Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-22


Cristobal, we were under the impression
that we were 10 be Immediately shot, our
only consolation being that we were to die
! withfu stomachs. .a ss
/ On our arrival there, we We're Informed
that proclamation had been issued ten
hours before our arrest, sparing the lives OF
1 az "hlhhusreros" who were made pris-
orers, or gave themselves up, within four
days. except the traitor, Lopez, after which
an order, dated. think, the 24th Of April
by which all Foreigners found in the island
Were ordered TO be put to death. was to
continue in full force. On the 2Sth, there
being then AZ prisoners, we left San Cristo-
bal for Havana; and onFriday night reach
ed Guayamas, the terminus of railroad
from Havana There an order was re-
ceived from the aptain-General to pro-
ceed to Mariel, and embark, he being fear.
ful that the prisoners would be torn to pie
ccs by the rabble at Havana We reach
ed Mariel on the evening Of the 30th, and
were embarked upon the steamer Almen-
dares, to proceed to Havana, when an cx-
press arrived bringing information Of the
capture of Lopez, and the seesrrer was de-
| layed to await his arrival which took place
at 2 o'clock, =. NJ on Sunday, the 3ist,
when we Immediately left for Havana. Lo-
pez was entirely at liberty. and smoked his
cigarette with apparently as much uncon-
cer'h as he ever did in his life. Outside of
the harbor of Marlel, Lopez was transferred
to the steam frigate Pizarro. which convey
IaI Inn III nd L.. 4, 4
leave until he left, next morning for the
place Of execution.
The remainder of us Were confined that
night in the city Prison, in the rear OF the
fort called Ponta. The prisoners passed
| through regular process, their hair being
first cut close to their heads. They then
passed into the hands of another barber,
who deprived them of their wh;skers; then
another provided them with prison uni
form, and the Exercises were terminated
by big negro, who securely fastened them
in pairs by chain, similar in size and
weight to log chain, and firmly secured
to the ankle
At the time Of my release from prison.
which was at 10 o'clock on the night OF the
prisoners. They were all chained, and
confined in one large room hardly large G.
nongh however, forall TO he down at once
They were treated very kindly. and allow
ed all the privileges that could be expect
ed. AS a matter of conrse, where so ma
ny men arc confined in a limited space and
not allowed to leave it under any crcum-
II, f,Il. 1
very unpleasant. Their sentence is ten
years hard labor in Spain, probably in the
construction Of canal. They all appear
ed to be in good spirits at the time left,
being under the impressiontha, they would
soon oe released after their arrival in
Spain.
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro,
and publicly garrotted in the square ad-
joining the prison, at O'Clock in the morn.
ing Of Monday, the 1st Of September
With him ended not only this expedition,
but | sincerely trus, Interpretations to Cuba
Up to the time left, III Spanards could
account for two hundred and seventy -onc
MISUNDERSTANDING Crttendcn's CON-
mand-whom they had killed. that is in
action; wounded men who were left on the
field, and sick and iatigued men who gave
out on the march, and were left behind,
and men whom they hunted down in the
mountains with dogs. Those with one
hundred and sixty taken prisoners, make
total offfour hundred and twenty -cnc
men who's 4e fate is yet urknown---the total
force landed being four hundred and fifty
three men. OF these twenty-five proba-
bly, the greater portion are yet alive and in
the mountains; and as the troops have all
been recalled to Havana, it is probable
some Of them may yet succeed 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 Cap
tain General pardoncd, and sent home, un-
solicited. They were to leave Havana
for this port in the packet ship Norma, on
Friday. My own release was granted as
a special favor to Capt. Charles I. Plat,
ofthe United States ship Albany, on board
Of which | was conveyed by an aid Of
the Captain General, at IL o'clock Oh
Wednesday night. the ship proceeding to
sea immediately. His excelency sen;
government tow boat and pilot to take her
out.
Lopez was caught with blood hounds, il
the mountains, ,on the morninin ofFrday, the
both inst. The dogs being some distance in
advance Of the men, Bit bim badly in The left
leg. There were seventeen countrymenin
the party whocaptured him, each of whom
was publicly presented with $1,000 and a
cross oi honor Immediately after his execu-
ton.
Let Us now view The cause and results
of this expedition. At the time | received
my appointment from Mr.. Sigur, one Of the
editors Of the New ORLEANS Delta, was
told by him that revolt was regularly or
ganized among the Crcolcs throughout the
Island Of Cuba; that they had elected Gen.
Lopez as their leader, and their object was
to free Cuba from the tyranny Of Spain,
or either form republic Of their own, or
annex the Island TO the United States
New Orleans for Cuba, with about 500
Americans; and that his landing was sig
nal ior a general rising, and that within ten
days after landing he would be at the
head of an army ofte thousand men, that
there were also two whole regiments Of
Spanish troops to come ovcrto hlm with
their equipments. The same story was
told to all. Was it sol
As have already stated, our first salu-
taiion was vollcy of rnuskery, instead OF,
as the DeltaAsserts, large body Of friends,
with horses, stores, &c, for onr use. In
stead Of finding the Creoles our friends,
we found them our most bitter enemies,
far more so than the troops-keeping the
troops constantly informed Of our move
rnents, and hanging on our skirts, putting
to death, without mercy, all those who
struggled on the march. OF the troops
cannot hnt sneak in nra,se w;tLcIlt 4 Sin