Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-24
connuest.of fIarana.

Conquest,of Havana.
Ills not generally known, we imagine
that Havana has three times been mad'
a conquest of. 1t was taken by tn,
French, in the war between Henry Ill
and Charles v. The city was nearly de
stroyed. Its walls were demolished and
the fort razed. It was, secondly, taker
by Morgan, a sort Of amateur conqueror-
now sometimes called pirate-in 1869.
The greatest atrocities were committed
ON the occasion. 1t was regular pratt
cal foray, with all the accompaniment OF
such forays. Morgan was afterwards
knighted by Charles H., gentlemen
who, so that he got plenty of money and
had no cares pressed upon him, was will
ling to do almost anything he was asked.
The third capture was made in 1863 by
the English. Lord Mahon thus describes
the event:
The next object for our arms in the
West Indies was not French, but Spanish.
On the 9Th of March, 1862, an expedition
against Havana had sailed from Ports
mouth, commanded by General the Earl
of Albemarle and Admiral Sir George Po-
cock. 1t was joined on its way by
share of the squadron which had con-
quered Marinico; the whole force, after
this addition, amounting to nineteen ships
of the line, eighteen smaller ships oil war;
and $50 transports, with 10000 soldiers
on board. They made good their Ian
ding near the Havana without opposition,
but on approaching the city, found them
selves beset with the most formidable OBJ
stacles.
First among these might be reckoned
the climate, which, at the summer season,
to which this enterprise had been delay
ed, and with the needful exposure of &C
tive service, is dangerous, nay, deadly, TO
an European frame. The city itself,
though most other sea points in Cuba,
destitute of natural strength, had been
fortified with the utmost skill, cost, and
care, as the great mart and centre of the
Spanish American trade. Within the har-
Dor lay twelve ships of the line; within
the ramparts garrison which, including
the country militia, was not in force infe-
rior to the besiegers. Besides the strong
works 1anked with bastions which defen-
ded the main body of the place, the mar
row entrance of the harbor was secured
by two forts deemed we'll nigh impregna-
BILE, the forts of Puntal and Moro. 1t
was against the Moro the English first di-
rected the attack. They begun on the
18th of June to construct their batteries,
but so thin was the soil, and so hard the
rock beneath, that they advanced very
slowly. The seamen, however, cordially
co-operated with the soldiers. By their
joint exertions the batteries were at length
completed, and the cannon dragged with
prodigious labor over a long extent of
rugged shore. Several of the men at
work dropped down dead with heat,
thirst, and fatigue.
Atlength their artillery came into play
upon the fort, and some vigorous sallies
of the besieged were steadily repulsed.-
One morning three ships of the English
feet stationed themselves as close as they
could to the Moro. and attempted by their
fire to dismount their guns, but they were
compelled to withdraw. after slight effect
upon the enemy. and great damage to
themselves. Many days elapsed with lit
tie progress: nevertheless the besiegers
continued undaunted, and towards the
close of July they were cheercd by the
arrival of some unexpected reinforce
ments from New York On the 30th Of
that month the mines having been sprung
and apracticable breach effected, (though
still narrow and difficulty the English
troops marched up to the assault. The
OnOuay did not THE occasion display
the same in:repidity as in their former sal
lies: many threw down their arms and
cried for quarter; many others rushed
headlong to the water. where they perish
cd yet the officers set them most gal
liant example, and it was not until both
their first and second in command Don
Luis de Yelasco and the Marquis de Con
zales) had fallen MORALLY wounded, that
the besiegers stood victorious on the sum
NIT of the castle wall.
The Moro thus conquered, batteries
were forthwith raised against the Havana
itself, and on the 18th Of August their
fire began. Within six hours they had
silenced nearly all the enemy's guns
flags of truce then appeared from nearly
every quarter of the town and capitu-
laiion ensued. by which. not only the Ha-
vana. but the district 1870 miles TO the
westward, and all the ships in the harbor
were yielded to the English. This eapitu-
lation was not signed until the morning Of
the 18th, though the 18th has been more
commonly alledged, for the sake Of con-
Meeting this suspicious event with the
birth day of the Prince of Wales. Il
came in good time. The English had al
ready lost 100 men from sickness or the
sword. and find it asserted, that at the
time of the surrender, no more than $500