The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-22


Much more in sorrow than in anger sub'criae myself
your mrC IA IN jufcd friend, J. !. G,asCCa.
The Lopez Expedition.
NARRATIVE OF MAJOR A. NELLY, ONE OF THE AME-
RlcAS PRISONERS N gAvAvA
From the New Orleans pcsyuas, Sept. l3l
Capt A. Kelly, Que of the prisoners recently re-.
leased by the Captain General has given the follow
ing abatement OF the events that followed tbs landing Of
The forces Under the command Of Lopez from peri
Of their Decentralization to that OF his being made pri-
sorer Knowing how interesting it will be To yyu sni
Your readers, give it as full as l eau reco,lect
On the morning of the 18th OF August tween and
o'clock the invaders landed at the little town OF Nor
ros. Shortly after Gen Lopez started for LA Pozas
a. the head Of the cubans and Hun arians ordering Col
bowman to take command Of the American aud
follow him Col Cdttenden Co remain at ,r
ros until the stores were landed and t. fow ct
all pend and join the main body at Las pozas General
Lopez was to send back transport alton to Col q from
the first rancho the road lie accordingly sent two
carts WITH Jingle yoke o. oxen TO each These w-r.
entirely insufficient to draw the heavily lad ADD
Col T. sent one 81 the drivers for who
returned with two more yoke and the party started
The carts we're still too heavily laden however aad
the progress was SLOW. They left Morrios about IL
o'clock ard only made FIVE miles that night, the al
vance stopping at a tienda on the main road
and being soon after Joined by the res, OF the
troops and the wagons Colonel crittenden had pre-
vic usy sent messenger to Gen Lopez who ret ur-d
and met them here Lopez ordered Colonel C. To aban
don his baggage, Ammunition sc, and join him At
once as he expected battle every moment, and
wanted Crittenden TO attack the enemy in the rear
and flank The latter, however, was 10th 70 ahan-
den the ammunition, and while celebrating he was
were repused. Col Crittsnden Determined to
leave every thing and join den Lopez at but be-
fore they ready 10 march they were again at
tackled BY about $50 Spanish troops as they iclrned
from wounded prisoner VINO was brought in 70 ma We
his wounds dressed 1t is proper to state here that after
ioui brought in aud their wounds dressed by Dr.
fourLiquet who afterwards shot in this city Col
Crittenden had about 10 men under has commsni of
all ranks.
AFTER beating OF the soldiers Col. Critteuden took
eighty men ana started OF to charge the enemy leaving
4 II i
hi return The men whom Col @ took with him, Capt
Capt states. the clit. Of the whole communal,
aud from that time forth Capt X of either
Crttenden or his men. The Spanish troops kept up a
continual slow FIRE on Capt Keys men, but the dis
lance from which they red was great that their balls
were mostly SPENT before they reached the tiead.
After waiting about three hours f,rCo Critteuden's
return and seeing or hearing nothing Of him. the men
under Capt Kelly command declared ther deserni-
nation not 20 wait for him any longer and Of them
started off with the Intention Of making their way to the
asst. ard returning TO the United States After much
persuasion. Capt Kelly induced them TO remain little
longer Some time after the again stlrted on With
the same Intention ieaaed by two CHEERS Lie.en lnts
Van Nechten and Crafts. Captain Kelly pave up all
hope Of CrtteDden return ard determine join Gen
Lopez az Las Pozas at lie induced the to
go with him by threatening 10 abandon them aud start
! on sione lie TOOK negro WITH him as a guis AID
started through the woods. TO conceal his arch and
| prevent being cut III The iienda by this time
nearly surrounded By Spanish troops, and Capt k
obliged to commence his march in retrograi s direction
gciug towards the coast until BE out 81 h Of the
soldiers. and then making a circuit though the woods
Just BEFORE dark they arrived at large sugar estate
ind stopped the house Here they learned that
company Of Spar in soldiers had pass short tins
before and were also informed that battle md 5eea
foreht ft Las Peas but the people the did
net know which side we've the yi.tors They hired
another negro guide ard again started for Las Pozas
When within short distance Of the towa they
eoross the main road, ard say several companies Of
| spenish troops They concealed Themselves in the
hcEet and s. mt the negro into the own t. ascertain
who were the yictcrs lie returned and stated that all
wee quiet in the town and that the sentinels blue
shirts Captain X. then sent Gonzales, who spoke
spanish into the town, for further information aud
about 10 o'clock at night he returned with the Alu.
tsnt OeDsia a. Of Lopezs forces, schwartzer who nsd
succeeced General Prasay, who had been severely
wounded 10 the battle Of the morning He gave Cap.
