIS HISTORY. At the time of the fitting out of the Perritt 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 Earle, and stating that he was employed as a clerk in a mercantile office in this ce and eagerly seeking to be taken out to fight for the in- dependence of the young Republic. After some scrutiny he was readily accepted by Jordan, who detected some decision, activity and frankness, plainly indicating a man of integrity and capable of brave exploits. On the landing of Jordan in Cuba he shared the a attending it with credit, on the San Ramon Peninsula, and on the succeed- ing days, or two months afterwards, he was made a prisoner by the Spantards La front of the intrenched position of Las Cuabas, and there, according to the inveterate practice of his captors, was shot, leaving his body unburied, in order that his maius might afford food to the turkey buzzards. But Providence had ordained it otherwise. He was only dangerously wounded and temporarily un- conscious. Reviving as the night advanced, from the cool atmosphere, he was able to crawl slowly to a hut hard by, inhabited by Cuban women, who took him in and dressedghis wounds as well as they knew how. There he remained concealed until convalescent. When strong enough he joined a force of patriot cavalry, and was shortly aiter- wards brevetted captain, for gallant conduct. On being notified of his promotion he stated that Earle pubes not his real name, butan alla under which he had joined the army, and that upon being the reci- pient of a captaincy he desired to assume the rank under his own name, which was Henry M. Reeve. Later on he was promoted to a cavalry colonelcy under Bembeta and other leaders in the Camaguey district, fe is a general favorite with his comrades in arms, who will not call him Henry Reeve, but Enrique el Americano. Major Reeve, by the way, is a New Yorker and a courageous soldier, who has already distinguished himself in several desperate engagements, having been wounded as many as eight times. After a short conversation with the Major, in which [explained to him fully the object of my mission, he flually informed me that General Agramonte and Vicente Garcia were inthe im- medtate neighborhood, and that tf desirable [would be conducted to their Lao a without delay. At once expressing myself anxious to see those gen- tlemen, orders were given to proceed in the direc- tion of their whereabouts, TUE CHIEF OF POLICE AND HIS HORSE. One of the guides was sent back to Camp Vista Hermosa, bearing a message from me to the Chief of Police, He had Kindly lent me his horse, with the understanding that I should return it when [ visited General Agramonte’s camp. Major Reeve and his companions seemed to feel very indignant atthe want of faith manifested in them by the Chief of Police, and assured me positively that his horse would be as safe as I was, I retained the horse, and we went our way. We rode cautiously for about two miles, and alter passing two or three picket posts, at each of which four or five men were stationed, we halted, and without much cere- mony I was ushered into the presence of GENERAL YGNATIUS AGRAMONTE, When I canght my first glimpse of him he was seated ata table made of twigs intently perusing some book, which I afterward ascertained was an American work on Military tactics. General Agramonte is a handsome poe man, though effeminate looking. His dark beard and mous- tache are fine, siiky and flowing, and with his aquiline nose, he looks not unlike a wax figure I have seen of St.John the Apostle. His military record, however, has proven him to be aman of remarkable courage, energy and intellect. He is par excelince the greatest fighting man of his rank in the Cuban service. In addition to the same brown linen clothes worn by his officers, he, the General, was so fortunate as to have a shirt, an article of raiment not worn by his subalterns, He rose at my approach and shook hands with me cordially “as I was introduced by Emilio Luaces, Upon 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 of my mission, ard the General became somewhat — enthusiastic about the HERALD enterprise. He 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 oi 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 the issue of the State elec- tions in Pennsylvania and Ohio. No sooner had I said this than a cloud of disappointment settled over his face, In ® moment his cheerful look returned, and in a tone of confidence remarked, “It may be as you say, 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 ofticers present in hisex- Peres of satisfaction at the final disposition of hat vexed question. The General then alluded to the Leek dtd of 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 @ measured tone, “whether the sympathica 0: the people of the United States are with us or with the Spaniards’ I am, indeed, exceedingly grateful that an opportunity through you has at length been given for an exposé of the real condition of the Cubans,’ I replied that so far as I knew the Cuban patriots had aroused the most sympathetic feelings on