Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-06-08
The Fight at Cardenas.


The following letter, from a soldier in the
engagement, particularly details incidents and
facts not heretofore revealed:
Here we are safely arrived within the domin-
ions of Uncle Sam, after one of the shortest,
most adventurous (nodesty forbids my adding,
the most brilliantly campaign of the age. After
Joining all our forces on an Island off the coast
of Yucatan, we played off a ruse on the Span
iards, and drew off their vessels in that direc-
ton. Placing some fifteen of our men, who
were sick and dissatisfied, on the Georgiana and
Susan Lord to proceed h~omewards, we concen-
tratcd our whole force on the Creole. The
Georgianna and Susan Lord were captured and
sent into Havana; and we understand the Dons
are in high feather over this magnificent con-
quest. We hear that they have already hung
the parties. AS they were returning to the
United States, had abandoned the expedition,
and are American citizens, it will be for our
Government to determine whether they shall
be hung with impunity.
On the 10Th, the Creole neared Cardenas.
We had some difficulty in getting safe into port,
and arrived about 8 o'clock. In advancing up
the streets towards the Barracks, we had sever
al slight skirmishes. The Barracks were we'll
defended by four companies of Spanish Infant
try. Our force was composed of $40 as gallant
souls as ever went forth to battle. The Span
iards fought well behind barbados, but the
charge Of our boys was irresistible; they drove
the Spaniards from the Barracks down the
streets into the plaza. Here they made a stand,
but with one fire from our boys, were routed
and fled into the Governors Palace, a strongly
built house. Many of the enemy got positions
upon the tops of houses, and fired upon US. 1t
was from this fire we sustained our heaviest loss.
We could not see the ~rasoals, but whenever we
got a sight of them you may rest assured a pi-
geon dropped. Having cornered them in the
Governors Palace, we called out to them to
surrender. They returned some valorous reply;
and as we could not get at them any other way,
we thought we would try an old Western trick
OF smoking. We set fire to the Palace, when
the troops came out and surrendered. We al
so took the Governor of Cardenas prisoner. He
is the brother-in-law of Roncali.
During these skirmishes and attacks, we sus-
tanned the following losses:
kMea-Lieut. Jones, Ensign Seixas, and one
private.
Wounded-Severely, Adjutant-Ge General Con-
zales, Colonel Wheate, of the louisiana Reg
iment, and Colonel O1Hara, of the Kentucky
Regiment, and eight privates.
The enemy's loss it would be difficulty to
ascertain, but it must have been very great,
as they stood fire well, and our force embraced
as many good shots as were ever found in a
body of men of the same number. The streets
were well sprinkled with them.
After the affair in the Governors Palace, we
remained in the quiet possession of the town,
until the afternoon, mingling very freely with
the people,, who began to become quite we'll
satisfied with us. The behavior of the troops
was excellent. General Lopez, ably supported
by his officers, enforced the ~strictest order, and
no violence was offered to any of the citizens.
At 81 P. M. we were called into ranks by an
alarm Of the approach of a large body of the
enemy to attack US. This was a force of 900 in
fantry, $50 l%ancers, and four or FIVE hundred
rancheros or volunteers. They charged us
quite boldly, but were met with the most de-
s%tructive fires from our columns. We nearly
annihilated the whole force that came within
striking distance of the infantry; not twenty
escaped. The lancers charged us with desper-
alton, but were quietly tumbled off their horses
as fast as they CAM up, by our unerring marks
men. There was one left, and him we took
prisoner. Their loss was about 400. This
battle lasted thirty minutes. The Spaniards
showed pluck, but they don't know how to
fight. They stand fire well, but don't know
how to return it with effect. We lost some
good men in this affair. That gallant and ex-
cellent young officer, Captain Logan, of Ken
lucky, was SO badly wounded that he died
shortly afterwards; so also were Captain Elliott
of the staff, Chaplain McCan, of Kentucky, and
ten privates. Fifteen were wounded.