The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-25 00:00:00

'loped him to Barmaids, and which he did not leave until
he left neat foe tire pima waeweles
The rem/fader se were moaned that night in the
City Prison in the Mar of the fort called the Pont.. The
=n passed through a regular process, their hair
first eat clime to their heads. They then passed
into the beads of another barber, who deprived them of
their whiskers ; then smother provided them with a pri.
son uniform, and the entelees were terminated by a big
negro, wbo securely fastened them in pairs by a chain,
similar in sire and weight to a log chain, firmly secured to
the code.

At the time of say release from prison, which was at 10
o'clock on the night of the 4th instant, there were 163 of
our form prisoners. They were all chained, and confined
in on. large room hardly large enough, however, for all to
lie down at once. They were treated very kindly, and
allowed all the privileges that could be expected. As a
matter of coarse, where so many men are confined in a
limited space, and not allowed to leave it under any cir-
cumstances, It naturally follows that it must be very un-
pleasant. Their sentence is ten years' teed labour in
Spain, probably in the construction of a canal. They all
appeared to be in good spirits at the time I left, being under
the impression that they would soon be released after their
arrival to Spain.
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro, and publicly gar-
roted in the square adjoining the prison, at 7 o'clock in the
morning of Monday, the Ist of September. With him
ended not only this expedition, but I sincerely trust all ex-
peditions to Cuba.
Up to the time I left, the Spaniards could account
for two hundred and seventy-one Americans including
Crittenden's command—whom they had killed, that is is
maim ; wounded men who were left on the field, and sick
lel fatigued men who gave out on the march, and were left
behind, and men whom they hunted down in the moon-
like with dogs. Those, with the 160 taken prisoners, make
• total of 431 men accounted for—leaving a balance of 22
mss whose fate is yet unknown—the total force landed
balms 1.13 men. Of these 22, probably the greater portion
OP yet alive and in the mountains ; and as the trooo have
all been recalled to Havana, it is probable some of them
may yet succeed in getting home. Out of the whole num-
ber 'made prisoners, but two others beside myself have been
paelened. These are Colonel Haynes and Captain Kelly,
wham the Captain-General pardoned, and sent home, unsu-
lifakeL Mew were to leave liavana for this port in the
pain* ship Norma, on Friday. My own release was
granted as a special favour to Captain Charles T. Platt, of
the United States ship Albany, on board of which I was
conveyed by an aid of the Captain-General, at eleven
o'clock on Wednesday night, the ship proceeding to sea im-
mediately. His excellency sent a government tow-boat and
pilot to take her out.
Lopez way caught with bloodhounds in the mountains,
on the morning of Friday, the 29th inst. The dogs being
some distance in advance of the men, bit him badly in
the left leg. There were seventeen countrymen in the
party who captured him, each of whom was publicly
presented with 1,000 dollars, and a cross of honour =meth-
' ately after his execution.
Let us now review the causes and results of this expe-
dition. At the time I received my appointment *eft
Mr. Sugar, one of the editors of the Sew Orleans
I was told by him that a revolt was regularly orpril.it
among the creoles throughout the Island of Cuba; that
they had elected General Lopez a. their leader, and
their object was to free Cuba from the tyranny of Sevin,
and either form a republic of their own, or annex the
island to the United States. lie told me that Lopez was
about to leave New Orleans for Cuba, with about five
hundred Americans; and that his landing was the signal
fur a general rising, and that within ten days after
landing he would be at the head of an army of tea thou-
sand men ; that there were also two whole regiments of
Spanish troops to come over to him with their equipments.
The same story was told to all. Was it so ? As I have
already
listen
stated, our first salutation was a volley of musketrr,
instead of, as the Iklla s, a large body of friends,
with horses, stores, itc., for our use. Instead of finding
the creeks our frkuils, we fuund them our most bitter
enemies, far more so than the trooes—keeping the troops
constantly informed of our movements, and hanging on
our skirts, putting to death, without mercy, all those who
straggled on the march. Of the troops I cannot bat
speak in praise, without a single exception. They treated
the prisoners with the utmost kindness, giving them
wine, cigars, bread, tobacco, and aguardiente, freely, and
from their own small means. I imagine no one will say
that we had any right to expect such treatment. Oar
conduct forced and demanded their respect, but cer-
tainly we had no claim either on their sympathy or gene.
resity.
Much has been said relative to the execution of Crittenden
and his men. Among all the prisoners now in Havana,
much as they admired Crittenden, there is but one opinion,
sad that is, that that execution was justifiable—was merited.
That they were deceived, all know ; but that was no busi-
ness of the Spanish authoritien. Surely the provocation re-
erived was sufficient to justify not only the execution of
those men, but of every man connected with the expedition.
Why, look at this affair in its proper light! Where even
in history—in the annals of the world—do you find a similar
occurrence? Here four hundred and fifty men, without
having received the least provocation, leave their homes,
and invade the shores of a perfectly peaceful island, expres-
sing a determination to take that island from its lawful owners
by force. Self-preservation is one of the first laws of nature;
and if the law will uphold and protect that American
citizen, who, wishent hesitation, shoots down the midnight
robber in defence of his property, certainly that law will up-
hold the officers of the crown of Spain in exterminating a band
of men who anissapt to wrest its brightest jewel from that
crown. I eondiw that every man connected with that ex-
pedition deserved death. At the time I was made prisoner,
I fully expecte' it, and, although the reflection was any-
thing but phsesffiet,z consciencel told me that it was
tr. Clitialikiiibalelmals anenelly leis terse not on
y 7.ll7ll`L'accrtimoef
epee piney in taking those vessels in which he was caught,
therniskasent for which by the laws of all nations,
dee

Much has been said relative to the mutilation of their
bodies. Certainly I was not present at the time, and can-
not speak positively, but I cannot learn from a reliable
source that such was the cue. I have conversed with the
officers of the United States ship Albany on the subject.
They are men of high standing in society; and they ware
me that such was not the eau—that they were shot lb ac-
cordance with mnisary usages on such occasions' and that
the only thing that could ire condemned was the way in
which they were drugged to and thrown into carts by the
n ordered to bury them.
ertnlti'las been reported that Crittenden wrote home that he
had been ebandoned by Lopez. without arms or ammuni-
tion. Ido nut believe that Crittenden ever wrote anything
of the kind. Attached to his command, la hourly contact
with him, I knew his, and do not hesitate in saying that a
I braver, nobler, MSS bemearable man than William L.
Crittenden never lived. Instead of having no ammunition,
he bad all, and was pootisslarly selected to guard it, that
Wag a most difficult awl yet most honourable service.
Login did sot desert bias; but in leaving him, in dividing
his aossand, sassmitted ass of these errors which even-
luny NO Ms his lie bat had Crittenden, on the morn-
ing aab nth, as and joined Lopez, at Los Poses,
lasbai daadaat et die as, all would have been well—
thou is said have lost only the stores ; as it was, he lost
all. Ifhp he did so is inexplicable, and must ever remain
involved is systery. Mad Lopes anted out his original
intaniks of indigo mar NM, Principe, the result
Mapothoga, have hos didloonS-4so Wide there,
have feud friends, and nisi hone sot-
to sustain itself until minffiseenmats were
sad out from the States. In losing share he did,
Lapse without doubt acted as he thought-fat the leas bat
them as in many other instances, he cant Of idine-
send courage there is no -doubt; but when we sLi of
military knowledge, of judgment, of his ability to an
ex non, I say at once he had neither. Lopes was prs•
tea
mach more deceived than any man in the en.
or