the part of the American people; that the prevailing sentiment in the United States was that their hour of triumph was not very far distant. Upon hearing this all the officers, as well as the General himself, burst forth in enthusiastic ex- pressions of admiration of the free 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 seemod to be tn the very best of spirits. If ever I had seen true patriots in my life lfrmly believed they were then beside me, After a short pause, during which bright pros- pects, doubtiess, passed before their minds, Gen- eral Agramonte, rising, observed that in order to obtain a fair idea of the situation I must travel through what was known as THE INSURRECTIONARY TERRITORY and see for myself the number, condition and morale of the insurgent troops; but test I had made some engagement or there were fome reasons why this could not be done, having had a week's Hotice of my proposed visit, President Cespodes was within easy reach of Camp Ni a that the army corps of Vicente Garcia Wan aiec at hand. The Genera did not hesitate Qezniete that while it would be ‘yery desirable that I shoula travel through the imsurrectionary region in order to form a correct ie of the situation, the journey would nevertbeleNs be attended with considerable danger and personal yisk, especially on account of the disinclination of the Spanish” authorities ta have THE RFAL CONDITION OF AFFATRS known, [explained to them that the Spaniarda were under the papreesion that I would sce Major Reeve and Emilio Luaces without the possibility of meeting General Agramonte, and that [had beew cautioned against forming an opinion of the whole insurgent troops from the soldiers I was to meét under the command of Major Reeve, they being an independent body of picked men, and that I had promised to return to the Spanish camp on the following day at the furthest. I may mentioa that up to this time I had not heen asked for any cre- dentials, but I voluntarily presented to Generas Agramonte the document given me by the Cuban Commissioner in New York, of which the following is a translation :— Whereas Mr. A. B. Henderson, citizen of North Avaerica, has been’ commissioned by James Gordon Ben- hott, Haq.. proprictor of the New Vouk Ietaup, to travel on the territory of Cuba Libre, and there to gain a true knowledge of the state of that revolution: Whereas suc commission here, entrusted to Mr. A. B. Henderson, ts one of great importance to the free press, and conse- Quently to the cause of the indpendence of Guba, Be it known that I, the subscriber, General Foreinig, nt of the Republic, do hereby grant the present safe conduct to the * sai Henderson, and pray all the citizens, chiefs and officials, of ‘what- ever nt} belonging to the berating army Cuba, nd all residents in said Republic, to whom said A. B. Henderson, Esq., may gain access, to afford every possible attention and ‘courtesy as well’ us all the reliable information without injury of the move- ments and operations of the army, and to lend him wil ra, aseaenry manenace renee eas pomnancs of the Execw- r place within the territory as ma; agreeable to the best interest of the Republic, anne Given, signed ‘and sealed with the seal of the Legation of the United States of America, inthe city of New York, this 30th day of September, 1872, and fiith of our Indes eprenee. RAMON CESPEDES, ‘The letters of introduction to President Ces; and the leading Generals of the Cuban ary fore nished me by the Cuban Commissioner y haa deemed prudent to destroy at Havana. General Speen exes himself thoroughly satisfied with the credentials I had presented, and sug- gested tnat if I did not feel too much fatigued we would visit the President of the Cuban Repubiic, who was not more than five or six miles distant. Upon my hinting that I had had nothing to eat for some time breakfast was ordered, and in the course of half an hour it was served up at the twig table. It was neither a rich nora rare gem in @ gastro- nomical point of view, but the kindness with which it was proffered and the genuine hospitality made it taste far sweeter than many a more pretentious meal. The repeat consisted of one dish—roast beef—and nothing else, and in the way of liquids we were invited to hot water, sweetened with honey—a aecoction known as “Cuba Libre.” The beef was cooked over a wood fire and well singe@ It was served in deep tin pans and carved with machetes. Accompanied by Major Reeve, Emilio Luaces, Captain Diego and Raman Roa, the private secretary of General Agramonte, the HERALD Com- missioner proceeded towards the quarters of President Cespedes. The pathways were ex- tremely narrow and the surrounding woods of dense thickness, After Hil tor five or six miles, we halted; anda solitary picket issuing from @ thick guavo fence, entered into a hurried conversa- tion with Major Reeve. As turned around to survey the scene I was somewhat surprised to see a body of eight or ten soldiers advancing, under the command of a Heutenant, as I could not imagine whence they had emerged. Little wag said, for I made no