Washington telegraph., 1851-10-15
THE CUBAN EXPEDITION:


.rr ACCOUNT OF 1T BY LIEUTENANT VAN
v.cHrEN, OF LoPEz's EXPEDITION. WHO
MAS BEEN PARDoNED BY THE CAPTAIN
GENERAL OF CUBA.
NARRATIVE.
became connected with the expedi,
,;on at New Orleans, receiving, on the
sotb of July last an appointment as first
Iieutenart of Company B. of Col. w.
+ Crittendens regiment list ArtiIlery.)
commanded by Captain James Landers.
The expedition as you are already aware,
loft New Orleans. at day break, on the
,uorning cf Sunday, the Sd of August,
n the steamer Pampero. We were tow
ID 10 the mouth of the river. on: engine
hsino out of order. We remained in the
liver until Wednesday the 9th. and left
through the Northeast Pass. at o'clock,
NJ, of that day for Key West. The
;u;eu,ion at that time was to 60 to Key
West, and there take on board a pilot
for the river St. Johns-at which place
we were to embark light battery of ar
,;Ilery, with caisons, ammunition and
harness complete, together with num-
brr of cavalry sadd.es-and from thence
were TO run 10 the South side Of Cuba,
and land as near as possible to Puerto
Principe
We reached Key West, and anchored
some distance from the city, at about 3
P NJ, OF Sunday, the 10th inst. While
at Key West. a quantity Of brandy and
champagne was received on board, which
was mbibed tolera5e freely by Lopez and
his staff About dusk of that day, 10
pilot appearing, Lopez called Council.
composed entirely of the Cubans aud
Huugarians attached to his staff, (no
Americans being called) who decided
to give up going to the St. Johns
River. aud run Immediately for the coast
of Cuba, which was done at 10 P. M
The next morning. owing 70 the variation
Of the compass from muske.s being stack
ed near it, we found ourselves in plain
sight of the Moro Castle, and about
twelve miles distant; the vessel imme-
diateIy headed Eorthward and westward,
aud ran out of sight of land. About 3
P. NJ, of that day, Lopez took the cap
tain and mate out Of Spanish schooner.
to act as pilots, giving them to under
staud that they would be shot if they
showed any disposition TO escape or de-
ceve. AT ! P. NJ. we again stood in for
the island, aud soOu after dark sent a
boat 10 reconuoiter, which was hailed by
sentry Oh the walls OF the fort, situated
near Bahia Honda, the ship not being
more than a mile from it. As soon as
the boat reported, lights were exlinguish.
ed and press OF steam put on. the snip
running to the west ward aloug the land.
About lO o'clock, while running under
the charge of pilot under press of
steam. the ship suddenly struck. aud be-
fore the engines could be stopped had
ruu more than her length upon coral
reel. After examining her situation, it
was found she was lying in about eight
feet water, while her draft was over niue
feet aud that it was necessary that the
force should be Immediately landed, which
was done, aud about o'clock Oh the
morning OF the 12th of August, the last
OF us embarked upon the shores of what
We had been taught to consider would
soon be the free Island OF CUBA
The first boats which landed were
fired upon by twenty men, who fled Oh
their hire being returned from the boat
which contained Captain GouIl, "a Cuban
commanding All American conpanyD Lit.
LalnEg han, aud about thirty prlvaIee
OF his company. One of Gouu's men
was wounded III the arm, aud returned III
the ship, aud the cap OF the Lieutenant
inf h,I
At day light Lopez sent a pr0nuncla-
mentO to Los Posas, a small village ten
miles distant, in which he informed the
inhabitants that he was about to march
to that place; and would give no quarter
TO any whom he found there. who did not
join him. There being no meansof trans
porting baggage at Cubanos. where we
landed, Lopez ordered Colonel Crilten-
den TO remain there and protect our stores,
consisting of 100000 musket cartridges,
5000 muskets, and 700 pounds of pow
der, in kegs, together with the personal
baggage of all the officers. saying that
ne would march on to Los Posas, with
the regiment of infantry, commanded by
Colonel bowman, and send from thence
transportation, and that he would remain
there until joined by Colonel Cri:tenden.
Accordingly Lopez marched at eight o.
clock, with three hundred and twenty
three men, leaving Col. Crittenden at
Cubanos, with l30 men. At II o'clock
that night, Colonel Crittenden received
Two carts, aud started Immediately after,
10 Join Lopez at Los Posas
The carts being heavily loaded and the
roads bad, our progress was of necessity
SLOW not advancing more than mile
an hour. About two hours after day
hght on the morning of the 18th, we
reached house containing store
about four miles from Los Posas. The ad-
vance guard and maiu body only had
reached the house, (the rear guard with