Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-18
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS.
Orr POINT ISABEL, }
February 10. 1917. {

Or POINT ISABEL,
February 10, 1915
Mn. EDIToR,-We arrived here last evening,
after voyage of twenty three days-all well.
Owing to the want Of medical supplies, there hav-
ing been no regular appointment of Surgeon for
the detachment, whose business it would have
been TO see that every thing necessary was provi-
ded. we were under the necessity of stopping at
Havana, where we were Unexpectedly detained
TWO Gays by the vexatious port arrangements, i'm
stead OF few hours. DIR. L'Anson, a member of
.ne Ie'ersourg company, is the acting Surgeon for
'he oetachment. and fortunately for us he appears
10 ne man of science and good Judgment
havana Is beautiful city, built i'm the old Span
lsh style. every house being i'm truth castle. cana
pabe Of easy defence. The materials used in the
buildings either stone or brick as we'll for fIo
and roofing as the walls. The houses in Havana
are generally but single story of elevated pitch,
and the windows, extending nearly from the
ground TO the ceiling, iron gratings without glass
which are closed III at night with folding shutters
outside. When the houses are two or more sto-
fies, the lower one is occupied as stabling, &c.,
wmlch gives to their entrances rough appearance
All the larger buildings, too, have an open square
In the centre, for their better ventilation. | had
the opportunity Of spending only four or five hours
on shore, but made the best use of my time pos
Sioie: Alter dining at Fulton's American Hotel,
LOOK volante IN company with two of my bro
''er oiucerS, and drove out through the city, on
what luckily for us turned out to be the fashiona-
Ole dfive IN which passed through several beau
uiul squares or plazas, laid out in broad walks.
skirted with flowers and shrubbery, and ornament
cd with the cocoa nut and other trees of the tro
PICS In this drive we passed by the enclosure in
which the bull fights, &c, are carried on-and
aso long line or monuments in honor of Spanish
kings. We had, also, the good luck to witness a
parade OIL lahcerS, some or ) hundred, and some
e,sht Ut ten companies of Infantry. The horses of
tie FORMER were miserable looking things, but they
seemed 10 DC well drilled, as also the Infan-
try There are about 30 thousand REGULAR troons
on the Island indeed every where YOU 90 Won en-
counter counter soldiers. They are mostly Differed by
European Spanlards, and but few of the soldiers
even are natives, which is said to be the cause of
some feeling among the Islanders
In passing into the harbor of Havana we had TO
go right under the guns Of the Moro Castle. The
entrance is narrow and Is completely commanded
oy that tortllcaton and another on the opposite side
Punta Castle. 1t did not seem TO me. however 10
De the very great work which it has been repre
sehted. lis natural position is strong and that is
about the most of it. 1 regret that had no, more
uHle 10 look about me, for outside, must saw Ha-
yana is beautiful place, though morally, from all
could learn, II has little about it that could render
desirable, or even pleasant, to a right-thinkinp
man, as residence. The houses are generally
succeed and painted, In varegated colors, which
gives slnguarly beautiful appearance to the city.
viewed from short distance
Our voyage has been a very tedious one and
most OF us have had quite enough of the sea- though
IL is likely that we are not yet done with it, From
The inquiries made by the vessel which visited us
soon alter we came TO anchor, think it likely we
snail receive orders this morning TO proceed to
ldhplco, or some other point. Indeed see no use
III keeping us here. There is little on the shore.
/ IN inv,
coast is desolatc looking one, consisting of moth
ing out huge sand-drift, with here and there
shrub or scanty tufi Of vegetation The scene a.
ROUND us on the water, however, is quite animated
and enlIvening, in military way. There are
more than Il hundred vessels of different descrin
tons, with troops, military stores, provisions. Sc
all collected here for some vigorous operations a.
galnst the Nlexicans. | have not as vet been able
TO get particle of news, there having been no com
nuncatlon with tho shore except through the speak
Ing trumpet.-Should learn any thing therefore
and have time, will write you another letter.
have not heard word from YOU since the mid
die OF January, and feel quite anxious | aim in
hopes, however, to find something from YOU on
shore, at Point Isabel.
we have been quite lucky in our voyape. al
though 1t has been SO tedious. Our vessel is too
much crowded. having on board at least one more
company than 1t ought to have, and we have been
kept uneasy all the time for fear of sickness especi-
ally In the warm days, when sometimes the
weather appeared to me as hot as in August i'm our
cline, but we were favored with storms and
Northers, that our health far has been preserved
Not man has died, nor have we had on board a
single case Of serious sickness.
Yours &c