tain Kelly the particulars Of the battle aud stated
Il: 80, y-.s :ae e.eny with considerable loss
Capt k'nys men mostly s.tap ai.a "a bsias wpke
up and ordersd 70 march three Of them named Frank
bfeea1'. John II nole AID = Yard were as is sup.
posed len behind asleep they not again seen
capt n had given particular Directions 70 his men 10
an were woke up but 1t ia thought that in the
sment Of the moment these men were overlooked
and probably Killed in trying lad their comrades tie
rext day. ~
On their march to the town Cant z = command na,.
ed over the battle held which literally covered with
the dead bodies Of the Spanish soldiers Their loss must
nav, been very great They were chsr sed by the
une VINO IN his osgerness, forgot his duty far 20
ssk II they were Critenden's This was the lrst
nimaion Csp Kelly had received that Crittsnden was
Captain X Immediately reported himself to General
Lor'z who approved o: his course and appeared ex.
Iemey glad 20 see him. Csptsin Kelly wished to go
ses and ascertain what had become OF Cs,t nd.n who
bad eighty Of the beet In the commend with him
General Lorez replied that be had conDauie
hat afternoon 20 CIiendens relief aud III at they had
returned and stated that IL impossible 10 get
that his troops were already under marching orders and
hat IL absolutely necessary he should leave there
that night as be would b. again attacked 81 me Spanish
troops IN the morning with artillery IL inteniel 10
nave Ter the mountains, where he cAeulsted to meet
ne Cftcles who were said 20 b. In there Capt
Nelly ays That Gen. Lopez appeared t. be very suxc,l.
20 JON with Gel Crittendcr but IL absolutely nrces-
sary That he should leave his present situation before
The spsrish commander could rcceiy. Iii artillery
- their posid1n would soon be rendered urte,sble
ssS Afpes mad no artillery did the Panosro brinr
over any a. reported Hesxpccted 20 Ind Creole f)-cs
IN The mountains with artillery he had been Informed
La Peas J. situated about twelve miles from the SEA
shcre and AZ the foot Of the mouutan foruay the re-
zion called The vula Absjo Ab,u. twenty minut-s AZ
ts- Capt. Key's arrival. the whole conmsnl were on
the march and shortly after comm ,noei ascending the
nountssns About daylight they achui house used
~ sort q general post onice for the district and about
mile farther en- they came across another house waere
the men got brctkfast which they with right good
VII They rested here until the Afternoon, which
much needed e. Capt. . men had NV been on the
march for two nights and one day.
IL tfe cool q The afternoon they aclin took NJ the
lire q march. and arrived a. h-csnda formerly be
enging 70 Gen LoP.z abou. or O'Clock the morn
shout two hundred iEIcsrs chAry@i down upan .hsn
hut were eoon driven tack. Amos. iarlalaiely af.r
he~s wa received that srEc force q spanish troops
Etre 10 felt about mile OF sui L5psf INN Iit-y
ntrohsd ththsr where about eve hgndsd Of the enemy
tu.d 20 rs:siTe thea lie immsGis ely attacked them
conflict completely routed them they fsinx 10 alt n.
rectiCbst 70 the woods. In this Fight Genua Eana
Aftr this Lopez sumed his mach and crossed ne
mountains passing through thissy settled coIntry,
until hey reached coffee ssate where they got
thing % eat They c0ainued marching abou. ua. N.
list when their guide brought them % viihin fss
miles 4 san ChriFtobal where ss Gsn Lopez learned
ircm countrymaD there upwsrds OF 800 sssnish
troops They preceded 20 the top u IN N hill whence
'hsy saw he troops patrolliEg the valley beow They
z sired here all nght. exposed o. heavy raia add in
he morning stared bsck about fifteen miles road
ndered vory bad and slippery bT the rain Il the night
osfore they sgsin turned south their way 20 The
houfe q friend who're they intended rest and put
their arms which rad been much dsmsg.d by the rain
order While taking breakfast th- m1roins (the
-2fJ they were attacked By large force Of spanish
rccps Capt Kelly thinks between four anil Eve hun.
Jrsd end hre Tho invading troops III Dr. FIRST
winr % The lad condition 4 their 10 ccncd
adtslle O. retire b. the moUntsiDs and Lcp,z gave an
order N that eject Some tseuiy tbirty FL tba
main bocy and made for the wocds some q the others
vi . remaired With Lopez threw away their guns
BY The time they reached the mountains il com.
menc'd rainirg and Taned fgriousy for aJaut forty
'izht hours. Tbs completely ruined their remaining
suus and ell their ammunition besides preveot,1g them
III making tres and getting any thinr - eft when
md yfa ipr.s