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4 OLD SPANISH AMERICAN WAR SOLDIER PHOTOS IN CUBA ++
FOUR unusual Spanish American War cardboard mounted photographs c1898. Each measures about 8 x 10".
--One photo depicts a number of US soldiers standing around a battery of rather ancient old artillery pieces (some dismounted from their carriages). On the reverse in pencil is written “Light House Fort at entrance to Harbor after bombardment by U.S.S. Marblehead” (see inset in scan below). There is also information printed on the reverse, that the photo was printed from Negative No. 159 by H.O. Wickline, Regimental Photographer 3rd U.S.V. Engineers, in Washington, DC.
--A second photo depicts several soldiers standing under the gateway into the headquarters(?) compound of the THIRD U.S.V. ENGINEERS. No further information is penciled on the reverse of this old photo, but there is similar information printed on the reverse, that the photo was printed from Negative No. 173 by H.O. Wickline, Regimental Photographer 3rd U.S.V. Engineers, in Washington, DC.
--A third quite interesting photo depicts a group of 3 native Cuban women or older childern. At least two of the women APPEAR TO BE GUERRILLA FIGHTERS AGAINST THE SPANISH. One woman wears a military belt over her blouse and appears to hold some sort of sword or machete. Another woman also holds a sword at her shoulder and wears some sort of holster. This is an extremely interesting photo from the standpoint of Cuban history. On the reverse in pencil is written “RECONCENTRADOR” (see inset in scan below). Photo printed from Negative No. 169 by H.O. Wickline, 3rd U.S.V. Engineers, in Washington, DC.
--The final photograph also has no penciled information on the reverse. It depicts a group of about 30 native Cubans (mostly children) from the period. Several hold flags, and there are rather squalid-looking houses visible in the background of the photo. This picture probably also depicts Reconcentrados.
Reconcentrados were rural non-combatants during the Civil War of 1895-98 who were concentrated by the military authorities in areas surrounding the fortified towns.
“Intent on crushing the rebellion in Cuba, Spanish general Valeriano Weyler put into practice what is considered the first instance of CONCENTRATION CAMPS for Civilians in history. In a series of edicts he ordered all the inhabitants of the countryside (first of one province, then another, then another) to abandon their lands, their houses, their animals and their crops and go to designated “fortified” area in the towns. Starvation and disease accounted for the deaths of approximately 150,000 (+) persons.”
“At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, the U.S.S. Marblehead was at Key West, Florida. Immediately sailing for Cuban waters, she arrived off Havana 23 April 1898 and then proceeded to Cienfuegos where she shelled enemy vessels and fortifications on the 29th, in support of the invasion of Guantánamo Bay. After joining the blockading squadron, she cut the cables off Cienfuegos on 11 May, when many of her sailors and Marines won Medals of Honor. She then patrolled off Santiago de Cuba until the beginning of June. In company with schooner-rigged cruiser Yankee, Marblehead captured the lower part of Guantánamo Bay as a base for the fleet 7 June, and on the 10th supported the landing of a battalion of Marines there. Continuing operations in the bay, she helped battleship Texas destroy the Spanish fort on Cayo del Toro 15 June. The ship remained in Cuban waters until 2 September, when she sailed for the St. Lawrence River.”
An interesting and historical group of photos in the generally quite good condition shown in scan. Scan shows fronts & backs of all 4 photos and enlarged detail of three.
Price= $450.00
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