The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-09-19
From The National Intslligencsr.
OFFICIAL DISPATCH FROM
CTIRA

OFFlClAL DISPATCH FROM
CUBA.
We have been favored with the
subjoned extract from dispatch to
the Navy Department from Com.
mander Charles /. Plat. command
ing the United States ship Albany,
now at Havana. The dispatch is
dated
HAVANA, September /.
"The followers of Lopez having
been entirely dispersed, and mum.
Der Of prisoners reported as brought
to this place on the 9th uItimo, ! ad.
dressed a letter to the Captain Gener.
al requesting permission to hold an
inter view with any Americans who
might be among them. This permits.
sion was readily accorded in reply,
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 ac-
cessions 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 five
were Americans. as we learned from
themselves. This officer was present
throughout the interview. Another
gentleman, who was introduced as
Inspector Of Prisons, came in during
its continuance. and remained until
its close. The prisoners were heav.
ly ironed, were clad in prison uni.
form, and had their hair closely cut.
They we're confined in an arched
gallery, to which access was had
through two grated doors, the inner
one being entirely of iron. In the lit.
tie ante.room between these two
doors lay the garments worn by the
prisoners at the time of their confine.
ment.
ION our entrance the Americans
were ordered to advance to the front,
and all foreigners 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,
formerly Of Bayou Sara, who held
the rank Of captain in the expeditions;
Robert M. Order. of New Orleans,
a native Of Kentucky, lieutenant in
the same. J. ID. Baker, Of -, also
a lieutenant.
mo other officer OF the expedi.
ton presented himself. They we're
informed that | had obtained permits.
sion to visit them, and that my object
was to obtain from them any informa.
ton they might choose to give. which
would be forwarded to the Govern.
ment of the United States, and per.
haps might be the means of lettering
Others OF our countrymen from plac.
= ing themselves in the same deplora.
bic situation. They we're told dis
tinctly that they were in the Spanish
Government, and that nothing could
be done for them as Americans, inas>
much as the Presidents proclamation
had declared that any persons joining
an invading force would thereby for.
felt the protection of the Government
Of the United States. This was said
to prevent their forming any false
hopes from my visit.
"The information obtained was Civ.
en- in the presence of the entire party
by the aforesaid officers, and, being
uncontradicted by any of them, may
be regarded as the testimony Of the
whole.
"They stated that the expedition
sailed from New Orleans in the steam.
er "Pampero." They were not sure
OF the exact number comprising it,
but thought it was 1877; that it Ger.
tainly did not amount to five hundred.
Before landing in Cuba they anchored
at Key West, where they remained
several hours, and we're visited by
some citizens of that place. They
landed in Cuba about two o'clock of
the morning Of the 10th August
Their first fight took place on the 18th.
From that period they had lost all re.
collection 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 in-
dividuals had revolvers and knives
They brought with them 10000 car,
tridges, and captured many more all
ter landing. They had no artillery.
Soon after landing they found they
had been deceived, and became anx-
ious to return home. They had been
informed before sailing that fourteen
towns were in possession Of the IRA.
triots," Ito use their own languageJ
and that the whole island was in a
state of revolution. Trey suppose
that the fifty men captured with Col.