| Federico Fernández Cavada | |
|---|---|
Colonel Federico Fernández Cavada |
|
| Nickname | “General Candela” (General Fire) |
| Born | c. 1831 Cienfuegos, Cuba |
| Died | July 1871 Puerto Principe, Cuba |
| Allegiance | United States Union Army (1861–1865) Cuban Army of Liberation (Cuba) (1868-1871) |
| Rank | Colonel (U.S.) Commander-in-Chief (Cuba) |
| Commands held | 114th PA Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War *Second Battle of Bull Run *Peninsula Campaign *Battle of Fredericksburg *Battle of Gettysburg Ten Years War (Cuba) |
| Other work | Author of "LIBBY LIFE: Experiences of A Prisoner of War in Richmond, VA, 1863-64" |
Colonel Federico Fernández Cavada (1831 – July 1871) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Because of his artistic talents, he was assigned to the Hot Air Balloon unit of the Union Army. From the air he sketched what he observed of enemy positions and movements. On April 19, 1862, Fernández Cavada sketched enemy positions from Thaddeus Lowe's Constitution balloon during the Peninsular Campaign in Virginia. Fernández Cavada was captured during the Battle of Gettysburg and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Fernández Cavada was released in 1864 and later published a book which told of the cruel treatment which he received in the Confederate prison.[1][2] After the war Fernández Cavada joined the Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule and eventually became the Commander-in-Chief of all the Cuban forces during Cuba's Ten Year War.[3]
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Fernández Cavada was one of three sons born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, to Isidoro Fernández Cavada and Emily Howard Gatier; his mother was an American citizen and a native of Philadelphia. After his father's death in 1838, his mother returned to Philadelphia with her children. There, she met and married Samuel Dutton and the family resided at 222 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Fernández Cavada received his primary and secondary education at Philadelphia's Central High School.[4] Fernández Cavada worked as a Civil Engineer and as a topographer in the Panama Canal.[5]
Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, both Federico and his brother Adolfo Fernández Cavada joined the Philadelphia 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, a regiment of the Union Forces. Federico was transferred to the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, which participated in such battles as the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg.[3]
Fernández Cavada's artistic talents became evident because of his writings, sketches and paintings. Because of his artistic talents, he was assigned to the Hot Air Balloon unit of the Union Army. From the air he sketched what he observed of the enemy movements. In 1862, Fernández Cavada wrote a poem in which he stated:
"I have pulled through many a march, I have been in many a battle, I have seen the bomb-shell burst, I have heard the grapeshot rattle! With the bravest, in the strife, I have nobly risked my life."[3]
On April 19, 1862, Fernández Cavada sketched enemy positions from Thaddeus Lowe's Constitution balloon during the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia.[3]
On August 29, 1862, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the Battle of Gettysburg, a number of the regiment fell into the enemy's hands including Fernández Cavada; he was then succeeded by Major Edward R. Bowen.[6]
In July 1, 1863, the 114 the Pennsylvania regiment was engaged in battle against General William Barksdale's Mississippi troops, known as Barksdale's Brigade, at Peach Orchard near the wheat field where the bloodiest part of the Battle of Gettysburg, occurred on the second day of the encounter.[7] Even though Barksdale's troops were defeated, Fernández Cavada was captured and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia.[3][4] Fernández Cavada was released from prison in 1864, as part of a prisoner of war exchange between the Union and Confederate Forces. He returned to his unit and continued to serve until April 1865.[3][4]
Fernández Cavada published a book titled LIBBY LIFE: Experiences of A Prisoner of War in Richmond, Virginia, 1863-64, in which he drew sketches and told of the cruel treatment which he and other prisoners received in the Confederate prison.[3][4]
In the introduction of the book he wrote, in pages 19 and 20, the following:
"It was a beautiful country through which we had just passed, but it had presented no charms to weary eyes that were compelled to view it through a line of hostile bayonets; we felt but little sympathy for the beautiful; on our haggard countenances only this was written: "Give us rest, and food."
