The New York herald., 1850-05-22
SKETCH OF THE LIFE,
NARCISO LOP EZ,
Commanding General Of the Cuba Invaders.
IFrom the New Orleans D eta, May 10 ]

and chief of a revolutionary movement contem-
plated in that island, which was TO have broken
out in the summer of lsiS, but which was frustrated
by discovery on the part of the government Many
arrests were suddenly made, and he himself, after
being informed that his principal friends had been
arrested, Ito the number of two hundred, as the ac
count was first brought to him, though II proved
afterwards TO have been greatly eXaggerated) had
time TO escape board vessel bound for Bristol,
Il. L., (Rhode Island, not Round lsland); feeling
himself reluctantly compelled TO take that step 10
would have certainly awaited them within three
days, if he had, al that moment, with premature
suddennoss, raised the standard of the revolution.
General Narciso Lopez is now a little over fifty
years of age, having been born in Venezuela, in
the year 1888 or 1883. His father was wealthy
landed proprietor, owning large estates on the
Hda0S or plains, swarming with cattle, horses, &c
His mother, who is still living, is one of those wo-
men of rare elevation of moral dignity combined
with mental strength, whose children, mbued
with that nobles inheritance Of nature are stamped
from the outset as born TO command. General Lo-
pez their only son that lived beyond childhood,
though of daughters has parents had some fourteen
or fifteen; and according to the habltual lie OF the
AGnOs passed almost trom the cradle 10 the saddle,
or rather we may perhaps say, TO the back of
wild horse, without any saddle--a training well
calculated 10 lay the foundation Of that character
and habit Of fearless hardihood energy, and reso-
luton, which has been illustrated by his subse-
quent military career.
Though so successful as a soldier and though
that success was achieved only by the display of
extraordinary capacity as wei as courage, il is sim
gulaT that Gen. Lopez has never been fond of the
military profession and life He did not enter il
nom choice, but simply as resource of despera-
lion, under circumstances forced upon him, at the
age Of fifteen, by the civil war then desoatng all
the Spanish South American provinces. His father
had been stripped of nearly all his property, or had
seen il rendered wholly unproductve, through the
operation of that cause; and, with such means as
he was able 10 realize, he entered into commercial
life at Caracas, assisted by his son, who, boy as
he was, was able TO bear the burden Of large
share Of its responsibilities. AT the town OF Va
lencia in the interior, he had the charge of branch
OF his fathers main establishment al Caracas, at
the period Of the sangunary and, for the time de-
yisye, battle Of La Puerta, in 1874 in which Boil
car, at the head of the insurgent troops was de-
feated by the Spanish army, under Gen. Boves.
BolHer, though routed sent orders 10 the garrison
of Valencia, TO maintain the place, which was done
with heroism to the last moment, so long as resist
ance was possible-the inhabitants, who knew
that massacre and plunder would Immediately ensue
on the entrance of the victorious army, uniting in
the defence with the few soldiers of the garrison
The town being an open one, this consisted simply
IN defending the approaches TO the plaza or square,
IN which were hastily collected all the property and
effects, which il was considered most important TO
protect. The house of Lopez's father happen
ed 10 be situated at one corner OF the square,
and the boy took an active part in the de
fence al that point, and before long found himself
recognised by those collected at that point, SOL
dieTs and citizens, without suspecting il himself as
their leader de tacto. His father, however who
mould from the boy who then made his maiden
trial in arms, took no part in ii. The resistance
was prolonged three weeks, but no relief came
nom Bolivar, who, meanwhile, abandoned indeed
all that part OF the country which he had thus COM
promised, and made his way along the coast to-
wards barcelona. The inhabitants of Valencia
felt bitterly resentul at this treatment by the pa
mot leader who had sacrificed them for the escape
OF the routed fragments of his force by direct
irP them 10 make resistance only justifable on
the idea OF his coming TO their relief; while il could
not iail 10 provoke even redoubled degree of the
usual ierocity with which, in that terrible civil
struggle, the conquerng party was in the habit of
ueatng any Town falling into their possession.
