Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-10-07
Debott0 to laoIittta,
Vol. K

towards the house, We were compelled 70 re- treat, leaving our baggage and stores; and that night, or rather the Next morning, we snc- ceeeded in forming junction with Lopez Ut Los Posas, half an hour before his march from that place. At the satne hour tint Crittenden was Sttacked at the hacienda, B body of the enemy, eight hundred strong, under General Enna, attacked Lopez at Los Posas.
 Alter hard fight of over two hours the ene- my retreated. leaving the Americans masters of the field, and over two hundred of their nura- Der (among whom were several of their highest oGicers) desd and wounded-the American loss being, in killed, wounded and missing. only about thirty men. among whom Colonel Down. man and Lieut.. Cabizan were killed, and Gen. PPagay and Captains Brigham ane Gouti were mortaiIy wounded. After the action, the Span ish wounded were brought in, and as well taken care of as circumstances would admit. Lopez rode entirely nuarmed over the field, through the hottest of the fire, occasionally applying red raw hide, with great deal of vigor, to the shoulders of such men as he thought could be hurried into firing little faster. On the mOrn-
 ing of the l4th, at o'clock, Lopez marched from Los Posas in the mountains, leaving there seventeen wounded Spaniards and thirteen of our side, all of whom were bayoneted by the Spaniards, and their bodies piled in heap, crass-ways at the foot of hill.
 Two days after, (on the I6th) Lopez was again attacked by three hundred iancers and
 six hundred while encamped at hacienda
 which formerly belonged to himself, but was con6scated some three years since. Here the action lasted from l3 Co o'clock, on one of the hottest daysI l ever experienced. The ene- my were again compelled to retreat, with the loss of three hundred and twenty men; and at the same moment that the retreat of the Span iards in one direction was reported to Lopez, he issued an order to his own force to retreat in an opposite, and actually, that day made a forced march of eighteen mSies in five hours over mountain road. On the 18th, being still on the mountains, we were oveztaken by severe rain storm, which destroyed a greater portion of our ammunition, and rendered our guns entirely useless. We encamped on the evening of that day at a ranche on the foot of the mountains, about two leagues from Bahia Honda. We remained undisturbed that night; and were attacked just at breakfast time on the morning of the goth, being taken by sur- prise, the sentry on the outpost having left his post to wash himself in creek, where he was killed. Owing to the unserviceable condition of their arms, the force under Lopez was com pletefy routed, flying to the mouhtains in all directions-Lopez himself barely escaping on horseback, with the loss Of his saddie, pistols and spyglass--or everything in fact, but what he wore. That night be encamped on the top of one of tbe highest mountainsJon the island of Cuba, exposed to all the yivience of a terrific nogther, without either shefter, fire or food.
 It is impossible for Dpe to describe the suffer ing of that night. Heaven forbid that ever pass such another./ The rain fell in torrents. while ever and anon terrific crash would an. nounce that some massive tree had fallen, either before thsforceof the wind, or the still mightier lightning. That night equalled an ordinary lifetime. On the evening of the 2lst, having been fofty-eight hours without eating we killed a horse, which was divided among one hundred and twenty-five men, who were all that now remained with Lopez We wandered through mountains, unable to extricate ourselves, sub- sisting on such leaves and roots as we could find, until midday, of Sunday, the 24th, when we succeeded in reaching road running from Bahia Honda to San Christqbal, along which we advanced until nearly Eight, when two Spanish lancers were discovered advancing, but fled on seeing us. A halt was immediately ordered and an examination made of the state of our forces. showed total of one hundred and twenty-five men, eighty muskets, absat twenty of which were seryiceable and about forty dry cartridges. Under this state of affairs it was deemed advisable to retreat, which was ordered, and pursuit commenced by the ene- my, who lay in ambush some few hundred yards in advance, with force of nine hundred men. On the approach of the enemy, the whole force of Lopez separated into small bodies, and dis peFsed through the mountains, throwing away their guns and everything which could encum- fs.~l,t maining with the General. A large number were 0sertaken and immediately killed l, myself was one of the party of eight who had previously determined on leaving Lopez, and attempting to escape from the island.
 We remained in tine mountains until the morning of Tuesday, the 26th. when having had but enc meal in six days, and feeling that we could bear it no logger, we determined to go into the plains, considering that it would be better to be killed outright than die lingering death from starvation, which we certainly would up in the mountains.
 We accordingly advanced to house where we were treated with great deal of kindness, and received most excellent breakfast An arrangement was made to procure guide to the south shore, with provisions, etc, and we were about to leave and conceal ourselves until night, when, in the twinkling of au eye, we were surrounded by 200 armed counirymen, who immediately bound US securely, and inver- ted our pockets. considering the contents law ful plunder. That day we reached San Cris- tobaLs Until We reached San Cristobsl, we were under the impression that we were to be
 shot, our only consolation being that we were to die with full stomachs.
 On our arrival there, We were informed that 3 proclamation had been issued ten hours be- fore our arrest, sParing the lives of za @filli- who were made prisoneis, or gave themselves up, within four days, except the traitor Lopez, after which an order, dated, think, the 24;h of April Coy which ail foreigners Iuund in the island were ordered to De put to ieath,) was 10 continue in full force. On the 18th. there being then 47 prisoners. we left San Cristohai for Havana, and on Friday night reached Guayamss, the terminus of railroad from Havana. There an orler was received from the Captain General 10 proceed ta Mariel and embark, he being fearful that the prisoners would be torn to pieces by the rsbble at Ha-