Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-05-16
The Cuban Expedition.

The Cuban Expedition.
The Newark Daily Advertiser has
the following letter from correspond
ent at Jacksonville, Florida, giving ample
details of warlike preparations at that
place, Of which he has been an eye-wit-
ness.
The place is well selected, remote
from business and observation, with no
officials present, no mail oltener than
once week.
JACKSONVILLE, East Florida,
April 25, 1851.
For the past ten days we have heard
"rumors of wars" not well authen;ica
ted, bu, furnishing certain evidence that
another Quixotic expedition against Gu.
ba was intended. 1t is evident that
there are several points of departure "a
long the Gulf Coastal New Orleans
and st. Maryss and from the st. Johns
river, Florida. There are six steamers
at least, probably 1000 to 5000 men,
Savannah is the head quarters of opera
tons on the Atlantic side. was shown
letter from Gen. Gonzales, a week a.
60, dated at Savannah, directing the
movements of men and military stores,
but believed that it might be an attempt
to direct public attention from some 9TH
er quarter.
1t is now plain that the many eviden.
ces of movement in the States border
ing on The Gulf Of Mexico, indicate ali
invasion of Cuba, which will be attemp-
ted before this reaches you. The expe-
dition will undoubtedly sail in the course
of twenty-four or thirty-six hours. A
large quantity of forage (among which
was 800 or 400 bushels Of oats) was de-
posted here the day before yesterday,
and this morning saw put into the same
storehouse, cannon. gun carriages, rifles,
muske,s ammunition, and the furniture
of an army equipment TO very large
amount. have never seen so many
implements OF war except in an arsenal.
Large quantities of wood and rosin for
fuel on board the steamers, and horses
and men are collected in this immediate
vicinity, ready for embarka,ion. A
steamer is expected from New York to-
morrow.
This expedition would appear to be
much better appointed, manned, and Off
cered, than The one landed at Cardenas.
Gen. Quitman is said to command, and
Lopez to be the second. Some here
who are pointed out as connected with
the expedition as officers, are said to be
men of bravery and military talent
Most of the privates, of whom | have
heard, are men who learned the art of
war in Mexico, where they contracted
the taste of blood, and longed for more.
Blood hounds and tigers are no, the only
animals who become fierce by killing
Ii is a desperate business and requires
reckless, and desperate men. Ii is sup
posed that they will land 5000 on the
south side of the Island, supplied with
field pieces and good cavalry horse
that The steamers that convey them will
be burn, or sail Immediately, leaving the
invaders no alternative but TO conquer
or die. ...
1t is said that large number Of the
Creole population are fully prepared TO
join the landing party, and that an organ
lied force awaits the movement in the
mountains. 1t is said the Spanish pop
ulation is only one-sixteenth part of the
whole; and it is represented that the re.
mainder desire to fight for liberty.
am told that $4,000 worth of jewelry,
and $l50,000 in money, was sent 10
Gen. Lopez, the other dav, from Havan-
a, and $4,000 was contributed by a
| rich planter, Who is regarded al home as
| Ia .nrable 10 the government. The
agents here seem to have plenty of mo-
ney. and IL spend it freely. They have
several ways 10 raise the wind. One by
the issue of bonds, to bC redeemed II
the expedition is successful; ano.her by
the sale of commissions. A Lieutenant.
cy was offered 10 brother of Gen.
Shields, il is said, al Savannah, for ST.
900, with promise of $4,000 worth of
| bonds.
The citizens here have given the en-
terprise no direct encouragement, and no
United States officer here has the right
TO interfere. There is no U. S. Marshal
here. The thing is looked upon gener-
ally as chimerical, and until they saw
these warlike preparations and military
stores, generally discredited it, although
few knowing ones have known all
about it, and cautiously limited it when
necessary, in order TO make the necessa-
ry preparations. The Creoles and Gu
bans who are here and the few who were
engaged i'm the Cardenas affair. talk in
dignan,ly Of Spanish tyranny, and say
that the Cubans are on the very point of
revolution, with or without help.
Ii seems quite certain that before to-
morrow evening The steamer will be here
TO receive the military stores and embark
for the war. The captain of the COM
pany is a fine military looking man, the
hair on his face being disposed Ia Cali
fornian.
This is place out of the highway Of
travel, there being mail here but once a
week, and it may be, therefore, that all
this letter contains has been anticipated.
| II ia interesting 10 observe how enticing