frequently expressed was, that they should be permitted to become a part of this country. It was common for officers of the government to wear upon their hats the stars and stripes on one side, and on the other the Cuban cockade. To my knowledge, a very great number of the officers of the government were persons who had been educated in the United States, who were well acquainted with their institutions, and who had been for years anxiously desiring to bring about this revolution and obtain annexation. They were well acquainted with the American form of government, and avowed that they had inaugurated this revolution to obtain such a government for Cuba.

Soon after I arrived there the capital was permanently located near Sibanicu, at a place to which the government had removed, because they found there ample buildings and accommodations for all the departments of government. Sibanicu is the general name of the locality. From that place there is direct communication by high roads with several parts of the island, and it is on the main road from Puerto Principe to Santiago de Cuba, both of which places were in the hands of the Spaniards. Sibanicu is only forty-eight miles from Puerto Principe, on a good road. The country about it is all open and cultivated. There was but a small military force there; the main forces being thrown further out. There are certain lines of defense which had been assumed before I arrived, and which were maintained up to the time of my leaving, and which, from late reports, I know to be still held. These lines of defense were, from Nuevitas on the north to Puerto Principe, a distance of about eighty-five miles, and from Puerto Principe to Santa Cruz on the south. There is also a line of communication which has been held uninterruptedly from the beginning, from Puerto Principe to Ciago de Avila. Uninterrupted communication is kept up along the different roads leading to the Five City district. That line is about one hundred and eighty miles long from Puerto Principe westward. The military encampments were all in communication with each other by couriers and a regular system of communications. Postal arrangements had been perfected by the republican government throughout all the region controlled by it, which is about two-thirds of the whole island, and I myself sent and received communications through this post. There was no difficulty in communicating by post any where through that part of the island. I left the island on the 2d of August. I have received communications from the island up to within about ten days ago, and I believe that the revolution has been in no way retarded since that time, except from scarcity of powder and arms, and that it has continually gained in numbers and territory. There was a government printing office at the capital, and two papers were published there.

I annex hereto a paper which contains a copy of the constitution and the debates in Congress, which is marked Exhibit C. I also annex a proclamation (marked Exhibit D) abolishing slavery, issued by the government of the republic before the adoption of the constitution. I also annex hereto two proclamations (marked Exhibits E and F) issued by the President of the republic, to the people. Bulletins of war were issued from time to time for the information of the people. There were numerous ports to which the Cubans had access at any time, and in which they received such supplies as had succeeded in getting away from the United States, Jamaica, and other places; but they made no efforts to hold those ports, because they had not the means of resisting the artillery of ships, and it was their policy to go from port to port, so as not to attract the attention of Spanish cruisers. They relied upon the signals of their cordons of sentinels to inform them when it was necessary to concentrate upon any one point for the purpose of receiving arms or ammunition. I am not aware of any function or power ordinarily exercised by a government for which provision was not made, or which was not exercised, within the district controlled by the republican government, so far as there was any call or occasion for such exercise. The republican government had all the paraphernalia, accompaniments, and incidents of a regularly organized government. The President executed the laws simply, and did not interfere in military matters. The commander-in-chief had entire control of the armies, and did not in any way interfere with the civil administration. The general division of powers and duties was very similar to (and copied after) that in the government of the United States, and was strictly observed so far as was compatible with a state of war. A stranger coming into the district lying south of a line drawn from Nuevitas to Puerto Principe and Santa Cruz, excepting within the walls of four or five garrisoned towns, would have, in my opinion, no reason to suppose that any other government prevailed, or had ever prevailed, there than the government of the republic of Cuba. The people were engaged about their ordinary avocations, and no government was spoken of or admitted except the government of the republic of Cuba, and no laws were or could be enforced there, unless by the aid of overwhelming military force, except those of the republic. The part of the country of which I have spoken is principally devoted to grazing, but is in a very considerable degree cultivated, only about one-sixth of it being wild land; and throughout that district every right of private persons was provided for and protected solely by the laws and power of the republic. There were certain special enactments intended to do away with abuses of power which had been common on the part of the Spanish soldiery

before the revolution. These special enactments of which I speak instructed the people as to their rights, and advised them, in case of any infringement of those rights by the military, to apply immediately to the nearest court. These enactments were posted in different places for the information of the people, and particularly in the court

rooms.

