The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-15
Letter from Cuba.

lady, who is a native of the Island Of Cuba, has
addressed letter 10 friend in Providence, Rhode
Island, from which the Journal, OF that city, has
been furnished with the following extract:
ssAnother expedition has lately landed in the
island with Lopez, and has been cut up, as might
have been expected; the few remaining were ira
yelling our impenetrable woods trying TO gain the
southern shore to effect their escape by sea, and
meantime were hunted down, like dogs, by every
living soul; all that are taken are Immediately
shot. am rejoiced that our Captain General has
at last been moYsd to pity, and has since yester-
day given an order to the troops and citizens to
spare the lives of the remaining ones who, in the
term Of four days, may be taken, and who present
themselves, delivering up their arms; he also has
promised complete pardon TO any one who de-
livers up Narciso Lopez and, II foreigner, he
will be restored to bis home. | cannot conceive
how these poor unfortunate creatures should have
ventured 10 come to attack this island in small
a number and 30 little assured OF any help here.
Our troops are not Mexicans, and see that the
American newspapers speak very ignorantly Of
the capacity Of the Spanish government here.
There Is not a nation in tho world that estimate
higher their nationality, their customs and their
religion, than the Spanlards. They are, besides,
strong aud hardy race, very brave, fond of mill
tary glory, and in war carry their entbu5insm and
prejudces 10 point OF cruelty. Could the Yam.
KEGS think such soldiers would join them! Do
they not know that they would forfeit all hopes Of
ever seeing their mother country, where they all
have left their mothers, brothers, friends their
homes and..i1 their dearest remembrancesl Now,
hope the Rnericans will believe, and not venture
again TO put themselves in the "lions mouth"
thiriing he will not bite. II makes my heart
ache TO see how these poor deluded souls have suf
fered and persisted in these few days past, but the
fault is their own; they had no right here, they
knew that our general had declared and published
that no quarter should be given them, that the
Government of the United States had also de-
cared them outlaws and their expedition piracy.
Why did they come? So much blood uselessly
spiltl How sorry i felt for young Crittendcn;
with him were fifty-one others, taken and brought
to Havana, with their hands bound behind their
backs like banditti. They scofied and hooted
at by the mob One fellow went up to Crittenden
and stroked his beard, at which the latter, with
perfect coolness spat in the aggressors face, and
a Spanish officer who guarded him, being incensed
with the cruel conduct of the people, struck the in
sultng Cuban in the face with the butt of his gun.
Finding the difficulty Of keeping the mob in pru-
dent limits, the general ordered that no more pri-
soners should be brought 10 Havana. Crittenden
asked as only favor that he might be shot
corresponded with the honor of an American Of
ficer, one who had distinguished himself in the
Mexican war, as his scars would show; he said he
was resigned to meet the justice of the law, for he
did not fear death, but he feared the disgrace Of
being shot like pirate; the favor was refused
and he with the other fifty one were shot in the
back; they were all made to kneel except the hero,
Crittenden, who tco,d not, and received his death
standing. How this young mans fate has grieved
me; what pity such brave and noble spirit
shoud have been cast away. The Captain
4, General much moved that he wished in
ID of shooting them all, to let them only
cute of every five, one, but the council of
would not accede to the proposition Our bishop
also inte -ested himself in their behalf but without