Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-10-07
THE BAN N E R TUESDAY MORNING, OCT. '.
THE CUBAN ExPEDIOI0E:

 FILL ACCOUNT OF IT BY LIEvT. VAN VEcHTss'
 or LoPEz's EXHIBITION, WHO HAS BERN FAR
 poxED BY HE CAPTAIN GkAERAL oF CUBA.
 sAaRATlyg.
 hecame connected with the expedition at New Orleans, receiving, on the s0th ot Suiy Ias, an appointment as first Eaentenant of Company B, of Col. W L. Crittenden.s rels- meat, (lst Artiiiery) commanded oy Captain James Landers. The expedition as you are already aware. Ieft New Orleans. at day break, on the morning Of Sunday, the 3d oI August, in the steamer PaRpevo. We were lowed to the mouth of the river, our engine being out oi order. We remained in the river until We'd nesday the 9th, and leit through the Northeast Pass. at $ o'clock. ?. H, ot that day Tor Key West The intention at that time was to go to Key West. and there take on board pilot for the river St. Johns--at which place we were to embark light battery of artillery, with caisons, ammunition and harness complete, to- ge,her with number of cavalry saddles-and from thence were to run to the South side Of Cuba, and land as near us possible to Puerto Principe.
 We reached Key West, and anchored some distance from the city. al about P. M., ot Sun- dny. the 10th inst. While at Key West. quantity ot brandy and champagne was received on board, which was imbibed tolerable freely by Lapez and his staff. About dusk of that day, no pilot appearing, Lopez called Coan- cl, composed entirely of the Cubans and Hun carians attached to his staff, (no Americans being called) who decided to give up going to the St. John's River, and run immediately for the coast of Cuba, which was done at 10 P. \. The next morning, owing to the variation of the compass from muskets being stacked near it. we found ourselves in plain sight of the Moro Castle, and about twelve miles distant; the vessel immediately headed northward and westward, and ran out of sight of land. About 3PN., of that day, Lopez took the captain and mute out of Spa9ish schooner, to act as pilots, giving them to unda$stand that they would be shot fl they showed Sny disposition to escape or deceive. At P. N. we again stood in for the island, and soon after dark sent boat to reconnoitre which was hailed by sentry on the walls of the fort, situated near Bahia Hon da, the snip not being more taan . mile from it. As soon as the boat reported, lights were extinguisbed and press of steam put on,. the ship running to the westward along the land
 About 10 o'clock, while running under the charge of pilot, under press of steam, the ship suddenly struck, and before the engines could be stopped had raa more than her length. upon coral reef. After examining her sstaa- tion it was found she was lying in about eight feet water, while her draft was over nine feet; and that it was necessary that the force should be immediately landed, which was done, and about o'clock on the morning of the 18th of August, the last of US disembarked upon the shore of what we had been taught to consider would soon be the free Island Of Cuba The first boats which landed were fired upon by twenty men, who fled on their fire being re- turned from the boat which contained Captain Goutl, Ia Cuban commanding an AmeFican company9 Lieut.. Lalningham, and about thirty priyates os his company. One of GoutYs men was wounded in the arm, and returned in the ship, and the cap of the Lieutenant was cut into halves on his head.
 Al day light Lopez sent a >fironuactdmeafo to Los Posas, small village ten miles distant. in which he informed the>inhabitants that he vas about to march to that place; and would give no quarter to any whom he found there, who dld no, jain hifl There being no means of trans2ortipg baggage at Cubanos, where we landed, Lopez ordered Col. Crittenden to re- mainfhere and protect our stores. consisting ot10O00o musket cartridges, 5000 muskets, and 700 pounds of powder, in kegs. together With the personal baggage of all the officers, saying that he wonld march on to Los Posas, with the regiment of infantry. commanded by tol' Downman, and send from thence transpor- taton, and that he would reIaain there until Jo.ned by Col Crttenden. Accordingly Lopez marched at eight o'clock, with three hundred and twenty-three men, leaving Critfenden at Iabaaes- with one hundred and thirty men, Al II o'clock that night, Cr;tteaden received t~o carts, and started immediately after. to Jo'n Lopez st Los Posas.
 The carts being heavily loaded and the roads oaa our progress was oi necessity slow, not aaVahe'ng more than a mile an hour. About tSo hours ai@r daylight on the morning of the ISta' we reached house containing a store sooat tour miles from Los Posas. The ad- vance guard and main body only had reached 'he hoosei sthc rear guard with the carts being SUI some Frar'er 0; mile behind) and were engaged lR eating breakfast, their arms being ia'd aside when they were surprised by the re- PoFt o' a"isketry and the whistling of bullets, ~hich proceeded from the advanced guard of q Oody oi the enemy, five hundred strong. We immediately seized our guns, and killed nine of 'he enemy, and made one prisoner, none of our party having been inluaed. Not seeing any more Of the enemy, the Colonel concluded Was DUt ioraging party that had attacked N' aud our rear guard having come up with the carts, ordered us to resume our breakfasts watch we dsd. About 10 minutes after we were again attacked by tue whole force of the eoe- n.y. they having lhe advantage ol position, be. lAs posted on the brow of hilI oyerlookinv y| position, wi;h belt of thapparal, some 'hfee hundred yards wide, intervening, oyer "hca we could not fire. cnttenden imme- "nety gave the order tosrhsyge, leading biu- sen and ioreed the encnsy toretreat 10 large 'o'f o' ,ehappasal some seventy five or eighty
 r1s ia ths rear ot their first poaition, trom "a.eA they opened heavy fire upon our force SoS la,, as tt agpeaTed in sight oa ibe hrow of' findne that he could no; maintain that uo- 'Doa' CFgienien gave aa order to retreat ,o .'e A'ase, which was done, while the enemy .''aied ms pnnsition on the hill. and again 'fvAea as Ire; upon whiea Cfitleaden ordered second charge, at the same time saying tia, ,s e ~l''ed small party Co obtain position at gnt Hank ot the enemy, to charge from '4s 'lie The moment he charged ironI the frnnt Ne"ha Lieutenant w. H. Crafts talso oF com II ny kl and tsas,sssir xs.t,,..t.e...A ...1 m.