The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-31
From the Neto Orleans Della, Nay %.
The Liberatin4 Army Of Cuba.

As many very erroneous reports have been pub
the force which left the United States under Gene
raj Narciso Lopez, to aid the people of Cuba in
achieving their Independence, and oyerthrowing
the Spanish despotism in that island, we think il
proper to publish correct and reliable statement
of the strength and character Of that force. The
estimates ofGeneral Lopez's army, made by various
journals, vary from one to ten thousand men. The
general estimate, however, is five thousand. This
number is considerably over the mark. II
tainly very practicable TO have raised forcc
large that indicated, but the prevailing opinion
of the friends of the enterprise was that if the
surances they had received from the Cubans
TO be relied on, two thousand would prove suffi-
cient force; if those assurances should prove
founded, five thousand could not maintain them
selves against the Spanish army aided by hostile
and disaffected people. Then, too, the raising Of
so large a force as five thousand men involved
large expenditure, which the junta could i'll afford,
and might attract the attention and invite the in
reference of the Federal authorities. Their trans
portation and landing, too, would be rendered more
difficult.
For these reasons it was believed most judicious
TO raise force not exceeding two thousand, COM
posed of picked men, of tried courage and skill and
TO organize and despatch them in the most secret
and quiet manner. These men being all Ameri-
cans, and having served in the Mexican cam
paigns, and being mostly armed with jennings
patent rifles, would be more than match for quad
ripple the Spanish force that could be brought
against them With this force, il was General Lo-
pezs intention TO throw himself upon some point
WDere ne has NUMBER OF frlcnds, and by coup de
main to capture tho arsenals &C., of the Spanards
seize the public funds the people, and invite
all friends Of liberty TO rally around his standard.
In the selection and organization Of this force, Gen
eral Lopez relied chiefly on young Americans from
the South and southwest. The troops which left
this city consisted Of three regiments battalions,
of a few hundred men each These were, at least,
the only organized bodies that left this port There
other detached parties which left Tor Chagres
the point Of rendezvous, and others, still, that
have departed from Texas and other parts of the
United States, for the same destination.
We find il impossible TO obtain full lists Of the
officers, accurate returns OF the strength of the
regiments. Those which we have embrace only a
portion Of the officers such as we could pick up by
inquiry. Our object in publishing them is TO refute
and falsfy the statement published by the Spanish
journal La Cr6nica, in New York, sanctioned by
the Washington Globe, and reiterated by La Pa
ia, in this city, that the persons engaged in this
expedition were ''vagabonds and blackguards, and
men Of desperate fortunes" statement Of the
names and antecedents Of some Of these gentlemen
will be the best response 10 this calumny.
The first regiment which was organized and
sent OIL, was that OF Kentucky, (De Propaganda IA
berfade.) This regiment left April rs. Il was
commanded by the following officers: Col. Thoo-
dore O'Hara, abrevet Major Of the U. s. army, and
late major in the Commssares' department. Lieut..
Col. John r. Pickett, late u s. consul at Turks
Island Major Thomas Theodore Hawkins, late Of
the U. S. army, (l6th lnfantry.) Captains Hardy,
Qate Of ID Kentucky volunteers.) Logan, (late Of
the U. S. army,) Marriott, (of the Voltigcurs,)
Dean, johnson, James, Knott, McGuffin, Titus,
Hosy, and Voolfolk. This regiment consists Of
from three 10 four hundred strong-all Kentuch-
ans. They left in ship. There are others Of
the regiment who left since 10 Join their command,
but we have not their names and grades.
The second regiment that Of Louisiana,
which left May 2. IL lie commanded by Col. G. r..
Wheate, member Of the bar Of this city, and for
merly Of Nashville. Col Wheat was an officer In
the Mexican war, and, on the disbandment Of his
regiment, which enlisted for twelve months,
raised an independent corps, which served through
the campaign. Lieutenant Col. w. ii. Bell.
Mississippian, Of the first Mississippi volunteers,
who had lost arm at Buena Vista. Major J. r.
Hayden; Adjutant r. y. Fisher; Surgeon - stul;
Assistant Surgeon A. A. Josephs; Quartermaster
Thomas; Commissary J. ID. n. McHenry; Captains
Cuen, Henry, o. Foster, Hunton, Mccormick,
Colin, Breckenridge, j. G. Davis, A. w. Marsh,
Abner c. Steedc, ]. G. Howard; Lieutcnants Dun
can, r. Scott, McGunegle, Thco. Byrd, Dennet,
f. l.. Jones, Foley, Parrish, Norris Fixton, Mitch
ell, Morgan, Sasrtain, and three hundred and hf
~ rank and file.
The last regiment which left this port was com
manded by Colonel ". J. Bunch, formerly mem
Der Of Congress from Tennessee, with Peter Smith,
son Of Judge Pinckney Smith, Of Mississippi, Ma
jor; Captains A. Mizell, McKewen, and others,
all respectable gentlemen Of Mississippi, whose
names we have not been able TO obtain in full.
We have not pretended 10 accuracy or fulness
in this statement, our main object being 70 vindi
cate the character Of the men engaged in the enter
prise