Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-10-02
An Account Of the Cuba Expsdition


ing OF Key West, Sunday 10th August, ga quanii-
ty OF braady and champagne was reccirei o.. board
eonaca wds tmot6ed toterably freelg bv Lope- ana
nus stag. About dusk Of that day no pilo, an
pear.ng, Lopez called a council, composed entire
y OF the Cubans and Hungarians attached to his
s.ah, \ho Americans being called) who decided to
give up gong TO the st Johns River, and run in
immediately for the coast of Cuba, which was
done at about 10 p. M. The next morning. ow-
ing 10 the variation OF the compass from muske,s
being stacked near it we found ourselves in plain
sight OF Moro Castle, and about twelve miles dis.
taht the vessel was Immediately headed to the
Northward and westward, and run out of sight of
land. About 8, P. NJ. Of that day Lopez took
the captain and mate out of Spanish schooner,
70 act as pilots, giving them to understand that
they would be shot il they showed any disposi-
ton to escape or deceive.'
The next adventure Of the Pampero was rum
ing on Reel with sight feet water, the boat
drawing nine Feet " az
The landing over, Lopez sent his pronuncia.
meto to Lo. Posas, threatened to XIII all who
would not join him.
There being no means of transporting baggage
at Cabanos, where we landed, Lopez ordered Col.
Crittenden TO remain there and protect the stores
consisting of 100000 musket cartridges, three
thousand muskets and seven hundred pounds of
powder, in Kegs, together with the baggage of
officers. Lopez went on with 323 men, and left
Crittenden with 1913 men. Crittenden had o, ders
JOIN Lopez as soon as he could and left late at
night in carts, with the ammunition. On the 18th
four miles from Los Posas, while breakfasting at
store and grog shop, their arms being laid by,
they were surprised BY the report Of musketry
and whstling of bullets which proceededfrom the
advance guard ct body of the enemy, five hun
dred strong. We immediately seized our guns
and killed nine of the enemy, and made one pris-
oner, none of our party having been injured
Not ten minutes after the party were again at
tackled. 49,
Crittenden then again Immediately gave the Or
der to charge, leading himself. and forced the en-
emy to retreat to large body of chapparel, some
seventy five or eighty yards in the rear Of their
first position, from which they opened heavy
fire upon our force as soon as It appeared in sight
on the brow Of the HILL Finding he could not
maintain that position, Crittenden gave an order
TO retreat to the house while the enemy resumed
his position on the hill, and again opened his fire
upon which Crittenden ordered second charge,
at the same time saying that he wished small
party to attain position at the right flank Of the
enemy, to charge from tha, side at the same mo-
meht he charged from the front. Second Lieut..
w. II. Crafts (also of Company RI and myself
volunteered, and succeeded in sttaining the posi-
ton with twenty men. After remaining in II for
about half an hour and hearing nothing of Crit
tenden, we returned to the house where we found
Capt Kelly. Of Company A. with ten men guard
ing the carts, but could hear or see nothing of
Crittenden. The enemy soon after advancing To-
wards the house we were compelled to retreat,
leaving our baggage and stores; and that night or
rather the next morning, we succeeded in form
ing junction with Lopez at Los Posas, half an
hour before his march from that place
The battle Of Los Posas is then mentioned, and
the second battle Of the 10th at the hacienda of
Lopez.
''Here the action lasted from IL to O'Clock.
on one of the hottest days have ever experienced.
The enemy were again compelled TO retreat, with
a loss of three and twenty men and at the same
moment that the retreat Of the Spaniards in one
direction was reported 10 Lopez. he issued an or
der 10 his own force 10 retreat in the opposite,
and actually. that day, made forced march of
eighteen miles in five hours, over mountain
road. On the 10Th being sill on the mountains,
we were overtaken by severe rain storm, which
destroyed the greater portion of our ammunition,
and rendered our guns entirely useless. We en-
camped in the evening of that day, at rancho at
at 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
surprise the sentry on the outpost having left his
post to wash himself in a creek, where he was
killed. Owing TO The unserviceable condition of
their arms. the force under Lopez was complete
ly routed, lying 10 the mountains in all directions
Lopez himself barely escaping on horseback,
of everything, IN fact, but what he wore
That night he encamped on the top of one of the
highest mountains on the Island of Cuba, expos
ed to all the violence of terrific northerner with
out either shelter, fire or food.
Here begins the narrative of personal suffering
"a stormy night upon mountain, lS hours with
out food except the leaves Of trees.-the killing
Of horse on the oath, which was divided among
125 men, all that remained to Lopez. On Sunday
the 25th, the party found their way from the
mountains, on the road leading to San Cristobal
There were then but so muskets. and 20 of them
only serviceable, and only 40 dry cartridges. The
party retreated, and the enemy, 600 strong) just
discovered pursued them. ltwas then the inva-
ders dispersed TO the mountains IN small bodies
seven only going with Lopez and nearly all throw
ing away their mnskets. We remained in the
mountains till the 26th, says Van Vechten, having
had but one meal in six days Many overtaken
by the enemy were killed, and the writer prefer
ed such death to the lingering one of starvation.
Van Vechten was discovered with his party
while attempting to escape to the sea shore. The
Proclamation Of the captain General, sparng the
lives of those who yielded was here received.
'.On the 2Sth there being then forty-seven priso-
ners we left San Cristobal for Havana, and on
Friday night reached Gnayamas, the terminus of
railroad from Havana There an order was re-
ceived from the Captain General to proceed to
Mariel, and embark, he being fearful that the
prisoners would be torn to pieces by the rabble
at Havana. We reached Mariel on the evening of
the 30th and were embarked on the steamer Al
mendars, to proceed to Havana when an express
arrived bringing information of the capture of
Lopez, the steamer was delayed TO wait his arr-
val, which took place at two O'Clock P. NJ, on
Sunday the 3lst., when we Immediately left for
IuIsvana. Lopez was entirely at liberty, and
smoked his cigarette with apparently as much
unconcern as he ever did in his life. Outside the
Harbor of Mariei, Lopez was transferred to the
steam frgate Pizzarro, which conveyed him to
Havana, and which he did not leave until he left
for the place of execution.
Treatment of Prisoners. s.-The remainder Of us
were confined that night in the City Prison, in
the rear of the fort called the Punta. The priso-
ners passed thorough regular process, their hair
being first cut close to their heads. They then
passed iato hands Of another barber, who depriv-
ed them of their whiskers: then another provided
them with prison uniform, and the exercises
were terminated by big negro, who securely
fastened them in pairs by chain, similar in size
and weight to log chain firmly secured to the
Gle. ##&H
STEAMBOAT ExpLosIoN.-The steamer James
Jackson exploded, Sept 21st., at Shawneetown,
Illinois; thirty-fve persons were killed and woun-
ded and others missing
New York, Sept. 30, P. NJ
The steamer Illinois from Chagres, arrived this
morning at 2 O'clock
The Steamship Franklin sailed fo. aav with six