The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-25
From ths NeiD York JolanalQf Commerce, dug. %.
Important from Cuba.

Captured and Shot
The steamer Winfield Scott which arrived here
yesterday forenoon from New Orleans brought in
formation that the steamer Pamparo. which CON
yeyed Lopez's expedition from New Orleans for the
invasion Of Cuba, anchored in the harbor Of Kew
West on the 10th instant, and remained there till
IL D. m, when she departed for Cuba with Lopez
and his force of four hundred and fifty men, whom
she landed at Cabanas, forty miles west of Havana
The Pampero then returned TO Key West, but
manned In the harbor only an hour, fearing seizure
She cruised of that port until the l5thinstant and
then, having taken on board from twenty to TWEEN
tyve recruits she left at evening for Jacksonville
Florida, TO embark General Gonzales and his com
pany, doubtless with the intention Of taking them
to Cuba, 10 re- enforce Lopez.
The steamer Cherokee, which arrived last even
ing in four days from Havana. brought the addi-
tiona information that fifty two of Lopezs men had
been captured on some keys near Bahia Honda,
forty miles west OF Havana, and conveyed to Ha-
.vana, where they were all SHOT, almost soon as
they arrived. The names of the victims will be
found below. Forty of them Americans.
Even from the Spanish accounts 1t appears that
these men made no resistance, though il Is stated
that they were armed. Verbal information by the
Cherokee asserts that they without arms
when captured. There is no doubt, however, that
they belonged, or had belonged, to Lopez's gang.
and ii is to be hoped that their hard fate will be
warning to others.
letter which we subjoin from gentleman who
came in the Cherokee, gives reason to believe that
there has been hard fighting between Lopez's men
fifty of the latter had been brought into Havana,
wounded.
From gentleman i1ho came in the Cherokee
On the 18th inst, as the U. s. mail steamer Fa-
con was proceeding on her voyage from Chagres to
Havana, when off that part OF the coast of Cuba
known as the "Bahia Honda" at about 10, a. m,
saw the smoke of steamer close shore, and
shortly after she hove in sight and we then saw she
was large frigate in chase of US. When first seen,
abe was standing out from land, directly across
course, evidently intending to cut us off We, how
ever held our course, and running only at usual
speed, soon left her eight or ten miles astern, not
withstanding she seemed to be doing her best. We
at first took her for the "Pizarro," but we after
wards learned that she the ssIsabella Catho-
ica,' formerly the Caledonia, of the Cunard
line.) After she had been in chase Of Us for
about an hour, we saw the smoke of another
steamer on starboard bow, close in shore, hull
down. She soon, however, showed herself, steering
as to head off, in which, being fast goer, she
succeeded She fred two guns, shofted, to leeward,
to bring US to, as coon she was within about four
miles, but we took no notice of her until she
ran down close aboard US, and fired third shot
across our bows. captain Rogers had hoisted his
colors before we saw her, and as soon as he per-
ceived that the frigate was in chase After the
third shot the engine "sIo,o," when she
hove to and hailed US to "stOp her,, which was then
done. AS Boon they that we had stopped,
the officers of the Spanish steamer, the "Habane-
ro," took off their caps and waved them round
their heads with hurrah This was a decided in
suit. An officer then boarded US, demanded what
ship we were, where from, where bound, and if
we had any Spanish passengers, &C., sc. He was
answered, and said he must go aboard his vessel
and report. He was admonished to be in hurry,
as we were going ahead Immediately. He lost no
time in doing so, when they motoned US to go
ahead. We arrived at Havana ct 3 p. M, and
soon learned that the "Habanero" had the night
before brought into port fifty prisoners, taken in
four launches off the "Bahia Honda" and that
they were all shot at about IL o'clock that day.
Forty of the number were Americans. They are
t,k sNE Dl,t,N ,lnI,
Lopez in the Pampero from Now Orleans on the
9Th instant All of the expedition succeeded in
landing. with some pieces of artillery, and the
Pamper got off again without molestation.
The greatest excitement prevails In Havana, all
Americans beset with spies, and none feel safe
from one day to the next Very little could be
learned that can be relied on respecting the posi-
ton of either the government troops or those OF the
revolutionists. The Captain General sent out about
eight hundred men to meet Lopez, when he heard
that he had landed, and they had advanced to a
certain position and would move no further with
out reinforcements. He then sent seven hundred
men, This was about two days before our arrival
During Saturday, the report was that General
Lopez had cut off all communication between the
government forces and Havana, and the fact of the
Captain General having received no dispatches
from the general in command seemed strong proof
of it. Nor had his steamers cruising on that coast
any better success. On that evening, at eight
O'Clock, he despatched the steam ferry boat 'ion''
down to ''Bahia Honda" to gain intelligence and
return the same night She, however, did not get
back until next morning, about seven or eight
O'Clock, and brought no news Soon after, the Ha-
banero came in, bringing about forty or fifty
wounded soldiers; but as we were about to sail, We
could learn nothing more respecting the state of
affairs at Bahia Honda.
You will, no doubt, receive files of the Spanish
papers, but no dependence can be placed in their
statements, as the government supprcsses every
thing that would look like failure on their side,
whilst the most trifling success is magniied into
the grandest achievement
What these fifty men were doing amongst the
"Cayes," where they were taken, is q mystery,
nor could learn whether they armed.
Some suppose that they proceeding to vii
lage on the coast, nearer to Havana and that they
ran among the Cages to hide from the cruisers.
They were first seen by fisherman, who made II
known to the government, when the Habanero
was despatched in pursuit of them. 1t is said she
| ran the boats down, and then picked up the men;
but nothing can be learned, as no communication
could be had with any of the prisoners, and the
authorities will disclose nothing but what will an
swer their purposes. The poo% fellows died
bravely-not sigh, a murmur, nor sign OF fear,
was betrayed by any of them. They were led out
ten at tme and shot from behind. One fine
looking fellow, who was the last one shot, whilst
kneeling, awaiting his turn, calmly looked on his
butchered companions, first turning his head on
one side, and then on the other, as though he was
only spectator, and not one of the victims; and
then turned his head, and looked his executoners
in the face whilst they fired He was shot six times
before he fell.
Alter inc execution tney were thrown INTO neaTscb
by six or eight at time, and taken away and bu-
ried. About 10000 spectators were assembled to
witness this horrid spectacle, many of whom were
negroes, slaves and free; who possessed themselves
of their hats 1ots, and portion of their clothing
and, fixing them sticks, marched through the
streets, with upon the "libusteros," the Cpl
ratas," &C., &C., accompanied with viua' for the
Queen and Captain General.
That Lopez has been giving them trouble there
is little doubt; and that there will be plenty of hard
fighting before the end of the month, every in
Havana believes.
Below you have list of the names of those who
were shot on the 10th at Havana.
Col W. s. Cendennen, Capt. F. s. Sewer,
Capt. Victor Kerr, N. o. Capt. L. b. Yeacy,
Lieut.. James Brandt, Lieut.. ]. o. Bruce,
Lieut.. Thos. G. James, Dr. John Fisher,
DIR. X. A. Tourniquette, Serg'tJ. Witherew5,
Serg'tA. M. Cotchett, Serg't r. C. Stanford.
PRIvATEs.
Nj. III. Holmes, G.. M. Green,
J. Salmon, Napoleon Collins,
N. H. Fisher, William Chilling,
G. A. Cook S. o. Jones,
M II. Ball, James Buret,
Robert Caldwell, G.. c. William Smith,
A. Ross, p. Brourke,
CO Ioh,,