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

wished TO 90 back and ascertain what had be-
come of Crttcnden, who had eighty ofthc best
men in the command with him, Gen. Lopez
replied that he had sent two companies that
afternoon to Critten0en'S relief, and that they
had returned end stated that it was impossible
to get through; that his troops We're already
under marching orders, and that it was abso-
lutelv necessary he should leave there that
night as he would be again attacked by the
S,Anisf, troops in the morning, with artillery.
He intended to march for the mountains,
where he calculated to meet some Creoles who
We're said to be in arms there. Capt. Kelly
says that Gen. Lopez appeared to be very anX-
ious to oin with Col. Crttendeu; but it was
absolutely necessary that he should leave his
present situation before the Spanish comman-
der could receive his artillery, as their position
would soon be rendered untenable. Gen. Lo-
pez had no artillery, nor did the Pampero
bring over any as reported. He expected to
find a Creole force i'll the mountains with ar
tiilery, as he had been informed. Las Pozas is
situated about twelve miles from the sea shore,
and at the foot of the mountain forming the
region called the Vueta Abaj ia. About twen-
ty minutes after Capt. Kelly arrival the whole
command were on the march, and shortly after
commenced ascending the mountains. About
daylight they reached a house used as a sort
of general post Office for the district, and about
a mile farther on they came across another
house, where the men got breakfast which they
ate with right good will. They rested here
until the Afternoon, which was much needed, as
Capt Ks men had no" been Oh the march tor
two nights and one day.
In the cool Of the afternoon, they again took
up the line of march, and arrived at a hacienda
formerly belonging to Gen Lopez about Or
o'clock on the morning Of the 10th. While
taking breakfast, party of about 200 lancers
charged down upon them, but We're soon
driven back Almost Immediately after, news
was received that Il large force of Spanish
troops were in field about a mile OFT, and
Lopez Immediately marched thither, where
about five hundred Of the enemy formed to re-
ceiye him. He Immediately attacked them with
his diminished force, and after short but
sharp conflict, competely y routed them, they
fiving in all directions to the woods. In this
FIGHT Gen Emma was killed.
After this Lopez resumed his march and
crossed the mountains, passing through thick
ly settled country, until they reached coffee
estate, where they got something to eat They
continued marching about until the 2lst, when
their guide brought them to withina few miles
of San Crstoba where, as Cen Lopez learned
from 4 countryman, there were upwards of
1900 Spanish troops. They proceeded TO the
top of 4 small bill, whence they saw the troops
patrolling the valley below. They remained
here all night, exposed to heavy rain, and in
over a road rendered very bad and slippery by
ed south, on their way to the house of a
T. ~, i,,tn Nod
their arms, which had been much damaged by
the rain, in order While taking breakfast the
next morning. (thc 23d,) they were attacked
by a large force of Spanish troops, Capt. KeI-
" thinks between four and five hundred, and
here the invading troops met their first reverse,
owing to the bad condition Of their arms. 1t
was deemed advisable to retire TO the noun
tains, and Lopez gave an order to that effect.
Some twenty or thirty men left the main body
and made for the woods. Some of the others
who remained with Lopez threw away their
guns.
By the time they reached the mountains, it
commenced raining, and rained furiously for
about forty-eight hours. This completely ruin
ed their remaining guns. and all their ammuni-
and getting anything to eat. When it cleared
last food they had. A consultation of officers
was now had, and they demanded that Gen.
Lopez should take them at once to " here the
Patriot forces he had spoken of were station
ed, or at least reach the coast, where they
to their demand, and they started
for the Patriot rendezvous to the south. The
guide, however, mistook the road, and led
a. {o G. r;c4o oho1 tba, ,,1
themselves in front of large body of troops,
who ordered them to surrender, and on their
refusal fired upon them, but the balls passed
over their heads. The Americans attempted to
return the fire, when they found that not gun
in the command would go off Before the
Spanish troops could again load and fire, the
invaders scattered in all directions and took to
the woods.
From this time until his arrest, Capt. Kelly
states that he and the few men with him wan
dered about the woods and rocks, living on the
pith Of the palmetto tree and mangoes.
On the 26th, weak and half starved, they
were overtaken and arrested by party Of
countrymen, who informed them of the pardon
proclaimed by the Captain General They
were taken to Bahia Honda placed on board
the steamer Habanero, and brought to Havana.
Some of the dates in the above statement
may be wrong, as they are given from recol-
lection, but the main facts are correct Capt.
Kelly states that to his knowledge but two
Creoles joined them, and they were both killed.
He and Col Haines both scout at the idea that
Lopez purrosely abandoned Crittenden and
his men, and say that he would have given his
right hand to have had them with him. Capt.
K, thinks that after Col. Crittenden left him,
he concealed himself in the woods, with the
view of drawing the enemy into an ambush,
and that on his return, finding that Capt. Kelly
had left the tenda, and not knowing in which
direction, he had marched, he and his men, be.
ing without guides through the country, had
concluded to make for the coast, and put out