The North-Carolinian., 1850-06-15
sz FAYETTEVILLE n c. JUNE Is 1870


The following letter from an officer in the ex
petition, although it presents no new phase as t,
the results, gives number of new and interest
ing Incidents:
KEY WEST. May. e2, 1a5O.
Editors True Delta: Here we are. safe
and sound, after passing through as mau,
per'ls and hair-breadth escapes as Sinbal
the Sailor.
| shall hastily glance over our field cl
operations" as we'll as lack Of writing
materials (and YOU will probably add. a
lack Of brains. will admit Of. After ar
irving, with our vessel. at the appointed ed
the steamer Creole, until the 9th, wher
General Gonzales, aid to General LOPEZ
follow in the track Of the Creole during
following day. the boats Of the Creole were
lowered. when we all got on board the
steamer and proceed to where Colonel
O'Hara had his command, near the small
island of Mugeres. Here we remained
two days, for the purpose of burning up
and taking in supply of fre>! water. At
- -
left behind, some of them being. as | un-
derstood, incapacitateL from active drty
on account of sickness, while others posi-
lively refused to embark on the Creole,
asserting they had been deceived. as they
understood when embarkiny, that their
destination was Chagrcs. Having finally
got all the fighting men ofthe expedition on
board, (61O men rank aud file the bows
of the Creole were pointed to the promised
land, SO rich in our imaginations, in the
triumphs of glory and fame. No particu-
lar portion of the sland having been settled
upon as the point of the first attack,
council Of war was held by the officers,
two days before landing, and Cardenas
fixed upon a- the place where the first
blow for Cuban independence should be
struck. and as the place where the liberat-
ing expedition was likely to have their
supporters.
After proceeding slowly and cautiously
for some time along the coast Of the island,
we entered the harbor of Cardenas, on the
of the 10Th, about three o'clock
and landed unobserved at the railroad
wharf. On landing. we formed our coul-
panies on the line of railway, prepared
for any emergency.
The invading force was formed in three
livisions-Colonel O'Hara's regiment on
the right, Or advance Colonel Nheat's
in the centre, and the command of Colo
mel Bunch brought up the rear. In this
order. the whole force marched along the
line of railway to the principal street,
opening on the main place, where the COM
nander halted General Lopez then sent
,ut scouts to>arrest the guards or senti-
,els, and to obtain information of the
ocale Of the principal public buildings.
Dur scouts arrested one watchman, but
he poor devil was SO frightened that we
Gould obtain no information flom him.
" c then woke up several Of the inhabi
ants, stated to them the object Of our visit,
md asked them to point out the Govern
'rs residence, barracks, &c.a duty which
hey. one and all, declined to PERFORM
Finding that entreaty was useless. a SIX
hOoter pointed at their heads had won
lerful effect to Frightening their ideas, and
through the influence of such persuaders,
he requisite information was soon ob-
aimed.
Col. O'Hara was ordered to take the
arracks. but as he approached that build
ng he was challenged by the sentinels
nd his command fired upon at the same
l'ne. The fire of the Spanards was
romptly returned by our men, and the
all thus unexpectedly opened was kept
p till daylight, with only a suspension at |
intervals to hurra for s.Gen. Lopez and
berty for Cuba.'' The brave O'Ilara
'as wounded early in the action. While
he contest was going on for the possession
f the barracks, Col. Wbeat's command
as ordered up to storm the Governors
aIace. While this regiment was adj
ancins to the attack, Col. w. was light
' woun led. The rear DIVISION, COM
'anded by Col. Bunch, was finally
rought into action and the whole invad-
,g force kept up continual fire till
'orning. The Spaniards had decidedly
lie advantage Of US in the night, from their
rrfect knowledge of the place. an advan-
lse which they improved, for it appeared
} me that every window and Ioop-hole in
le city contained some rascally shouting
achine. All the lights in the Windows
ere put out, and the onl " guide or inti-
atlon Of the position of the foe we had,
as from the flashes of the Spanish mus
cts. Our men stood the fire as well as
~ troops l ever saw, and | have seen
,me tall fighting in the valley Of Mexico.
will be recoIected TOO. that the first
riiI majority of our men ever had, was
the face Of an enemy in the streets of
S own city. General Gonzales was Sc
rely wounded in the thigh during the
'ttest of the engagement. and carried out
the rage Of fire. HIS fall was serious
IS to the invading force, as he was the
'ly person in command acquainted in
ardenas. The firing was Kept np till
out SIX O'Clock in the morning. and
loht have been till THE time had mt |