214 



CUBA. 



were much disgusted with the constant in- 

 subordination displayed by the volunteers. 

 The mobilized negroes in Nuevitas also re- 

 fused to serve, as the advanced guard, in 

 attacks upon the insurgents. The area of the 

 rebellion extended to the Western Department. 

 On the 17th of April, 1,800 troops, commanded 

 Ivy Generals Letona and Escalante, arrived at 

 Nuevitas from Villa Clara; they were joined 

 the next day by General Lesca, with 1,200 

 men, from Puerto Principe. An engagement 

 took place between the Spanish troops, under 

 the command of General Lesca, and the Cuban 

 insurgents, at Altagracia. The report says the 

 rebels offered a more determined resistance 

 than in any previous battle, and acknowledges 

 that the Spaniards lost a colonel and captain 

 and six privates killed and thirty wounded. 

 According to later accounts the Cuban loss 

 was 200, and the Spanish 180 in killed and 

 wounded. 



It was the first serious battle in the Cuban 

 revolution, but nothing definite resulted from 

 it. On the 3d of May another battle was 

 fought at Las Minas. According to rebel 

 sources, the Spaniards numbered 1,200 men, 

 under the command of General Lesca. The 

 revolutionary force was commanded by Gen- 

 eral Quesada. One report says, before the fight- 

 ing commenced. Quesada posted the native 

 Cubans in front, protected by intrenchments, 

 and placed a force of 400 Dominican and 

 American volunteers in their rear, with orders 

 to fire upon them if they ran. Thus placed 

 "between two fires, the Cubans fought with 

 desperation. The Spaniards attacked the in- 

 trenchments three times with the bayonet. 

 The first two assaults were repulsed by 

 the Cubans; the third was very determined 

 and severe, and the Cubans began to waver, 

 when Quesada ordered the rear-guard to the 

 front. They advanced, driving the Cubans 

 into the front ranks of the enemy. A hand-to- 

 hand combat ensued, in which the butchery 

 was horrible. The Spaniards finally gave way 

 and retreated, but in good order. Their loss 

 is estimated at 160 killed and 300 wounded ; 

 that of the Cubans at 200 killed and a propor- 

 tionate number wounded. The forces of Que- 

 sada after the fight marched to San Miguel and 

 burned the town in sight of the retreating 

 Spaniards. 



The proportions of this fight seem, however, 

 to have been exaggerated. With the advance 

 of the hot season both the Spanish and rebel 

 troops suffered from fever. The rebels burned 

 the town of Manicaragua. 



An expedition, fitted out in the United States 

 under General Thomas Jordan, landed at 

 Mayari, in May. It brought about 4,000 long- 

 range rifles, 300 Remington rifles, 500 six- 

 barrelled revolvers, twelve splendid pieces of 

 artillery, twelve twenty-four and thirty-two 

 pounders, and a number of cartridges. More- 

 over, he brought 1,000 lances, 1,000 pairs of 

 shoes, an equal quantity of clothing, two print- 



ing presses complete, medicine-chests, plenty 

 of rice, biscuits, salt meat, salt, and flour in 

 fact, full stores for fitting out 6,000 men. The 

 expedition numbered 300 men. On marching 

 into the interior they were attacked by the 

 Spaniards and an obstinate engagement ensued, 

 during which it is reported that the forces of 

 the Government captured two pieces of artillery. 

 The Spanish loss is stated at 32, and that of the 

 insurgents at 80 men killed and wounded. 



Severe fighting took place around Trinidad 

 and Cienfuegos, with heavy losses to both 

 sides. Small bands of both parties raided over 

 the country and robbed the inhabitants. 



On the 16th of May a severe engagement 

 took place four miles from Puerto Padre, a 

 small seaport town on the north coast of Cuba 

 in the Eastern Department. The insurgents at- 

 tacked a force of 1,000 Spaniards conveying 

 provisions to Tunas. The battle took place 

 along the margin of the river, and lasted for 

 several hours, and every attempt of the Span- 

 iards to cross was repulsed with severe loss. 

 They were shot down in the river, dyeing the 

 water with their blood. Finally the Spaniards 

 were driven back with great loss, and com- 

 pelled to abandon the design of provisioning 

 Tunas. They acknowledged a loss of 34 killed 

 and 100 wounded, but the insurgents claimed 

 that their loss was much heavier. 



The Captain-General of Cuba, General Dulce, 

 both on account of ill health and the dis- 

 couraging state of affairs, in Cuba and in 

 Spain, which rendered him daily more power- 

 less, determined to leave Cuba, but, before he 

 could carry out his design, a mob of volunteers 

 virtually deposed him (June 4th), and installed 

 Espinar in his place. Some of the leaders of 

 the volunteers were supposed to meditate the 

 organization of a Colonial Government ; their 

 action, however, was limited to instituting a 

 court of inquiry into the conduct of General 

 Dulce. 



The brigade of Brigadier Ferrer, which left 

 Nuevitas on the 215th of May to reenforce the 

 troops at Puerto Padre, had returned in a piti- 

 able condition, the cholera having broken out 

 among them. They secured their object, the 

 convoying of a train from Puerto Padre to Las 

 Tunas, in the interior. They were harassed 

 and finally attacked at La Brenosa. The rebels 

 were repulsed with a loss of 80 men. The 

 Spanish loss was 76 in killed and wounded. 

 The insurgents received credit for bravery and 

 for retiring in good order. 



The Home Government, to the great delight 

 of the volunteers, appointed, as successor of. 

 General Dulce, General Caballero de Rodas, 

 who, by his dealings with the republican in- 

 surgents in Cadiz, had received from the 

 Spanish republicans the surname of "the 

 butcher of Cadiz." The new Captain-General 

 entered vigorously upon the task intrusted to 

 him. In order to prevent further assistance 

 from other countries, he published, on July 7th, 

 the following decree : 



