762, hostilities were declared
against Spain.

An English fleet and army, under Lord Albemarle, were sent to Cuba. The
former consisted of more than two hundred vessels of all classes, and
the latter of fourteen thousand and forty-one men.

The opposing Spanish force numbered twenty-seven thousand six hundred
and ten men.

With the English, were a large number of Americans, some of whom figured
later more or less prominently in the war of the Revolution. Israel
Putnam, the hero of the breakneck ride at Horseneck, and General Lyman,
under whom Putnam eventually served, were among these, as was also
Lawrence Washington, a brother of "The Father of His Country."

By the way, the American loss in Cuba during this campaign was heavy.
Very few, either officers or men, ever returned home. Most of those who
were spared by the Spanish bullets succumbed to the rigors of the
tropical climate, to which they were unaccustomed and ill-prepared for.

May this experience of our forefathers in the last century not be
repeated in the persons of our brothers of the present!

The defense of Havana was excessively obstinate, and the Cuban
volunteers covered themselves with glory.

But, in spite of the superior force of the Spanish, the English were
finally successful.

Taking all things into consideration, it was a wonderful feat of arms,
one of which only the Anglo-Saxon race is capable.

Nevertheless, it was only after a prolonged struggle that the victory
was complete.

At last, on the 30th of July, Morro Castle surrendered, and about two
weeks afterward, the city of Havana capitulated.

The spoil divided among the captors amounted to about four million seven
hundred thousand dollars.

The English remained in possession of Cuba for something like six
mouths, and during that time instituted many important and far-reaching
reforms, so much so in fact that when the Spaniards regained possession,
they found it very difficult to re-establish their former restrictive
and tyrannous system.

For instance, the sanitary condition of Havana, which was atrocious even
in those comparatively primitive days of hygiene, was vastly improved.
All over the island, roads were opened. During the time of the English
occupation, over nine hundred loaded vessels entered the port of Havana,
more than in all the previous entries since the discovery.

The commerce of the island improved to a remarkable extent, and for the
first time the sugar ind