Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-09-20
The Cuba

Capt. PLATr, ot the U. S. ship Albany, wa:
granted an interview on the 3Oth ult., with the
prisoners in Havana who were attached to Lo
PEGS Expedition. AS every thing must be O.
interest respecting those unfortunate men
CONDEMNED to ten years hard labor in Spain,
we give the following extract of Capt. Platt'.
statement, He distinctly told them that the,
must not look for relief from the United States
He says:
The information obtained was given in the
presence OF the entire party by the aforesaid
officers, [Capt. Kelly and two others, and, be.
ing uncontradicted by any of them, may be re.
garded as the testimony of the whole.
They stated that the expedition sailed from
New Orleans in the Pampero. They were not
sure OF the exact number comprising it, but
thought it was 4S7; that it certainly did not
amount to 500. Before landing in Cuba they
anchored near Key West, where they remained
several hours, and were visited by some citi-
zens of that place. They landed in Cuba about
O'Clock of the morning of the 18th of 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 reyolyers and knives. They brought with
them 10000 cartridges, and captured many
more after landing. They had no artillery.
Soon after landing they found they had been
deceived, and became anxious to return home.
They had been informed before sailing that
fourteen towns were in possession of the Pa
friotc /n non thar TN laurnopo \ aD1 that
the whole island was in a state of revolution.
with Col. Crittenden were endeavoring to
make their escape. They so infer, from the
fact that they were all dispirited, as they said,
with the lies and deception practiced 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 a week or ten
days preyiousIy-tbey could not distinctly re.
member 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 Co.
yernment. They did not come in ali together,
but in small parties, and at different times.
They had subsisted chiefly upon fruit, and the
last meat that some of them had was a portion
of their Generals horse. There was no lack
OF ammunition when they threw away their
arms, though much Of what they had brought
had been damaged by rain. Lieut. Order sta.
ted that ne carried a musket, though an off.
Ger, 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 Nav
Orleans Delta, Mr.. Sigur, was instrumental in
persuading him to join the expedition, having
him personally upon the subject.
he has reason to believe that he persuaded
many others also. The whole party manifest
much Indignation towards Gen. Lopez and
Nj. Sigur; and many Of them asserted that Il
would be worse for the latter if they should
live to return home. On being told that GEN.