Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-12-19
From the New Orleans D.
Excl ng Incident of the late Cuban Tnvasion-Lt.
Thomas C. James.

Excl ng Incident of the late Cuban Tnvasion-Lt.
Thomas C. James.
The following incident, of which the late Thomas
C.. James is the subject, is from the pen of who
knew him well, with him in many trying
scene, and knew how to appreciate his many high
and noble qualities
When Col. Crittenden's command which had been
stationed at Mariel to guard the stores and NUM-
tons of Gen. Lopez preparing to march and
join the main body, the commandment thought it ad-
visable to send out accommodating party in order
to avoid ambuscade. Lieut. James being recon-
mended by Captain Kelly the ittest man for this
service, which, account of the dangers attending
it, required the exercise of judgment, TACT and in
trepidity, accordingly sent out, accompanied by
detachment of twelve fifteen men. After
short absence Lieut. James returned, and reported
that he had seen the advance column of the enemy,
but that in his opinion they could not be induced
fight.
The order was then given to march, and Captain
Kelly's company. to which Lieut.. James was attach
ed led the vanguard, the main body remaining con-
siderable distance in the rear.
About league from Mariel Captain Kelly halt
ed his company at tendG, store, for the purpose
of obtaining refreshments It was around the neigh
borhood of this tienda that the enemy was lowering
The order to stack arms having been complied
with, the men being famished with thirst, made
precptate rush for we'll of water which lay in the
coral, enclosure at the back of the tenda, Lieut.
James remaining outside Tin reach of the stacked
!
the thus scattered about, each seeking in
his way to alay his raging thirst hunger
the enemy became appraised of the state of facts, and
determined to take advantage of them.
While James stood watch, he suddenly
startled by the appearance OF cloud of dust that
rolled up in dense column in the direction where the
main body of the enemy lay. Very soon the roll of
the drum and the cank of sabres and small arms
intimaed to his practced ear that the enemy was
marching to the attack In moment they were in
I'd with have in
solid column to the charge! AS they approached
nearer, he discovered that they the vanguard
of the main body. On they came with their fierce
moustaches and gtering harness, like five hu ndred
| fends! At the command double-quck time,
march!n the steady tread of the column was in
creased to trot and the van came on like u tor
rent James did not falter at this alarming demon
stration, but true to his instincts, he gave shout
to warn his comrades, and few to the stacked arms
Drawing forth musket he leveed it and fired The
aim was too sure, and epauleted honbre rolled in
the dust The blood Of the young lion up! Seiz-
ing another weapon, the sharp crash that rung out
the clear morning air made another soul immortal
Another and another followed, and with such uner-
ring aim that each ball carried death to the charging
ranks. Soon Kelly, warned by the firing, was on the
ground, and there were two to many hundreds
James still at the work when Kelly came to his
aid-snatching up the loaded guns, firing and then
hurting them upon the ground only to grasp Others
to be used with like destructive effect Heavens
how they tumble. exclaimed the heroic James. as he
dealt out his death-winged missives, and as his
bright eye flashed with the heroism of hundred
Bayards he poured in another shot, and another ant
another in such quick succession that the enemy
halted and stood still in mute amazement! The
double=quck charge of SPANS proud chivalry wa
checked, and by the unassisted efforts of a single
man!
The scattered numbers of Captain Kely's compan,
soon after rallied, and urng in vo1ley, the enem,
came to the ''about face and made precpitat
retreat
Thus have attempted to relate one of the mos
extraordinary instances of individual valor that his
tory records Alas for the sad fate of the heroi
youth whose intrepedity has furnished the subject
our sketch He was taken few days after by tn
Spanish frigate Esperanza, carried to Havana,
in company with fifty brave companions, inhumanl
shot, Yet it may be gratifying to his numerou
friends and relatives to know that, although suffer
ing untold horrors, insuled by the minions of yrau
ny who had fed in hosts before the unassisted Nigh
of his unshackled arm. be met death with an IN
benching eye, and as became man, without fea
. and without reproach.' In the hearts of those VIII
y knew him and could appreciate his virtues, let hi
q epitaph be written! H.