Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 655 pages of information about Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom.

Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 655 pages of information about Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom.
days led to the belief that he too was dead.  According to one narrative, Gomez was in the midst of the battle from the beginning, and while hurrying to recover the corpse of Marti, he was slightly wounded.  Others say that the famous chief, had already taken leave of Marti to go to Caniaguey, when, passing at some distance from Dos Rios, he heard the report of musketry.  He imagined what was happening, and ran to rescue the civil chief of the revolution, but when he arrived, Marti had been killed.  Gomez being wounded, Borrero took him on his own horse, and in this manner carried him to a place of safety.  The Spaniards, after their victory, moved to Remanganagaus, where the corpse of Marti was embalmed.  From the latter town it was taken to Santiago de Cuba, and while on the way there, the troops had to repel an attack from the rebels, who intended to carry off the coffin.  On arriving at the city, the remains of Marti were exhibited at the cemetery.  Colonel Sandoval presided over the funeral ceremonies, and the dead leader was given a decent resting place.  Here are Sandoval’s words on the occasion: 

Gentlemen:—­In presence of the corpse of him who in life was Jose Marti, and in the absence of any relative or friend who might speak over his remains such words as are customary, I request you not to consider these remains to be those of an enemy any more, but simply those of a man, carried by political discords to face Spanish soldiers.  From the moment the spirits have freed themselves of matter they are sheltered and magnanimously pardoned by the Almighty, and the abandoned matter is left in our care, for us to dispel all rancorous feelings, and give the corpse such Christian burial as is due to the dead.

Maximo Gomez, the general-in-chief.

The General-in-Chief of the Cuban forces is Maximo Gomez, a man of scholarly attainments, great intellect, and long experience in military affairs.  Formerly an officer of Spain, he explains his present position in the following words: 

“When I gave up, in 1868, my uniform and rank as a Major of the Spanish Army, it was because I knew that if I kept them.  I would have some day to meet my own children in the field, and combat against their just desire for liberty.  Now, with my many years, I have come to lead and counsel the new generation to ultimate victory.”

Of his methods in war, Thomas Alvord says: 

“General Gomez never has more than 300 or 400 men with him.  His favorite camp is near Arroyo Blanco, on a high plateau, difficult to approach, and covered with dense thicket.  He posts his outer pickets at least three miles away, in directions from which the enemy may come.  The Spaniards, whenever possible, march by road, and, with these highways well guarded, Gomez sleeps secure.  He knows that his pickets will be informed by some Cuban long before the Spanish column leaves or passes the nearest village

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Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.