The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-09-30
HILLSDALE TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30 1851

them with prison uniforu. and the exercises
we're ,tesmina,ed by big negro. who securely
fastened them 10 pairs by chain, sImnar ~
size and weight 10 o log chain, firmly secured
10 the ancles.
Al the time of my release from prison.,
which was Al 10 O'Clock on the night "f the
4th instant, there were l60 Of our force prs-
oners. They were all chained. and coufqed
ia large room, hardly enough however, Tor all
to lie down at once. They were treated very
kindly, and allowed all the privileges that
could be expected. AS a matter Of course,
where so many men are CO nhned 10 limited
space, and not allowed TO leave Il under any
circumstances, il naturally follows that it must
be very unpleasant. Their sentence, is ten
years hard lado' in Spain, probably in the con-
in good spirits when left, being under the i'm
preston that they would soon be released af
ter their arrival 10 Spain. ,...
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro, and
publicly gano,ed in the square adjoining the
prison, al seven o'clock 10 the morning OF
Monday, and lst Of September. With him
ended not only this expedition, but sincerely
trust all expeditions 10 Cuba.
Up toihe lime left, the Spaniards could
account for two hundred and seyenty-one A.
mercans-including Critienden's command
whom they had killed, that is, in action; .woun-
ded men who were left on the field, and sick
| and fstigued men who gave oa, on the march,
and were left behind, and men whom they
hunted down in the mountains with dogs
Those, with the one hundred and sixty, taken
prisoners, make total Of four hundred and
thirty one men accounted for-leavng bal
auce Of twenty two men whose fate is yet un-
known--the total force landed being four hun
dred and fifty three men. or these twenty
two, probably the greater portion are yet alive
and iu the mountains; aud ss the troops have
all been recalled to Havana, il is probable that
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 Captain General pardoned, and sent home.
unsolicited. They were TO leave Havana Tor
this port in the packet ship Norma, on Friday.
| NY own release granted as special favor
to Capt. Chas I Plat, Of the United States
ship Albany, on board Of which was convey
ed by an aid Of the Captain General, at l !
O'Clock on Wednesday night the ship procee
ding 10 sea Immediately. His Excellsncy sent
| a government tow boat and pilot 10 take her
out.
Lopez was caught with bloodhounds, in the
mountains, on the morning OF Friday, the 29th
inst. The dogs being some distance In ad-
vance Of the men, bit him badly in the lett leg
There were seventeen countrymen in the party
who captured him. each Of whom was public
ly presented with 81 900 and cross Of honor
Immediately after his execution.
Let US now review the causes aud results oil
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 organized among
the creoles throughout the Island OF Cuba;
that they had elected Gen. Lopez as their lea
der, and their object was to free Cuba from ths
tyranny OF Spain. and either form republic o
their own, or annex the island to the Uni'eS
States. He told me that Lopez was about t'
leave New Oheans for Cuba, with about hv'
hundred Americans; and tina, his landing wal
the signal for general rising, and that witHir
ten days after landing he would be at the heat
Of an army Of ten thousand men; that ther'
: were two whole regiments Of Spanish troops Il
come over 10 him with their equipment nts.-
The same story was told to all. Was il SOL
As have already stated, our greatest salutatio'
3 was a volley Of musketry, instead oil, as tn
Delta asserts, large body Of friends, will
/, horses, stores, &c, for our use. Instead o
. finding the creoies our friends, we found then
our most bitter enemies, far more so than th'
: troops keeping the troops constantly inform
: ed Of our NOV vements, and hanging on our skirts
{, putting to death, without mercy, all those VIII
{ struggled on the march. OF the troops | can
: not but speak 10 praise, without single ex
b ception. They treated the prisoners wit b III
utmost kindness, giving, them VINE, segafs
q bread, tobacco, and aguadente, freely and iron
their own small means. I imagine no on
n will say that we had any right to expect sue
{ treatment. Our conduct forced and demande
: their respect, bu; recently we had no claim el
e ther on their sympathy or generosity.
Much has been said relative to the exec
c tior Of Crtteuden and his men. Among a
g lthe priso ners now in Havana much as they ad
II miro Critenden, there is hut one opinion. an
o that is, that that execution was justlhabie-
e was merted. That they were deceived a
= know; but that was no busin ess OF the spans
y authorities. Surely the provocalion receive
was sufficient to justify not only the execute
e Of those men, but Of every man connected VIII
), the expedition. Why, look at this aifal, IN II
n own light! Where, even 10 history. IN the ar
o uals Of the world, do you fnd a similar occur
e renee? Here four hundred ard hiy mer
j. without having received the least piovocano
e leave their homes, and invade the shores of
}, perectly peaceful island, expressing determ
J. nation 10 take that island from its lawful own
IS ers, by force. Self preservation is.one oi IN
o first laws Of nature; and if the law will uphol
e and protect that Americsn citizen, who, with
e out hesitation, shoots down the midnight rot
6 Der 10 defence Of his property, certainly III;
Law will uphold the officers ol the crown
II Spain in extermnatipg band of men who a
}. tempt to wres, It's brightest jewels from th'
! crown. consider every man connected wit
l. that expedition deserved death. AT the tim
" I was made prisoner, fully expected it, an'
k, although the reflection was anything OF
!. pleasant my own conscience told me that
10 was Just Crittenden with his force not on
10 committed a crime in landing on the ISLAM
!, But actually committed an act OF open P'rat
/. in taking those vessels 10 which he was caugh
Of the punishment Of which is, by the laws oil
h nations. death.
ID Much has, been said relative to the mu'n
Al ton Of their bodies. Certainly was not pre-
,e ent at the time. and cannot speak positive'
,e but cannot learn from reliable source thi