Federico Fernández Cavada

Friday, January 01, 1864

Federico Fernández Cavada was born in Cuba in 1831 and moved to the United States in 1838. Cavada was an abolitionist, military officer, and writer who served as a captain, engineer, and topographer with the Balloon Corps during the Civil War. Cavada was captured in 1863 and spent six months at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. After he was released in 1864, he published a book, LIBBY LIFE: Experiences of A Prisoner of War in Richmond, Virginia, 1863-64, detailing his life after being held captive. After the Civil War, Cavada served as a consul in Cuba. He resigned from this position in 1869 and fought against Spanish rule in the Ten Years War. He was captured by Spanish forces and executed by firing squad in July of 1871.