Massacre OF the men was the general ruie-a rule
often enough made TO include proportion of wo-
men and children. After the surrender of the
place, Lopez was separated from lis father, being
turned oif as a child, while his father was herded
with the men, imposed, in spite of the captulaon,
70 De Teseryed for massacre that night. The boy
himself. indeed, escaped that very narrowly. With
some other companions, he had joined couple Of
negroes, slaves Of his family. among n great num-
ber more who had huddled together in one spot for
safety that class not being usually included in the
massacres Of such occasions but during the night
fortunately issued forth with his two servants in
the hope Of being able 20 do something for his father
or 10 hear something Of him.
In this hope, indeed, he was mistaken, (though
ms father. as he afterwards learned, did succeed m
siiectng his own escape,) but the next morning,
on returning 10 the place which they had left for
that purpose, they found the CHASTITY spectacle Of
eiehty-seven bodies with their throats cut like
sheep. After hiding about for some time, feeling
himself constantly liable 90 the same fate and re-
duced TO condition ofentre desperation, he deter
mined 10 seek safety in the only situation in which
u was TO be found, by enlistment n soldier in the
amy; aud selected an opportunity of offering HIM
self TO sergeant Of more encouraging coun,cnancc
than the Others, by whom, not wthoot some en-.
treaty, he was accepted as n recrtht-the sergeant
little suspecting that the boy u fifteen and small in
stature at that. whom lac at first told 10 be oil and
play. was hereafter to become one Of the most die
kg1 nj IN Ia 4 4
not indeed live to IL, for this Good-natured ser
eean fell shortly afterwards il having been opez's
lot 10 convey 10 him, amongst Others the order FOR
the service which was his lasi.f
Srch were the circumstances which threw Lo-
1sz into The military career, and which threw him
into u on the Spanish side Of the civil war of that
Mreiohed period. lie was mere boy. and il was
the only chance Of lfe-whilc al the same time
there was probably then no inhabiiant Of Nalen-
cia who would have hesitated To shoot Bolivar the
chief Of the patriot side. as the hiticres Of enc
mics, had they he'd The opportunity. Spain was
then. moreover. under the republican constitution
ct lsl2-so that. IN the civil war at that period. the
cause of liberty did not appear 20 be solely on the
patriot side. The battle Of II Pueria was deemed
then "a have completely crushed the rebellion an
that region, though In fact the struggle was renew
ed aud protracicd. with various success till the
in 1s23 ''
At the end Of the war. Lopez. who had thus On.
tered IN the ranks found himself colonel, having
attained that rank AZ the arc Of tweuty-fhrer
through The hrilhancy and daring of his services
The hrst occasion that attracted etcniion 10 him.
was shortly after Lis enlistment, during an attack
upon cera place, which was defended hv field
works. there bring two hasions connected togetber
ny curtain Of about fry yards in length. The
Spanish force being divided into two portions. en-
gagged IN attacking the two blstions the anfuuni-
ucn OF the one portion gave ont and signal helm,
made 70 the other 10 that effect. the commandeY
called for volunteers to lead three mulrs loaded
wiih ammunition. from the one end 10 the other a
servicc requiring passage along the line of fire of
the enemy stationed behind the curtain connecing
the Two. Lopez was the only one who volunteer.
ed, and he set out with the three mules in string
according TO the custom of the country. the head
81 each fastened by a cord TO the tail Of ths ono
before u. Al about half the distance across. ono
Of the mules fcl dead. The mule Killed beiny M. /
luckily the middle one. u was necessary 10 rntie \
the cord, and re-fascn the tirst and third Together
All nncer severe fire, which was anViouslv v,,fcb
ed hy both parties. Tie succeeded. however. in \
reaching his destination. unwounded. thopgb bis
fun was broken by one ball, his pan,aloons cut bv
another. end his cap pierced ty a ihilJ. Win ths
Oti9I hluier Worndcd. bot not 70 death and the \