The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-07-08
official Reports OF the
EXPEDITION TO CUBA.
Report of Major Hawkins, Kentucky
Regiment.
New ORLEANS, June 26, 1850.


ment, while in the town of Cardenas, from
the time the command devolved upon me.
Col. O'Hara being wounded early in the
morning of the 10Th, Immediately brought
the regiment to a halt, and into position to
attack the building from which the enemy
were delivering their fire. | at once saw
that the only mode Of attack would be to
force an entrance through the door or win
dows, but at the moment | was commencing
the operation, Gen. Lopez came up and coun-
demanded the order. and directed me to hold |
my command in front Of the building. He
then proceeded to the main entrance and de- /
manded the surrender of the garrison. upon
which demand they Immediately threw open
the doors, and the house was taken possession /
Of by party Of our men. During this time /
the Louisiana Regiment, under Col. Wheat, /
passed up the street into the Plaza, whence
they were received by a voley from a line off
Infantry formed in front Of the Governor |
house, which was situated across the Plaza
and directly opposite 10 the house from which
we had first been fired upon. This fire was
kept up for some minutes, when the Span
iards were driven into the building. 1t was
now light enough 10 discover the position of
our forces the La. Regiment, commanded
/ by Lieut. Col. Bell, (Col. Wheat being
wou lded,) was under the walls OF the CIV
erEor's house. Having received an order not
/ to fire, my men were standing at rest, and
receiving a very sharp fire from the windows
and top Of the building. by which several Of
/ them were wounded. The Miss. battalion
was formed up and down the main street.
their right flank resting on my right; they
were protected from the fire by the buildings
in the rear.
After remaining il this position some time.
|, by order of Gen. Lopez, leaving one COM
Z ~,
La. Regiment made a circuit to the left, and
passed to Il e rear of the city and there took
up position to resist any force that might
attempt 20 enter the place. [ remained
here some two hours, when the news CT the
surrender Of the Governor, and an order for
me to return to the Plaza, were brought
me.
1t was now nearly tweuty-lOur hours since
we had had relreshment or sleep, and the men
were very much exhausted Alter placing
them in comfortable position as could
find, proceeded to see what couit be done
Tor them in the way Of food and water, and
also to learn in what position we stood to
wards the inhabitants. | found that the gar
rison, which consisted Of a company Of In
iantry after learning from the General the
object Of our invasion, had determined to Join
our standard, but the reception we met with
from the citizens was far from encouraging.
There were many of them leaving the place,
while those who remained appeared to be
much surprised and alarmed at our appear
ance. This state Of affairs continued until
noon, when they began to wear a more IA
S yorabc aspect. A few persons came in with
some show OF Friendships and others brought
in number Of old swords and ioWling pieces
for our use, but none of thenFevinccd dispo-
I sition to use them. Things went on quietly
4 during the afternoon. About A. o'clocllI was
sent for by Gen. Lopez, who informed me
that he had determined to change his plan OF
operations; that as he had failed in SURF rising
Z the city of Cardenas as he had expected, and
d had learned that the information Of cur land
r ing being carried to Mutanzas, there would
: be sent by the railway train, which would
probably reach US by | O'Clock that night, a
Il much larger force than he felt justified, in
n our present condition, in attempting to res st
5 he had determined (stiiI holding out the idea
n that we were to embark on the TallrOad) tC
re-cmbark the troops on the Creole, and en-
deavor to make landing at Il point on the Is
land where he would find force organized
& and ready to support him. After cOmmuni
eating this to Lieut.. Col. Bell, of the La
Regiment, and Major Smith OF the Miss. bat
+ TALON, proceeded to get my command in or
r der, and ready to move at moments notice
l. | found my command-alter sending Capt
Rnbinson's company 10 the vessel. at the re
quest Of Col. O'IIara. to facilitate the reload
y ing and supplying her with coal and water
> and the loss OF eight men killed or Woupdct
. in the action Of tie morning-to consist Of thu
:, companies OK Captains Logan, Wilson, an,
- knight, (the latter under the command 0
N Lieut. Deere and Il portion Of Capt. John
sons company-amountlng, in all, to abOu
= IS or 80 men. | moved them to TIE center O
= the Plaza and there held them ready 70
~ orders. About six O'Clock, the Louisiana reg
- iment and Mississippi battalion, with Tn
: prisoners, arms, &c, were put in motion TO
', wards the railroad which was near 10, and il
~ the direction Of the vesr eI, As soon as tn
- right had moved of, Gen. Lopez told me tina
i he had been informed that there was Il fore
=. consisting Of four companies ofiniantry and
!; hundred and fifty lancers, marching upon th
q town, and that be doubted not it was their II
- tentiOn to attack US. He directed me to lOrt
~ my command across the street leading trOT
u the landing through the Plaza aud out oil th
~ city. | was to defend this passage to tn
u vessel, and cover the embarkat0n OF the mai
~ body Of our troops, until the signal should b
sounded upon the buge. for me to retire
- the vessel. If was attacked he was to reiI
r. force me from the other commands PerceU
NJ ing at once the importance Of our position
~ and believing the fate Of cur whole force
''u depend upon our successfully defending til
IL position, l determined to take upon myse
,o the responsibility ofaltering the disposition
, o., my command. There being but three stree
Z" leading from the rear of the town to the We
sci, by which the enemy could pass-one ruI
! ), ming through the Plaza, in front of which
or was posted and one on either side runnir
he parallel TO i'll determined to throw CAPITA
ST. Johnson's company from my right to occur
one, and the company from my left, und
lPUt Dear 10 OccuDV the other. ljcf9
these companies could be put in motion, Il
nrarrn,r h.lNinrr rrnrnnl L,rNc- ro1-nr Of n