I know that the Cuban Republic has also issued letters of marque and reprisal, and commissions for the Cuban navy. I have seen several of such commissions, and I know also that the officers in command in Cuba were acting under commissions issued by the war department. I saw several of their commissions, and the officers exercised command and control according to the rank mentioned in their commissions. Rank was acknowledged according to established military usage. To my knowledge, the republic of Cuba has purchased a number of vessels, with the view of constituting a navy.

WILLIAM C. TINKER.

Sworn and subscribed before me this eleventh day of December, 1869.
CHARLES HARRIS PHELPS,
Notary Public, County of New York.

Affidavit of Francis Coppinger.

STATE OF NEW YORK, City and County of New York, ss:

FRANCIS COPPINGER, being duly sworn, says: I am a native of Cuba, born at Havana, and have lived there all my life, until about the beginning of this year, when I came to New York, by order of the President of the republic of Cuba. I reside at present at the St. George Hotel, corner of 20th street and Broadway, New York.

In May last I returned to Cuba, and engaged in the military service of the Cuban government. I was at first in active service, in command of a company, with the rank of lieutenant; and, as such, between May and August, took part in several battles and skirmishes; of the former the three most important were those at Ramon, Cuaba, and Calabazas, in each of which the Cuban force engaged numbered from five hundred to seven hundred men. I was afterward attached to the staff of General Peralta, with the rank of captain. Each state of the Cuban territory had been divided into military districts, each under command of a general, and General Peralta was such general in command of the military district of Holquin, in the State of Oriente.

It was the duty of the staff officers to carry on communication between their general and the next superior military authority, and I was thus engaged, while on staff duty, in carrying dispatches and instructions between General Peralta and General Jordan, who was, at that time, in command of the whole State of Oriente. The organization of the Cuban army, and all departments of the military service were, at the time to which I refer, similar in all the States to that in Oriente.

While I was in the island I traveled from Holquin to Las Tunas, through the center of the island, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles. In all this territory I found the civil department of the revolutionary government, the State governments, the prefectures, the constabulary or civil police, the postal service, and all the ordinary civil administration fully organized, and in regular and systematic operation. The military occupation of the country was complete, and all the separate camps and bodies of soldiers of the Cuban army, however separated from each other, were all parts of one military system, and all under commands, subordinate, in different grades, to the commander-in-chief, who received his authority immediately from the Congress.

I would like to add, that when I was in the island the former slaves were all free, having been made so by virtue of that clause of the Cuban constitution which secures freedom to all inhabitants of the State. The negroes were enrolled in the Cuban army, and were armed, equipped, and uniformed, like the Cubans, and held in equal respect in the service. There were, in my company of sixty men, several negroes, who had been slaves up to the time of their emancipation by the Cuban government.

As to the celebration of marriages in that part of the island which was controlled by the revolutionary party, it came under my notice that marriage was no longer regarded by the Cubans as a sacrament, nor was the ceremony performed, as it had always been under the Spanish dominion, by the priesthood exclusively; but, by virtue of the constitution, it was regarded as a civil contract, and the rite was performed by civil officers. I attended, myself, the celebration of such a marriage according to the new Cuban laws.

Deponent further says, that he has heard read the depositions of William C. Tinker and Enrique Loynaz, and that the statements contained in them, respectively, as to the civil and military affairs of the Cuban government, and their administration, coincide H. Ex. Doc. 160-12

with deponent's own experience and knowledge on those subjects, and that the statements made by said Tinker and Loynaz in regard to them are true.

