Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
From The n q. Plcaypne.
TltS LOneZ ExneAifiOn

Nayratire efJ A. Kelly, one gfMe Ameyi
can prisoners at Hardna.
HAVANA, Sept 4. 1851.
Capt J. A. Kelly, one of the prisoner:
recently released by the Captain General
has given me the following statement oil
the event that followed the leading of the
forces under the command Of Lopez, from
the period of their embarkation TO that o.
his being made prisoner Knowing how
interesting it will be to your readers,
give it as full as l can recollect.
On the morning of the 18th of August
between and o'clock, the invaders land
ed at the little town of Morilos. Shortly
after, General Lopez started for Las Pozas
at the head of the Cubans and Hungarians
ordering Col. Downwan to take command
of the American infantry and follow him.
Col. Crittendcn was ordered to remain al
Morllos until the stores were landed, and
then to follow at all speed and join the
main body at Las Pozas. Gen. Lopez
was 10 send back transportation to Col. c
from the first rancho on the road. He ac-
cordingiy sent two carts with single yoke
of oxen to each These were entirely insult
fcient to draw the heavily laded carts, and
Col. G. sent one ofthe negro drivers for
more oxen, who returned with two more,
and the party started. The carts were
still too heavily laden, however. and the
progress was slow. They left Morilos "a
bout eleven o'clock. and only made FIVE
miles that night, the advance stopping at a
iienda or store on the main road, and be-
ing soon after joined by the rest oi the
troops and the wagons. Col. Cr;tcnden
had previously sent a messenger,to Gen.
Lopez, who returned and met them here.
Lopez ordered Col. G. to abandon his
ba aggape, ammunition, &c and join him at
once, as he expected a battle every no
ment, and wanted Crittenden TO attack the
enemy in the rear and flank. The latter
however was 10th TO abandon the amuni-
ton, and while dcibcrating he was sudden
~ attacked by party of Spanish soldiers,
who were rcpulsed. Col. Crittcndcn now
determined to leave everything and JON
Gen Lopez ut once, but before they were
ready to march they We're again attacked
by about $50 Spanish troops. as they learn
ed from a wounded prlsone-, who was
brought in to have his wounds dressed
1t is proper to state here that after the
fight all the wounded Spanish soldiers who
could be found were brought in and their
wounds dressed by DR. Fourniquct, who
was afterwards shotin thscity. Col. Crit
tcndcn had about l22 men under his com
mand of all ranks.
After beating of the soldiers, Col. Crit
tcnden took eighty men and started off to
charge the enemy, leaving Capt. Kelly
with orders to maintain his position until
his return. The men whom Col c. took
with him, Capt. X. states, were the elite OF
the whole command, and from that time
forth Capt. X. saw no more of either Crit
tenden or his men. The Spanish troops
kept up continual slow fire on Capt. KS.
men, but the distance from which they fir
ed was so great that thelr balls were most
" spent before they reached the tlenda.
After waiting about three hours for Col
Crttenden's return, and seeing or hearing
nothing Of him, the men under Capt. kelly's
command declared their determination not
to wait for him. any longer, and some OF
them started off with the intention OF ma
king their way to the coast and returning
to the U. States. After much persuasion
Capt Kelly induced them la remain lt-
tie longer. Some time after, the men a
gain started of, with the same intention
headed by two officers, Lieuls. Van Vech
ten, and Crafts. Capt. Kelly now gave
UP all hope of Crittendcn's return, and de-
termined to join Lopez at Las Pozas al
once. He induced the men TO 60 with
him by threatening to abandon them and
start off alone He took negro will
him as guide, and started through the
woods, to conceal his march and prevent
being cut of. The iienda was by thi:
time nearly surrounded by Spanish troops
and Capt. X. was Obliged to commence
his march ina rctrogade direction, going
towards the coast until he was out OF sigh
Of the soldiers, and then making circui
through the woods.
Just before dark they arrived at large
sugar estate and stopped at the house
Here they learned that company oil Span
ish soldiers had passed short time before
and were also informed that battle hac
been fought at Las Pozas, but the people
on the estate did not know which sld'
were vic,or.. They hired another negro
as guide and again started for Las Pozas
When within short distance of the town
they came across the main road and saw
several companies of Spanish troops
They concealed themselves in the thlcke
and sent the negro intothe town to ascer
tain who were the victors. He returned
and stated that all was quiet in the town
and the sentinels wore blue Shirts. Capt
X. then sent Gonzales, who spoke Span
r ish, into the town for further Information
, and about l o'clock at nj ght he returne
with the Adju,ant Generalof Lopez's forces
Schwartzer, who had succeeded Genera
Pragay, who had been severely wounde
in the battle of the morning. He CAV
Capt. Kelly the particulars of the battle
: and stated they had beat off the enem
with considerable loss. Capt. Kelly's me
were mostly asleep, and on being wok
pand ordered to march, three Of then
: named Frank Breedlovc, John Trimbl'
y and - Yard, were, as is supposed, lie
behind asleep, as they were not again see'
: : Capt. K. had given particular direction
i his men, to see that all were woke up, bl
= it is thought tina, in the excitement OF th
moment these men were overlooked, an
probably killed in trying to find their con
rades the next day.
On their march to the town Capt. X
e command passed over the battle hel'
!. which was literally covered with the dea
! bodies of the Spanish soldiers. Their lo'
e mus, have been very great. They wei
II challenred by the sentinel who In his G;