The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-25

hands of their ruthless pursuers and with the faint hope
OF preserving their lives little longer the survivors sub
United 10 the horrors of their situation with heroic fort-
tuds till finally with hunger and fatigue, many
Of them laid down 10 die gave themselves up their
revengefu hunters. caring not what was to become OF
them Some few OF the hardy with Lopez al their
head. had taken southwest course from San Crsobal
These compelled TO cut their way over almost
passabe mountains sometimes only making mile in
six eight hours II had never entirely ceased raining
since the 18th but after the battle OF the 2lst they
peenced q complete hurricane OF wind and rain, which
did not cease during two days and nights They had now
got into part OF the "Cuscu mountains. where
they suffered intensely from codthe rain pouring Down
upon them in torrents having nothing to eat and unable
to strike fire, their condition was miserable indeed On
the evening OF the second day after their arrival at Gus
Gu" they length succeeded in making fire, and Lopez
and his companions in misfortune (amongst whom
the gallant Capt Ellis and his devoted friend. TO whom
he was already indebted for his lfe Lent Thomason)
had 10 kill the generals horse to their lives
Never did enjoy more hearty meal than did those
poor fellows; they ate his flesh with all the relish cpl
would have picked the choicest morse that money
could procure. They again resumed their march the
evening of the 22d, and wandered about in the
ans, unable to discover path, and without any idea
their whereabouts until the "a h when OF the party,
who had climbed tree, discovered a road close by,
which they recognised to be the which led into the
town of San Cristobal, and only few yards from the
spot whence they had taken their departure the 10TH
They learned however the danger of the vicinity in
which they found themselves; their arms such they
were, that remained among them, useless from the
heavy rns the men, weary and out, little in
cned for fight; and indeed, time given for de-
liberation for they Immediately attacked by large
force of The royalss-infantry well as ancers--who
poured tremendous fire into Lopezs little band which
completely dispersed them and from that moment the few
but brave men, who had composed the berating army
nd Ipnaz iUht ho
The dispersion general-each man for himself
Capt Ellis, Lieut.. Thomson, Lieut. Edmund Mcdonald,
and few Others fled back the mountains, where they
remained concealed for three days They had subssted
nearly week upon the cabbage palm and at last redu-
ced 10 despair by hunger, emaciaed and weary, with
barely strength sufficient to hide. themselves from
their pursuers. many of them severely wounded,
and Captain Ellis fast sinking from his frghtful
wounds, they determined to descend into the val.
ley, with the faint hope of obtaining assistance They
accordingly conducted the gallant Ellis to rancho,
and entreaed the inmates to afford them succor, which
kindly extended TO them by old lady and her
two fair daughters the propretors OF the farm They
shook hands with the poor fellows, dressed Elliss
wounds. and set before them an abundant meal 1t af
forded the greatest satisfaction the ladies to witness
the rapid disappearance of the quantity OF food
they had prepared for them and which doubtless they
thought would have been sufficient for whole regiment
But when II was explained TO them that these hungry
meh hau Veu upon iools only Tor Ten days, the tears
came into the old ladys eyes, and it seemed as if she
could no, do enough for them May God Almighty
bless and multiply thy talent hundred fold, thou
good old lady, for thy kind compassion upon these
unfortunate men. who, perhaps, but for thy kind heart
might have died OF hunger! Here they were inform
ed that his excellency the captain general had issued
proclamation Offering pardon, rather quarter, TO all
that remained OF the expedition who would deliver them
selves up TO the authorities within four days and luckily
for Ellis and his rades they had fortunately deter
mined in time TO yield themselves up, this was tie
last day of grace. Their arrival The rancho soon be-
came known to the troops who speedily surrounded the
house, but through the good Offices OF the old lady and
her daughters the prisoners kindly treated by the
commanding officer. who conveyed them forthwith to
their headquarters The OF San Cris,obal where
they found many OF their companions, who, like them
selves after suffering every degree OF misery and prva
ton in the mountains had either allowed themselves
captured delivered themselves up. They remained
that I'LL the 29th and justice 10 the people, well
as to the Spanish officers under whose immediate charge
the capves placed will cay they treated with
every consideration and kindness, their wounds looked
to, and plenty of wholesome food supplied to them and
the same uniform commiseratlon for their msfortunes
was shown them all the towns and places through
which they passed their march, under heavy escort
TO Havana They arrived the latter city on the 3ls,
ut-, and were Immediately transferred TO the common
JAIL swelling the number OF capves about 100, who
the command OF General Lopez, landed at Morrllo (a)
Playoas from the steamer Pampero the 18th August,
1851
Many instances OF herosm and personal devotion were
displayed towards each other by this handful OF brave
men. When Lopez compelled TO evacuate Las
Posas neither threats enireaties could induce
Young man to quit the side OF companion who had been
fearfully wounded in the battle, and he accordingly
shot by the Spanish troops alongside OF his friend, when
they took possession oil the place Captain Ellis owed
his life TO young Thomson, son oil d.. James Thoma-
son. OF Symmetrical, Dallas county, who carried him in
his arms from Las Posas when they left that place I;
otherwise his fate would have been that OF the other
wounded who were bu,chered in their beds General
Pagay, upon seeing the Spanish sodiey enter the hos
pila 10 which he lying dangerously, If not MORALLY,
wounded, blew his brains out with pistol.
The captves were all confined together in one large
room in the "Presido" department OF the common jail
Their heads closely shaved, heavy chains put upon
them and the ordinary dress of convcts given them
TO put on in OF their tatiered garments The
hoor-a composition OF mud and stone-of this
very damp and the prisoners, especially the wounded,
suffered severely for the of blankets other
ering TO protect them when sleeping from its bad effects
No distinction whatever made between the wounded
and the we'll, officers men-oA huddled, chained
together by the leg, in common misery With barely
food sufficient satisfy the cravings OF hunger which
even reached them here ao wed them wash.
Ynendess and forlorp, captives in strange land and
plunged in despair Mr. Owen, the American consul,
companied by Capt Plat, commanding the United States
corvette "Albany" called at the prison, But Mr. Owen