F. COPPINGER.

Sworn and subscribed before me this eleventh day of December, 1869. ARCHIBALD F. CUSHMAN, Notary Public in and for City and County of New York.

Affidavit of Enrique Loinaz.

CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 88:

ENRIQUE LOINAZ, being duly sworn, says: I am a native of Puerto Principe, in the Island of Cuba. I joined the revolution in Cuba on the 25th of December, 1868. I left the Island of Cuba on the 8th of September last, and am now remaining here under orders from the President. For some time I commanded a company of volunteers in the republican army, and afterward was promoted to the staff of Manuel Quesada, and held, and now hold, the rank of major. I have participated in about twelve actions of considerable importance, besides many skirmishes. The largest number of men which I have ever known to be engaged on the Cuban side was at the battle of Las Tunas, at which I was present, and which took place at the town of Las Tunas, about the 16th or 17th of August last-I do not remember which. In that battle there were four brigades, of one hundred and seventy-five men each, engaged, besides thirty, the escort of the general-in-chief, and forty men of the President's escort. The President was present at the battle. The Cubans attacked the Spanish forces, consisting of about six hundred line troops and two hundred volunteers, who were intrenched in the center of the town, in the plaza. The combat lasted from four o'clock in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon. The Cubans drove the Spaniards into their intrenchments in the church, a building in the square, and held them there, sacking the town and capturing the medicines, clothing, some guns, military stores, and other things. The attack was made for the purpose of rescuing families of Cubans that were perishing in the town, and these families being removed, the Cubans retired. We captured fourteen standards or battle flags. Our loss was forty dead and eighty-five wounded. I do not know the Spanish loss, but it was reported by a captain, whom we captured, to be about two hundred. This battle, and all the others in which I have participated, were conducted under military orders and under the control and management of officers of different rank, each yielding obedience to the other, and the troops engaged were disciplined troops, who had been trained and accustomed to military movements, and who were held, in all their operations, in strict military discipline. They are never permitted to engage, and have never engaged, in any fighting except under military orders, discipline, and subject to the plans of the commander-in-chief. At the time I left, the government of the republic held exclusive control of all the Island of Cuba lying south of a line drawn from Nuevitas, on the Atlantic coast, to Puerto Principe, and thence to Santa Cruz, on the Caribbean Sea, except a few garrrison towns and encampments along the railroad established from Nuevitas to Puerto Principe. All the rest of the country, which is mostly an open, cultivated, inhabited country, was exclusively occupied or controlled by the republican government, and no Spanish laws were, or could be enforced, except by the presence of overwhelming military force. The laws of the republic were voluntarily obeyed by the people, or executed by simple civil force, such as by constables or prefects. Throughout this district complete postal arrangements were established by the republic, and regular service of mails kept up by its officers. Post offices were established at villages and farm-houses on the public high roads. The Spaniards were under great difficulties to hold their position in the garrison towns, and we were constantly occupied in attacking their convoys, and many combats ensued in this way, and we were able to capture, and did capture, frequently, their convoys and appropriated their material of war. This was particularly the case as to the town of Las Tunas. The town of Las Tunas was an important station for them, was situated about thirty-six miles from the north coast, and connected by three high roads with three forts, only about thirtysix miles distant. I have often heard it estimated, and believe it to be true, that since the breaking out of the revolution the Spaniards have lost over two thousand men in maintaining this communication, and have frequently lost their convoys. These circumstances have come to my knowledge in the performance of my duties as staff officer. The Spaniards have never been able to penetrate the surrounding country from these towns more then two or three miles. They have never made the attempt, except in one or two cases, when they have been driven back. The people in the country are all loyal to the republic, and immediately give information of any movement among the Spanish troops. The negroes in that district have all been freed. They understand that they are free, and it is so understood by all persons, and they are given by the constitution and the laws all the rights and privileges of citizenship that are given to

white persons. Even in addressing them the former owners of slaves address them by their names as citizen so-and-so.

