Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-09-02
Fror, the NO. Picavune, Aug. %.

OF; Ga :eita Of last evening publishes the 'Ul-
3av.ir.. letter from Adjutant STAFFORD, which
cxplains partially the manner in which our un-
fortunate couutrymen met their antimely fate:
HAVANA, August l6, 1851.
DEAR HUME: We arrived on the Island
Of Cuba after the most horrible passage YOU
can conceive Of, cooped on board with 400 or
500 men.
We arrived on Sunday last believe dates
have almost forgotten. The next morning,
Lcpez, with Gen. Paraguay, and all the com.
matidiug officers, left as-Q mean Cnttenden
and his battalion.} We heard nothing more
Of him for two days, when Crittenden despatch
ed note. He then requested we shonl1 join
hin, at little town some six or eight miles
off leaving us in the meantime to take care Of
all the baggage, DC.
We started for him on Wednesday morning
at 9 o'clock, a. M, and had proceeded only
three miles when we were attacked by 800
Spanish soldiers. In the first charpe rcceiv-
ed a very severe wound in the knee. We re-
pulsed them, however. They made another
charge and completely routed US. We spent
two DAYS and nights, the most miserable you
can imagine, in the chaparal, without anything
{ o eat or drink.
We made the best OF our wav to the sea
shore, and found some boats with which we
put to sea. Spent night upon the ocean: and
next day, about IL o'clock, were taken prison.
ers by the Habanero, were brought to Havana
last night, and condemned to die this morning.
We shall all be shot in an hour
Good-by, and God bless you. | send the
Masonic medal enclosed in this, belonging to
my father. Convey it to my sister, Mrs. Pm,
and tell her of my fate. Once more, God bless
you. SIANfohD'
From this and from a comparison with OIL
cial reports Of the Spanish officers, we are en-
abled to construct more connected and pro-
bable .narrative=of the events which led to the
unhappy catastrophe than has yet been given
Gen. Lopez, eon landing near Bahia Honda,
with the main body of his forces, consisting OF
about 800 men, advanced towards Las Pozas,
n small town few miles in the interior, leav-
ing Col. Crittenden and his command, ia
strong, in charge Of the baggage. That night
or the next day, the steamer Pizarro landed
100 Spanish troops at Bahia Honda, and these
advancing towards the place OF Lopez's landing
: cut off Crittendens men from their companions
On the second night afterwards this party de-
termined to attemptto form junction with Lo-
pez, but on the road were attacked by an over
wheIming body Of troops, and after short
, struggle were on the second charge routed
and dispersed. After wandering about in the
thickets, fifty of them got together and made
their way to the:sea shore, where they seized
! four small boats and endeavored to make their
escape, when they were captured as has been
related in the official report of Admiral Bustll.
los. There are still sixty -four Of this command
to be accounted for. OF these, forty were sur
prised and shot at a small farm house.
A Spanish lieutenant reports that on the l4th
he came upon twenty "pirates" guarding an
equal number of wounded comrades, all OF
whom were Immediately put to death. The
remaining twenty. -four, or such of them as had
not been killed in battle, probably continued to
wander in the vicinity until we are forced to
believe, they also were taken and slaughtered.
The other party, under Lopez, it seems; re-
ceiving the attack of the Spaniards in farm
r house at Las Pozas, and beat them off with Sc
we're loss, at least SO it is to be supposed, since
the Spanish official reports state that they de-
sisted from the assault in order to receive ren-
forcements. Whether any subsequent fighting
took place at this point we do not know at
all events Lopez held his own for two days
till on the 18th, he left for the interior. and was
not molested OH his march by Gen. Enna; all
of which we learn from the Spanish official ac-
counts. This was the state OF affairs on the
18th, the date of our last advices from the
scene of action, through Gen. Enna's despatch,
dated at $50 on that day. If Gen. Lopez
reached the mountains in safety, he will discov-
er soon whether he has relied with too much
confidence on the assistance of the native In
habitants.
The True Delta publishes the following let
ter from one of the victims:
HAVANA, on board man-of war,
8 o'clock, a. M, August l6 1851.
STANTON & Co.-My dear friends: About
fifty of US, Col. Crittenden's command, were
taken prisoners yesterday, have not received
our sentence yet, but no doubt we will all be
shot before sunset Lopez, the scoundrel, has
deceived us; there is no doubt but all those re-
ports about the Cubans rising were all trumPed
up in New Orleans. Lopez took nearly his
command and deserted us-we were attacked
by some 500 or 700 of the Queens troops the
I'd day after we landed. Our own gallant Col.
Crittenden done all that any man could do
but we saw we had been deceived and retreat
ed to the sea shore with the intention of get
tipo off TO our country If possible-got three