Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-17
orF1oiAn DESPATCH FROM CUBA.

The Washington papers contain the sub
joined extracts from despatch tothe Navy
Department from Commander Charles T
Platt, commanding the United States shiI
Albany, now at Havana. The despatch is
dated Havana, Sept. 1: laR
nThe followers of Lopez having been en-
tireIy dispersed, and a number Of prisoners
reported as brought to this place on the27th
ultimo, / addressed letter to the Captain
General, requesting permission to hold an
interview with any Americans who might
be among them. This permission wasread.
ily accorded in asreply, which is enclosed
The interview was postponed until the
morning of the 30th, the prisoners having
in the meantime been transferred to the
Castle of the 'Punta,' and some accessions
having been made to their number. The
Commandant of the Castle informed me
that the whole number of prisoners was fifty
seven, of whom about thirty or thirty-fve
were Americans, as we learned from them
selves. This officer was present through
out the interview. Another gentleman, who
was introduced as Inspector OF Prisons, came
in during its continuance. and renamed un-
til its close. The prisoners were heavily
ironed, were clad in prison uniform, and
had their hair closely cut. They were con-
fined in an arched gallery, to which access
was had through two grated doors, the IN
ner being entirely of iron. In the little an
te-room between these two doors lay the
garments worn by the prisoners at the time
of their confinement. eo l0
"On our entrance the Americans were
ordered to advance to the front, and all for
eigners were sent to the other end of the
cell. Inquiry being made for the officers,
the following presented themselves, viz:
"James A. Kelly, of New Orleans, for
merly of Bayou Sara, who held the rank OF
captain in the expedition; Robert nj. Grl-
der, Of New Orleans, native of Kentucky,
a lieutenant in the same; j. d. Baker, OF
49,, also lieutenant. 1gg .Ili +
"No other officer of the expedition pre-
sented himself. They were informed that
| had obtained permission to visit them, and
that my object was to obtain from them any
information they might choose to give,
which would be forwarded to the Govern
ment of the United States, and perhaps
might be the means of deterring others of
our r countrymen from placing themselves in
the same deplorable situation. They were
told distinctly that they were in the power
of the Spanish Government, and that moth
ing could be done for them as Americans,
inasmuch as the Presidents proclamation
had declared that any persons joining an IN
yading force would thereby forfeit the pro-
lection of the Government OF the United
States. This was said to prevent their form
ing any false hopes from my visit.
"The information obtained was given in
the presence of the entire party by the a.
foresaid officers, and being uncontradicted
by any of them, may be regarded as the tes-
timony of the whole.
"They stated that the expedition sailed
from New Orleans in the steamer 'Pampe-
ro' they were not sure of the exact num-
Der comprising it, but thought it was 4S7 !;
that 1t certainly did not amount to five hum
dred. Before landing in Cuba they anchor.
ed near Key West, where they remained
several hours, and were visited by some
citizens of thai place. They landed in Gu
ba about two o'clock of the morning of the
18th August. Their first fight took place
on the 18th. From that period they had
lost all recollection Of dates. They had five
engagements, but could not tell how many
of their number had been killed. They
were armed with condemned muskets; had
no rifles; but many individuals had revolv-
orc ond Knives. They brought with them
80, 900 cartridges, and captured many more
after landing. They had no artillery. Soon
after landing they. found they had been de-
ceived and became anxious to return home.
They had been informed before sailing that
fourteen towns were in possession OF the rat
riots(to use their own language T. that the
whole island was in state of ofrevolutlon.-
They suppose that the fifty men captured
with Col. Crittenden were endeavoring to
make their escape. They SO infer. from the
fact that they were all dispirited by the re-
ception they net with, and dlsgusted, las they
said, with the lies and deception practised
towards them.
"The country people generally fled at
their approach, and none joined them
Worn out with hunger and fatigue, the men
composing this body threw away their arms
week or ten days previously-they could
not distinctly remember when. They had
not, at that time, heard of the offer of life
to such as would give themselves up, but
their intention was to throw themselves upon
the mercy of the Spanish Government
They did not come in all together, but in
small parties, and at different times. They
had subsisted chiefly upon fruit, and the
last meat that some OF them had eaten was
portion Of their Generals horse. There
was no lack of ammunition when they threw
away their arms, though much of what they
brought had been damaged by rain. Lieut..
Grider stated that he carried musket,
though an officer, and that he had twenty
eight rounds Of cartridges in his box when
he threw it away.
"Capt. Kelly stated that the Editor OF the
New Orleans Delta, Mr.. Sigur, was instru-
mental in persuading him to join the expe'
dition, having addressed him personally
upon the subject. He has reason to be-
lieve that he persuaded many others also
The whole party manifested much indigna'
tion towards Gen. Lopez and MIR. Slgur
and many of them asserted that it would oe
worse for the latter if they should live te
return home. On being told that Gen. Lo
pez was taken prisoner, cry OF Joy rar
through the crowd. =
"They stated that Lopez was chief OF tht
| n