At the time I left Cuba the revolution had been constantly gaining, and had never lost anything, either in force or in territory. The army was increasing in numbers as fast as they could be supplied, and persons, who, at the beginning, had been wavering and doubtful, were giving their adhesion to the government of the republic. I have not seen or heard anything since leaving there to induce me to suppose that the revolution is in any less forward condition than when I left, but on the contrary, I believe that it is able to hold its own for a long time without any more succor, and that, with a few more arms and with sufficient ammunition, the Spanish authorities could be entirely driven from the island by the forces now here. We need nothing from outside the island except arms and munitions. I know from my experience that the Cubans, almost without exception, are for the republic. On the other hand, native Spaniards on the island are almost without exception against the republic. The lines of defense which were held, and, according to my information, are still held by the republican forces, were taken up by them about February last, and have been maintained uninterruptedly ever since. I have read the affidavit of Mr. William C. Tinker, who is known to me, and who was with me in Cuba. The facts stated by him concerning the condition of the country, the action of the government, the administration of the law, and the amount of forces are true, within my own knowledge. In the entire island there are over thirty thousand men in the republican army. In the central department, with which I had more immediate connection, there were over ten thousand, organized and under discipline. Of these, three thousand were armed with all sorts of guns, carbines, muskets, and rifles; the others were all armed with the machete, a long sword, and frequently went into action with only this weapon. Of the fire-arms in that department, about one-third had been captured from the Spaniards. There are about eighty thousand men remaining, ready to take arms as soon as arms can be procured. I was commanding the siege of Nuevitas, in January last. During that siege, I received and entertained a flag of truce from the Spaniards, and twice after that, having occasion, I sent flags of truce to them, which were received and entertained. The communication sent by me was from General Quesada to the governor of Nuevitas, and the communication was replied to by him. The flag of truce which they sent to me accompanied three commissioners who were appointed by the Spanish authorities to communicate with the Cuban committee, which, at that time, had charge of the Cuban affairs, that being before the election of Congress. These commissioners were given a safe-conduct, and passed on through our lines to communicate with our committee. One of the communications under flag of truce by General Quesada, sent by me, related to an exchange of prisoners, which exchange was finally refused by the Spaniards. By proclamation of the Captain General, issued in January last, six large ports, which were formerly ports of entry, have been closed to commerce, and all intercourse with those ports forbidden. The civil government has made arrangements, which are now in operation, by which the local constabulary and prefects of each county are charged with the distribution of rations to the families of persons who are in the field and the persons who are discharged and unable to support themselves. This distribution of rations takes place extensively and constantly, and is sufficient for the wants of the people. The inhabitants are perfectly united in support of the revolution, and seem willing to devote, and have devoted, their entire time and property to its success, without any complaint or objection, and, in my opinion, it would be impossible to find a population more united and determined than is this population in its determination to throw off Spanish tyranny. The commander-in-chief has been named by Congress, and is under the same control by the President as are generals of armies of the United States. The troops are all organized into companies, battalions, and brigades, and are not permitted to go upon any roving expeditions, or to separate themselves in any way from their commands; and property captured by them is always turned over to the commander of the district, for the republic.

ENRIQUE LOINAZ.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of December, 1869.
CHARLES HARRIS PHELPS,
Notary Public, County of New York.

Affidavit of Francis Xavier Cisneros.

CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 88:

FRANCIS XAVIER CISNEROS, being duly sworn, says: I am a native of Cuba, having been born at Santiago de Cuba, and for the greater part of the last fifteen years, and until recently, have been a resident of Havana. I was by profession a civil engineer in that city. I am living for the present in the city of New

York, at No. 254 West Twenty-fourth street. In May, of this year, I left New York for Cuba, and arrived there about the eleventh day of that month. Upon my arrival I communicated with the republican general, in command of the district, General Peralta, and then with the commander-in-chief, General Quesada, and then went to the seat of government, at Sibanicu, and communicated there with the secretaries of the Cuban government, whom I found in the active administration of the business of their several departments. From that time up to the first of August I was constantly traveling in the island, and especially traversed that part of it which lies between Santo Espiritu, about the central portion of the island, and Santiago de Cuba, near the eastern extremity, a distance of about three hundred and fifty miles. I made this journey at the instance of the government of Cuba, for the purpose of inspecting the condition of affairs under the government, and the progress of the revolution. This I was instructed to do, in order to make a report of my observations to the Cuban Junta, at New York. This district to which I have referred is only a portion of the territory which is occupied and controlled by the revolutionists, and which is more than twothirds of the area of the island. This republican territory is bounded by lines extending from Santiago de Cuba, on the Caribbean Sea, near the eastern part of the island, to Baracoa, on the Atlantic Ocean; from Baracoa to Sagua la Grande, along the northern coast; thence across the island to the Bay of Broa, on the Caribbean Sea; and thence along the southern coast to Santiago de Cuba. The total extent of the island is about thirty-six thousand square miles, of which the republican territory, just described, embraces about twenty-four thousand square miles. This territory includes some wild tracts, but for the most part is open, cultivated country. It embraces some of the considerable cities of the island-say nine or ten-which were then in the possession of the Spaniards; but a larger number-say twenty or thirty-of the considerable towns, with numerous smaller villages and all the open country to which I have referred, were occupied and controlled by the republicans. The occupation of these large towns by the Spaniards compelled them to withdraw large bodies from their fighting force for garrison duty. This district, also extending to the sea, on both the northern and southern sides of the island, embraces many ports to which the Cubans had free access; but having as yet no means of fortifying those places, they had made no attempt to hold exclusive possession of them. Within this district, between May and August, I visited almost all the military encampments of the revolutionists, about thirty in number. At some of the camps there were as many as two thousand men, and at none less than two hundred and fifty. To the best of my judgment and belief, there were in all those camps, in May, about fifteen thousand well-armed soldiers; and in August, when I left the island, there were, I should think, about twenty thousand. The Cuban forces were encamped around most of the principal towns occupied by the Spaniards, and prevented communication by the Spaniards between those towns. Besides the force of regular soldiers in camp, the entire male population throughout the district I have described was organized as a volunteer military force, but, being without arms, could not be brought into actual military service.

The Cuban republic was divided into four States, and each of those States was subdivided into districts, each district being placed under the command of a general, appointed by the government. Each of these generals had control of all the forces in his district, subject to the commander-in-chief; so that all the forces of the revolutionists were under the supreme command of General Quesada, the general-in-chief who was appointed by the Cuban Congress.

During my stay in the island there were frequent conflicts between the Cuban and the Spanish forces, in many of which I participated; in the most important of those in which I took part, which took place on the 18th of June, at Calabazas, the Cuban forces numbered about seven hundred. The Spaniards had attacked, but were repelled, and retreated. A few days before, a fight had taken place, in which, as I was then informed, and believe, the Cubans numbered fifteen hundred. Many other combats took place with various results. The condition of the country was one of constant fighting between considerable forces, and, on the part of the Cubans, all of the battles were conducted under the control of the commander-in-chief.

The

At the time of my visit to the island, the Cuban revolutionary party had already adopted a constitution embodying à republican form of government, guaranteeing the liberty of the press, of religion, and education, and abolishing slavery; it had also a completely organized government, represented by a President and Congress, and secretaries of state, war, treasury, and interior, and other officers and bodies. Congress was composed of eighteen delegates, elected by the people from all parts of the island; it was, at the time to which I refer, in session, and I attended many of its meetings. The elections for governors of the States took place during my stay on the island, and were participated in by all the inhabitants of the district described by me, except of the towns garrisoned by the Spaniards.

The capital of the republican government was at Sibanicu, a town situated in the interior, in an open plain, on the great central highway of the island, and approached by good roads from all directions.