inquiries, and quietly awaited the issue of 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 Pikes post, and wheeling suddenly to the right we found ourselves in THE INSURGENT CAMP, Tents were nowhere to be seen, There waa nothing marshal-looking about the place, and save that two rows of muskets were carelully stacked, suMciently wide apart to form a pathway, the appearance of the surroundings was suggestive ot an open air prayer meeting. It was no such thing, however, but # genuine camp of the Cuban patriots. In the vicinity were about FIVE HUNDRED INSURGENTS, including 200 cavalry, three-fourths of the entire number being coloredmen, Their wearing apparel Was not extensive. Very fewof the negrocs had more than pautaloons and shoes. Some had shirts. Many were only provided with breech cloths. Tho white soldiers had pantaloons and shoes, but Probably not more than five could boast the pos- Session at once of acoat and shirt. Imay 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 the use of what they could not obtain. The majority wore straw hats, but a noticeable feature with the cavalry was thi although many of them were destitute of trous all wore short leggings to protect tueir limbs when on horseback. To a stranger the spectacle was not without ita 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 ca’ and infantry were armed with Henry rides; almost every nran carried amachete by his side, When I entered the pre- cincts of the camp breakfast was in c ie of preparation, We rode down between the two stacks of guns, and as we passed I could see the look of astonishment on many a dusky face as we went along, A good way oif reclined a group of 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 of the romantic little spot Major Reeve informed me that President jpedes was among the group, and all at once dismounted, as that oficial was himself ‘on foot. CARLOS MANUEL CESPEDES. a Interview with the President of the Caban Republic—A Bitter Fight= Hopes—Cuban Advantages and Re= sources=What They Expected of the United States—No Surrender. At a signal from one of the officers a few soldiers came up and took charge of our horses, There waa no ceremony, no formality, nothing of a preten- tious character around the place to indicate that in this lovely spot the President of the Cuban Republic Was athand. As we approached the group all rose from their recumbent position, and foremost ta advance was Cespedes himself, and without much ado I was kindly presented by Major Reeve. CARLOS MANUEL CESPEDES, President of the Republic of Cuba, is a medium. sized, broad-chested man of apparently fifty yeara of age. His fair, full, closely shaven face beams with amiability and good nature. With dark hair which time is just beginning to silver, undimmed 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 of the same brown linen worn by his oficers, and boots reaching to the knees, with silver spurs, He Was armed with a sword and revolver. After afew salutations the officers who had ac- companied me threw themselves on the 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 tne subject of Cuban independence. Nor was the con- versation marked by any subtlety on his part, for he uttered his views without hesitation and con- versed with a sincerity that could not be mistake. 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 Gem eral Agramonte, “Who ts going to be the next President of the United States?” I made almost the same response [had previously given, to the effect that General Grant would be the successful candidate. THE STRENGTH OF THE INSURGENT FORCES. “7 am glad, sir,’ remarked President Cespedes, after a brief pause, “that you have come here. What the ,result of your mission may be I cannot tell, bufit will be @ source of consolation to the patriots of this sdrely distressed country if you can let the world kaow the actual condition of the Cuban patriots. Full well you know that stories were spread abroad with no intent other than to dishearten our sympathizers, But now you may see for yourself, and for once let the trath go forth.” President Cespedes spoke these words tn a slow, yet earnest tone, all the oMcers meanwhile listen- ing with rapt attention, and I could seo that every cye was turned towards me to watch what effect they might produce. “Mr, President,” I obsorved, “my mission to Cuba has been to ascertain the actual condition of affairs, and iet me assure you, sit, tt will be no fault of mine should the truth not be made known, I would like to ask, in the first piace, what the Strength of the entire Insurgent army 15 ab this present time?’ “Well, sir,’ replied the President, “I under-eatt- mate our forces wnen I say we have 12,000 men, cavairy and infantry, at our command; but If wa had arms enough the insurgent troops in Cuba would number 59,000 men, Let me explain to you. We have now waged the war of independence for four long years, Those who have seen ser vice during that period will always staud by our colors, Long ago many surrendered and were pardgncd by the Spanigh qutnorities, believing at,