The organizer., 1850-06-15
their rifles did deadly execution on
the Spanish garrison.

An independent company from
Mississippi. having no place assigned
them in the battle, connected itself
with the four companies of the rife
battalion from that State, and fought
with it until the Lieu. Colonel. observ-
ing General Lopez, without a body
guard, fearlessiy exposing himself to
the fire from the citadel, detached
this independent company to that
duty. They galIautry performed it,
and an officer killed in joining the Gen.
eral.
About sunrise, a torch was lighted
by General Lopez's own hands
against one of the doors Of the Citadel,
and soon the building below was in
flames. Nevertheless the Spanish
garrison continued, long after, to keep
up destructive fire from the fiat and
parapetted roof above. 1t was not
until it became manifest that the
building woud soon blow up, thai the
Governor of the city, officers and gar
risOn, came down and surrendered,
They fought with galIantry unsur-
passed by any troops.
The authorities now surrendered
the city, the killed on both sides were
removed, and the wounded taken
care of. The troops Of the exPedi-
lion bivouacked in the Great Square.
General Lopez was now busy in organ
zing those who seemed likely to join them,
and ir preparing to march towards Matan-
zss that evening.
At 9 o'clock he ordered two of the re-
naming three companies of the MississiP.
pi battalion Zone being at the railroad de-
pot) to march to the steamship, and place
al! the ammunition and stores Of the eXpedi-
lion on the cars. In an hour the work
was done, when orders came to place
them back again on the steamship. In an
other hour this also was done, and the
work was Just accomplished when the bat
tie of the evening begun in the town.
This wGs accustomed by an attack from
party of about thirty mounted lancersr
, and from eighty to hundred infantry, who
Achafged upon US with great boldness, and
who were repulsed after losing considera
Bile oftheir number killed and wounded.
The Lieutenant Colonel of the Kentuc.
: Ky Regiment during the evening had
( marched his force into the town, and they
+, with Lousianans did their whole duty.
The Lieutenant Colonel and the Major
) in command of the Mississippi Battalion
at the steamship against the positive or
I; ders Of the General. in Chief, formed their
men and quickly joined their fellow sol
diers in the city. The enemy had beer
> repulsed, however, with great loss, by th'
time Of Their arrival.
Gen. Lopez now ordered the who'll
force to re-embark on board the steam
: ship, and the vessel stood out to sea. A
u three o'clock in the morning she ran har
g aground. The weight Of the men and Q
IS the ammunition made il clear that sh
would remain aground and be captured b
e The first Spanish man-Of-war who di'
/. covered her, unless lightened. She ha
|. no artillery, a man.oEwar could stand o
n and batter her 10 pieces.
: In this extremity, the Commanding Ger
eral ordered the ammunition TO be throw
= overheard. With the exception Of sma
y number ofboXes this was done, and the vel
y sel at daylight was aHoat.
a The troops soon enquired to what Plac
= they were bound. Gen. Lopez informe
ID them that he desired to proceed to the tow
lt Of Mantua, In the Northwest coast OF Ii
le Island, and again attempt the Liberation
Cuba.
10 Many officers expressed themselv'
!. willing 10 20 with him, but nine.tenths
Il the soldiers positively refused They
signed the weighty reasons Of the scarci
Of ammunition, the absence OF artilieT
the scant supply Of coal for the vessel, u
o limited quantity Of water, and the tardine
AZ with which the Cubans at Cardenas join
ne the LiberatiDg Standard.
It- They demanded 10 be taken 10 The nea
be est United States port, and soon the Office
n generally concurred with them in 20 re
a. sOnsble a determination Gen. LrFEz W
70 forced to yield to theIr wishes, and gave
as the command Of the vessel
nd The next day, as we were IN sight
te Key West, Florida, Spanish man-of.w
n steamer came quarering down uPoa
- She had been hunting us from CArdenas.
We led her into the port very {
moments but owing 10 the quaranii
/, regulations Of the town we could l
land.
The spaniard bore down On us. :
~ wvold with her PaiEaan guns have destr
- Cd us bad not he United Staiss Reeves
'e9 Cutter inf rmed Der that We he'd surr
sai 5ered ,urselres 70 fhe auihorities II
Of Wsst. asd that be Qhs sPaniafdl ululi
inierisrs with un.
Of hia proper 10 State thai net one ART
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