The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-08

coiohei oi IeSihieHI Vi cavalry.
Besides other distinctions, he received
during this war the rare military honor Of
the cross of San Fernando, of the second
(the most distinguished degree, a reward
not bestowed at pleasure, but which is to
be obtained only by public demand by
the person claiming it, and on the institu-
ton of formal process for and against
his right, everybody being free to inter-
pose an objection, or to appreciate the
merit of the act for which it is demanded.
In the whole army there was but one 9TH
er individual who possessed this cross
Lopez, not attaching much Importance to
the act for which he was urged to apply,
and caring little, moreover, for the honor
himself, was only induced to demand it by
the Commander-in-Chief, General Moril-
10 taunted him with being afraid of a re-
lection of the demand, and who demanded
his secretary to draw up the application,
almost forcing the young officer to sign it.
The occasion on which he received the
cross Of San Fernando was as follows:-
Morillo at the head of force of seven or
eight thousand men, was pursuing the
patriot army of Paez, numbering about
5000, over the Hanos or plains of Vene-
zuela, trying in vain to bring the latter to
an engagement. This the latter, had of
course no difficulty to avoid, his whole
force consisting of frst-rate cavalry,
while the Spanish army was mainly in
fantry. Lopez was, at this period, as has
been above mentioned, at the head Of a
picked squadron, reserved for decisive
moments, with which it was point of
honor never to turn their backs. He had
lost half of it in severe engagement that
morning, and with the rest, thirty-eight
in number, was marching on the extreme
flank of the army when he received an
order from the general to gallop forward
and harrass the rear of Paez's retreating
army. Morillo had not recognized at the
distance, the fragment which remained of
Lopez's squadron; which he would never
otherwise have sent on such service,
especially after the mornings work. Rash
as the order was, it was of course obey
ed. On the perfectly level prairie, which
was the scene of the operation, what en-
sued was in view of both armies. Paez,
provoked at the insolence of the little band
halted and put himself in person at the
head of a splendid corps of about 300 men,
his guard, the well known flower of his
army, in scarlet uniforms, and every man
superbly mounted and this corps was
seen to detach itself from the main body
of the army and rapidly approached the
little band, whose destruction seemed in
evitable before the swoop of that force
Lopez asked his men if they would stand
or turn. The answer was that they would
do as he should. His answer was to
fling himself from his horse, and command
them to do the same, thus burning his
ships, and then to form his men in line,
to stand their ground as long as they could
with the lances and carbines which were
their arms. He thus repulsed the charge
of Paez and his guard, refusing to sur
render, maintaining himself till Morillo
could hasten up all his cavalry to their
support, and till the able Paez with whom
his retreat was of much more importance
than the annihilation of this handful of
gallant fellows, whom none admired more
than himself, withdrew his guard, and
left Lopez, with what remained of his
dismounted squadron, to receive the cor
dial embraces of the general and the plau-
dts of the whole army, who had wit
messed the scene.
In the negotiations for the withdrawal
of the Spanish army, he contributed much
to cause the Spanish General-who could
have protracted the contest much longer,
though with no hope Of eventual success
to relieve the country from the further
pressure of the evils of war, by his influ-
ence, exerted in every manner consistent
with military honor; and it is no small
proof of what must, have been the appre-
citation of all his character, conduct, and
motives, entertained even by those against
whom he had thus served-having been
thrown, by the circumstances above ex-
planned, on the Spanish side of the civil
contest thus terminated on the con-
clusion of hostilities he was invited by the
patriot government to enter into service in
the same rank held by him in the Spanish
army. He declined the offer, not consid-
ering that honor which had kept him in
the service permitted him to accept it, and
he retired with the evacuating army to
Cuba, in the year 1923.
On one occasion, in South America
landing with an expedition, somewhat a
la Cortez, in a wild and unexplored re-
gion, occupied by highly warlike tribe
of wild Indians Indios brapos) who nev-
er had, nor even have been tanned, and
with whom they had a severe engagement
on landing the whole party came well
nigh perishing for want Of water. Stri-
king into the interior in quest of water,
after marching for a whole day without
finding stream or spring, they were at last
approached, at about sunset, by an Indi-
an warrior, mounted on magnificent
horse, cream-colored, with black name
and feet. Lopez was in advance, with a
small column, when the commander sum-
moned him to consultation. The vessel
n l. ~ "a