North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-09-20

portion of our ammunition, and rendered our gun
entirely useless. We encamPed on the evening G
tat day at rancho the foot Of the mountains, abou
8 two leagues from Bahia Honda We remained I'M
disturbed that night; and attacked Just al break
Iast Tine on the morning of the goth; being taken b.
surprise, he sentry on the outpost having left hi
posi- 70 wash himself in creek, where he was killed
owing TO the nnserviceabe condition of their arms
inc iorce under Lopez was Completely routed, flying
10 the mountains in all directions-Lopez himsel
f barely escaping on horseback, with the loss of hi
saddle pistols and spy-giass-of every thing in fact
but what he wore. That night he encamped on tn,
top OF one of the highest mountains the Island o
Cuba, exposed to all the violence of terrific norther
without either SHELTER fire or food.
tits mPossibe for me to describe the sufferings o.
that night. Heaven forbid that | ever pass such a.
mother. The rain fell in torrents while ever and anon
terrihc crash would announce that some massive
tree had fallen, either before the force of the wind
or the sun mightier lightning. That night equalled
an ordinary lifetime. On the evening Of the 2Ist,
having been hours without eating kill
ed horse, which was divided among one hundred
and twenty-five men, who all that now remain
ed with Lopez. We wandered through mountains,
unable to extrlcate ourselves, subssting such
| leaves ana roofs as we could find, until midday of
Sunday, the Oath, when succeeding in reaching a
road running from Bahia Honda to San Cristobal,
along which we advanced until nearly night, when
two Spanish lancers were discovered advancing, but
fled on seeing A halt was Immediately ordered
and an examination made of the of forces,
which showed total Of one hundred and twenty-five
men, eighty muskets, about twenty of which were
serviceabe, and about forty dry cartridges. Under
this state of affairs, it deemed ad visable to re-
! treat which was ordered, and a pursuit commenced
by the enemy, who lay in ambush some few hundred
yards in advance, with force of nine hundred men,
On the approach of the enemy, the whole force of
Lopez separated into small bodies, and dispersed
through the mountains, throwing away their guns
and everything which could cucumber them in their
hIght seven men only remaining with the General. A
large number were overtaken and Immediately killed.
l, myself, was one Of party of eight who had pre-
vlousy determined on leaving Lopez, and attempting
to escape from the island.
We renamed in the mountains until the morning
of Tuesday, the Goth, when, having had but meal
in six days. and feeling that could bear no longer
we determined to 60 into the plains, considering that
it would be better to be killed outright than die lin
gerng death from starvation, which certainly would
up in the mountains.
Weaccordingly advanced to house where we were
treated with great deal kindness, and received
most excellent breakfast. An arrangement was made
TO procure guide to the south shore, with provisions,
&C., and we were about to leave and conceal our
selves until night, when, in the twnkling of an eye
We were surrounded by 200 armed countrymen, who
mmedate y bound US securely, and averted our peck
cts. considering the contents lawful plumber That
day we reached San Christobal Until we reached
San Christobal we were under the impression that
we to be Immediately shot, only consolation
being that we to die with full stomachs.
On our arrival there, informed that proc
amaion had been issued ten hours before arrest
sParng the lives of all I" fillibusteros who
made prisoners. gave themselves up, within four
days, except the traitor Lopez after which order
dated, think, the 24th of April (by which all for
eigners found in the island ordered be put
DEATH, was to continue in full force On the 2sth,
there being then AZ prisoners left San Cristobal
for Havana, and on Friday night reached Guayamas,
the terminus of railroad from Havana. There an
order received from the Captain General to pro-
coed to Marel and embark, he being fearful that the
prisoners would be torn to pieces by the rab6e at
Havana. We reached Marie on the evening of the
30th, and were embarked upon the steamer Almen-
dares, proceed to Havana, when express arriv-
ed bringing information of the capture of Lopez and
the dola uod oh
took place at O'Clock, P NJ, Sunday, the 3lst,
when we Immediately left for Havana. Lopez was
entirely at liberty, and smoked his cigarette with ap
parently much unconcern he did in his lite
Outside the harbor of Marie, Lopez transferred
to the steam frigate Pzarro, which conveyed him TO
Havana, and which he did leave until he left next
morning for the place of execution.
The remainder of confined that night in
the city prison in the of the fort called the Ponta
The prisoners passed through regular process, their
hair being first close their heads. They then
passed into the hands of another barber who deprv-
them of their whskers then another provided them
with prison uniform, and she exercises were ter
minated by big negro, who securely fastened them
in pairs by chain, similar in size and weight TO
log chain, firmly secured to the ANGLE.
At the time of my release from prison, which was
10 o'clock the night of the 4h instant there
and confined in large room, hardly large enough
however, for all to lie down at They were
treated very kindly, and allowed all the privileges
that could be expected As matter of course, where
many men confined in a limited spacs and not
allowed to leave 1t under any circumstances, it ma
turaIy follows that it must be very unpleasant. Their
is ten years. hard labor in Spain, probably
in the construction of canal. They all appeared
be in good spirits the time left being under the
impression that they would be released after
their arrival in Spain.
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro, and publicly |
garrotted in the square adjoining the prison, al
o'clock in the morning of Monday, the 1st of Sept.
With him ended not only this expedition, but sim
cerely trust all expeditions to Cuba
Up to the time left, the Spaniards could account
for two hundred and seventy-one Americans-includ |
ing Crittenden's Communication they had killed, |
that is, in action; wounded men who were left on
the field, and sick and fatigued who gave out on
the march, and were left behind, and whom they
hunted down in the mountains with dogs. Those, |
with the hundred and sixty taken prisoners, make
total Of four hundred and thrty-o accounted
for-leaving balance of twenty-five whose fate is
yet unknown-the total force landed being four hum
dred and ifty-three men. Ofthese twenty-five, pro-
baby the greater portion yet alive and in the
mountains; and as the troops have all been recalled
to Havana, it is probable of them may yet sue
ceeded in getting home. Out of the whole number
made prisoners, but two others besides myself, have
been pardoned. Those are Col. Haynes and Capt.
Kelly, whom the Carain-Geaeral pardoned and sent
home unsolicited. They were to leave Havana for
this port in the packet ship Norma, Friday. My
own release granted special favor TO Capt.
Charles II. Plat, of the United States ship Albany,
on board of which conveyed by aid of the !
Captain General, at IL o'clock. on Wednesday night.
the ship proceeding to Immediately. His Excel
ency sent Government tow boat and pilot TO take
her out.
Lopez was caught with bloodhounds, in the noun
tains on the morning of Friday, the 29th inst. The
hLip in adva of he hit |