The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-27 00:00:00

portion of our ammunition, and rendered our guns
entirely useless. We encamped, on the evening of
that day, at a rancho at the foot of the mountains,
about two leagues from Bahia Honda. 'We remained
undisturbed that night; and were attacked, at break-
fast time on the morning of the 20th, being taken by
surprise, the sentry on the outpost having left his post
to wash himself in a creek, where he was killed.
Owing to the unserviceable condition of their arms,
the force under Lopez was completely routed, flying
to the mountains in all directions, Lopez himself
barely escaping on horseback, with the loss of his
saddle, pistols, and eyeglass —of everything, in fact,
but what he wore. That night he encamped on the
top of one of the highest mountains on the island of
Cuba, exposed to all the violence of a terrific norther,
without shelter, fire, or food. It is impossible for me
to describe the sufferings of that night. Heaven
forbid that I ever pass such another. The rain
fell in torrents, while ever and anon a terrific crash
would announce that some massive tree had fallen,
either before the force of the wind, or the still mightier
lightning. That night equalled an ordinary
lifetime. Oa the evening of the 21st, having
been forty-eight hours without eating, we killed a
horse, which was divided among 125 men, who were
all that now remained with Lopez. We wandered
through mountains, unable to extricate ourselves, sub.
sisting on such leaves and roots as we could find, until
midday of Sunday, the 24th, when we succeeded in
reaching a road running from Bahia Honda to San
Cristoval, along which we advanced until nearly night,
when two Spanish Lancers were discovered advancing,
but fled on perceiving us. A halt was immediately
ordered, and an examination made of the state of our
forces, which showed a total of 125 men, eighty
muskets, about twenty of which were serviceable,
and about forty dry cartridges. Under this state of
affairs it was deemed advisable to retreat, which was
ordered, and a pursuit commenced by the enemy, who
lay in ambush some few hundred yards iu advance,
with a force of 900 men. On the approach of the
enemy, the whole force of Lopez separated into small
bodies, and dispersed through the mountains, throw-
ing away their guns and everything which could
encumber them in their flight, seven men only re-
maining with the General. A large number were
overtaken and immediately killed. Myself was one
of a party of eight who had previously determined on
leaving Lopez and attempting to escape from the
island. We remained in the mountains until the
morning of Tuesday, the 26th, when, having had but
one meal in six days, and feeling that we could bear
it no longer, we determined to go into the plains,
considering that it would be better to be killed out-
right than to die a lingering death from starvation,
which we certainly should do in the mountains.
We accordingly advanced to a house, where we were
treated with a great deal of kindness, and received a
most excellent breakfast. An arrangement was made
to procure a guide to the south shore, with provi-
sions, &c., and we were about to leave and conceal
ourselves until night, when, in the twinkling of an
eye, we were surrounded by 200 armed countrymen,
who immediately bound us securely and inverted our
pockets, considering the contents lawful plunder.
That day we reached San Cristoval. Until we reached
San Cristoval we were under the impression that we
were to be immediately shot—our only consolation
being that we were to die with full stomachs. On
our arrival there we were informed that a proclama-
tion had been issued ten hours before our arrest,
sparing the lives of all filleibusteros who were made
prisoners or who gave themselves up within four days,
except the traitor Lopez ; after which an order, dated
I think, the 24th of April, 1650 (by which all fo-
reigners found in the island were ordered to be put
to death), was to continue in full force. On the 28th,
there being then 47 prisoners, we left San Cristoval
for Havannah ; and on Friday night reached Guaya-
mas, the terminus of a railroad from Havannah.