"On the evening of the same day, our sorry column was marched through the streets of Richmond from the depot of the Virginia Central Railroad to the Libby Prison. The gloomy and forbidding exterior of the prison, and the pale, emaciated faces starring vacantly at us through the bars were repulsive enough, but it was at least a haven of the rest from the weary fast-march, and from the goad of the urging bayonet. Had we known that we were entering this loathsome prison-house not to leave it again for many, many weary days and months, more than one heart would have grown faint with a mournful presentiment, for there were among us some who were doomed never to recross its threshold as living men."[8]
After the war Fernández Cavada was appointed United States consul at Trinidad, Cuba. Fernández Cavada met and befriended General Thomas Jordan, who was chief of staff of the Cuban Liberation Army under the provincial government presided by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Jordan was a United States citizen who had served as a General in the Confederate army during the American Civil War.[7] The friendship inspired Fernández Cavada to resign his position as consul upon the Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule that became known as Cuba’s Ten Years' War (1868–1878).[2] Together with his brother Adolfo, who had also resigned from his appointment as consul to Cienfuegos, he joined the insurgents and was named General for the District of Trinidad, Commander in Chief of the Cinco Villas. In January 5, 1869, Fernández Cavada established the "Logia Luz del Sur” (Southern Light Lodge) in Trinidad, which was used as an active recruiting center for insurgents.[9] In April 4, 1870, Fernández Cavada was named Commander-in-Chief of all the Cuban forces. He became known as “General Candela” (General Fire) because of his battle tactic of burning and destroying Spanish property.[2]
Fernández Cavada wrote an article about the beauty of the Caves of Bellamar, located near the town of Matanzas in the northern coast of Cuba. The article was published in "Harper's New Monthly Magazine" on November 1870.[10] In the first paragraph of his article he describes the Caves of Bellamar in the following way:
"Although discovered but a few years since, already enjoys a world-wide reputation. At the present day no visitor to Cuba fails to repair to that wondrous subterranean palace, unrivalled, perhaps, in the grandeur of its stalactite masses and the exquisite detail of its starry decorations. Easy of access from Havana by railway, and commodiously and safely prepared for the reception of visitors, it fully repays one for a day's absence from the busy scenes of the capital."[11]
Federico's eldest brother Emilio, remained in Philadelphia, where he was an active fundraiser. He relayed the information which he received from his brothers to the exiled strategists and other Cuban exiles in Philadelphia and New York. The funds which Emilio raised were funneled together with arms and munitions to the insurgent forces in the island.[3]
In 1871, Fernández Cavada took charge of the military division in Camagüey and together with fellow rebel Bernabé de Varona planned an armed invasion on the western coast of Cuba. The Cuban Liberation Army approved a resolution which would permit Fernández Cavada to travel to the United States. The intention of his trip was to seek, among his military contacts, support for the cause of Cuban independence. He traveled to "Cayo Cruz" in the northern coast of Camagüey to wait for his transportation, however he was captured by the Spanish gunboat Neptuno in 1871 and taken to Puerto Principe. He was then transferred to the town of Nuevitas from Puerto Principe. There he was tried by the Spanish authorities and sentenced to die by firing squad. Generals George Gordon Meade, Daniel Sickles and Ulysses S. Grant, his military compatriots in the United States, attempted in vain to obtain his release.[3] Fernández Cavada was executed in July 1871. His last words were "Adios Cuba, para siempre" (Goodbye Cuba, forever). He was survived by his wife, Carmela Merino, and their son Samuel.[4]
In February 24, 1929, a monument honoring the memory of those who participated in the Ten Years War and who were sentenced by the Spanish authorities to die by firing squad was erected on Finley Avenue in the town of Nuevitas located in the Province of Camagüey. Among the men who were honored besides Fernández Cavada were Francisco Muñoz Rubalcaba, José Inclán Risco, Oscar de Céspedes and Antonio Luaces.[12] The Province of Cienfuegos also honored his memory. A modern medical poli-clinic named "Policlínico-Facultad "Federico Fernández Cavada" located in the section of La Horquita in Cienfuegos, was named in his honor.[13]