There an order was received from the Captain-Gene-
ral to proceed to Mariel and embark, he being fearful
that the prisoners would be torn to pieces by the
rabble of Havannah. We reached Mariel on the
evening of the 30th, and were embarked upon the
steamer Almendares, to proceed to Havannah, when
an express arrived, bringing information of the cap-
ture of Lopez, and the steamer was delayed to await
his arrival, which took place at two o'clock P.m. on
Sunday, the 31st, when we immediately left for Ha-
vannah. Lopez was entirely at liberty, and smoked
his cigarito with apparently as much unconcern as
he ever did in his life. Outside the harbour of
Mariel Lopez was transferred to the steam-frigate
Pizarro, which conveyed him to Havannah, and which
he did not leave -until he left next morning for the
place of execution. The remainder of us were con-
fined that night in the city prison, in the rear of the
fort called the Ponta. The prisoners passed through
la regular process, their hair being first cut close to
I their heads. They then passed into the hands of
another barber, who deprived them of their whiskers,
then another provided them with a prison uniform, and
the exercises were terminated by a big negro, who
securely fastened them in pairs by a chain, similar in
size and weight to a log chain, firmly secured to the
ancle. At the time of my release from prison, which
was at ten o'clock on the night of the 4th inst., there
were 160 of our force prisoners. They were all
chained and confined in one large room, hardly large
enough, however, for all to lie down at once. They
were treated very kindly, and allowed all the privi-
leges that could be expected. As a matter of course,
where so many men are confined in a limited space,
and not allowed to leave it under any circumstances,
it naturally follows that it must be very unpleasant.
Their sentence is ten years' hard labour in Spain ;
probably in the construction of a canal. They all ap-
peared to be in good spirits at the time I left, being
under the impression that they would soon be released
after their arrival in Spain. Lopez was brought
from the Pizarro, and publicly garroted in the square
adjoining the prison at seven o'clock in the morning
of Monday, the Ist of September. With him ended
not only this expedition, but, I sincerely trust, all
expeditions to Cuba. Up to the time I left, the
Spaniards could account for '271 Americans, including
Crittenden's command—whom they had killed, that
is, in action ; wounded men who were left on the field,
and sick and fatigued men, who gave out on the
march and were left behind, and men whom they
hunted down in the mountains with dogs. Those,
with the IGO taken prisoners, make a total of 431 men
accounted for, leaving a balance of 22 men whose fate
is yet unknown, the total force landed being 453
men. Of these 22 probably the greater portion are
yet alive and in the mountains ; and, as the troops
have have all been recalled to Havannah, it is pro-
bable some of them may yet succeed in getting home.
Out of the whole number made prisoners, but two
others beside myself have been pardoned. Those are
Colonel Haynes and Captain Kelly, whom the Cap-
tain-General pardoned and sent home unsolicited.
They were to leave Havannah for this port in the
packet-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 aide of the Captain-
General at eleven o'clock on Wednesday night, the
ship proceeding to sea immediately. His Excellency
sent a Government tow-boat and pilot to take her
out. Lopez was 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 dolls. and a
cross of honour immediately after his execution. Let
us now review the causes and results of this expedi-
tion. At the time I received my appointment from
Mr. Sigur, one of the editors of the New Orleans
Delta, I was told by him that a revolt was regularly
organized among the Creoles throughout the island
of Cuba; that they had elected General Lopez as
their leader, and their object was to free Cuba from
the tyranny of Spain, and either form a republic of
their own, or annex the island to the United States.
He told me that Lopez was about to leave New Or.
leans for Cuba with about 500 Americans, and that
his landing was a signal for a general rising, and that
within forty days after landing he would be at the
head of an army of 10,000 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 lit so? As I have already stated,
our first salutation was a volley of musketry, instead
of, as the Delta asserts, a large body of friends, with
horses, stores, &c., for our use. Instead of finding
the Creoles our friends, we found them our most
bitter enemies, far more so than the troops
—keeping the troops constantly informed of :our
movements, and hanging on onr skirts, put-
ting to death without mercy all those who straggled
on the march. Of the 'troops I cannot but speak
in praise, without a single exception. They treated
the prisoners with the utmost kindness, giving them
wine, cigars, bread, tobacco, and aguadente freely,
and from their own small means. I imagine no one will
say that we had any right to expect such treatment.
Our conduct forced and demanded their respect, but
certainly we had no claim either on their sympathy or
generosity. Much has been said relative to the ex-
ecution of Crittenden and his men. Among all the
prisoners now in Hsvannah, ranch as they admired
Crittenden, there is but one opinion, and that is, that
that execution was justifiable—was merited. That
they were deceived all know ; but that was no buss-
, near of th© Spanish outhoxities. Surely the provo-