The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-23


were 70 shortly to ov'.rwhsln them with ruin. The
men were put in motion and reached Las Posas
about midday. Tt4ey had not eaten q norsel during
the previous t,nirty hours 90 that it was with
great satisfscGon they found that the few troops
which had been stationed at Las Posss had left
the place permitting the invaders to take quiet posses
son which they 1t proceeded to do and to satisfy
their hunger. At eight the next morning just Is the
men were cooking their breakfast their outposts were
attacked BY the advanced guard Of the royal troops The
hberators had scarcely time to rush to their and
form before the enemy down upon them. The left
wing Of the little army, under the command Of Captain
Johnson was attacked first General Lopez with an aid
rode up to the point where Captain Robt Ellis Of Wash
ington and his men stationed and raid to him "sir
you have this day post Of honorn the right the reg
ment "and shsll expect you to hold it," The men
replied to this with cheer unanimous and loud that
it appeared to stay for moment the advance of the
royal troops and General Lopez in person, led them
to their position which in the front Of the village
to the extreme right Captain Brighams company next;
Captain Colts and Captain Stewards companies in the
centre.
The Spaniards greatly superior In numbers their
force consisted Of 700 infantry and 100 ancers which
had been sent from Havana in steamers The force
under Lopez in this battle, something less than
Geo. all told. brisk fire commenced and kept up
with great warmth both sides. The guns several
times became heated that the men obliged to
firing until they cooled This battle lasted about
two hours when beth sides ceased by mutual consent
Many of the brave fellows who had fought like tigers
stretched the ground, unable to rise be-
of the extreme heat and the fatigue they had
dergone. The enemy, having received endorsements
after made another attack and, after many nef-
fectua endesvors to drive Lopez from his position were
themselves repused, with considerable loss Upon this
OCCASION and this only General Lopez just before the
last attack of the royal troops ordered the be
given each glass f spirits which they stood much in
need Of and which went long way to enliven them nd
reanimate them for the second charge.
Early in the latter part of these battles Captain Ellis
received ball which horribly shattered his left hand
and another in the groin which compelled the poor fell
low although much against his will to be carried of the
field.
Gen. Pragay mortally wounded; Capts Goti and
Brigham, Lieutenats Dunn and Riley, with about
twenty privates were rendered hors de combat and
all put into the hospital and eventually into the hands
Of the royal troops and butchered in cold blood
The royalsts seeing how Intellectual their endeayors
bad proved to dslodge Lopez from his gathered
the field 1872 dead and Is wounded eleven thousand
round Of cartridges and many other useful articles
Captain Stewards company and that of Captain e.
lis, now under the command Of the young but brave
Lieutenant Edmund Mcdonald, sent to pursue the
Spaniards and possible to endeavor to form junction
with Colonel Critic who expected to be on the
march from Morio to Las Posas Gen Lopez having the
previous evening sent him two wagons assist bring
ing forward the b. ggsge Stewards and Mcdonald
had marched about three miles this service when Disco
yerpg large bodies Of the enemy, and their being
greatly fatgued, having already gone through much
fighting during the morning Captain Stewart thought it
more prudent to return
The superior of the royalists in both engage
ments was very great and Lopezs victory decided
upon this occasion only be attributed his men
beiI such excellent marksmen Some Of them fired at
none but officers and that accounts for the great
youngest Of the nbeI aiors But to give the royal
troops their due they certainly up TO the charge
IKE men General Lopezs gallant little army, too,
had suffered severely. In the last charge made
BY the royaists, the brave old Colonel bowman was
killed lie received no less than nine wounds Lieut. ].
and the captain Of the Cuban company with about %
prvates all fell in this last engagement. Gen Lopez,
midnight Of the 18th when Captain Kelly arrived with
about 80 of the 115 left under the command of Col
Crittendeh in charge of the baggage at Morillo and
reported the disastrous intelligence of the complete
dispersion Of the Coionels command in vain at
tnpt to join the headquarters at Los Posas.
It sppears that Colonel Crittenden alarmed at
not hearing from General Lopez dispatched nots
him the 18th for orders which replied to- to the
fleet that the Colonel must march Immediately to join
him at Las Posas. where have that Lopex
simseh sufficiently occupied In def nding his
position against considerable Spanish army. Crit
enden had scarcely proceeded three miles his march
when he was attacked by i've hundred Of the Royal
troops. He succeeded, however, in routing them; but
The Spanards returned the charge three quarters Of
hour aerward, With two pieces artlery aud
desperate but short engagement, effected his COM
plete dispersion Only Captain Kelly and about thirty
others were able to effect Junction with General
ytwo others made their way TO the fata idea
his for they were Immediately surrounded by the
troops who cut of all chance eff their being able Join
the main body oftheir comrades at Las Poas and in
desperate atten pit to get them BY uuforu
s sn m wn S the steamer
captured brought to Havana the 10th aud shot the
'sme morning in cold blood under circumstances Of
great barDarty.
wretched village and situated that they would have
been soon compelled to cspuate to the immense force
The % ps b
we're accordingly put in motion fsr the mountains
Two Cubans. creoes of the island joined the expe-
iiiion just before leaving Las Posas, fought very
bravely have been made prisoners and will probably
be shot The march continued until sunrise when
hey halted and cooked beef glad enough to eat
t without salt bread They made excellent dinner
IN the 14s OF the rema nder of the bullock and
n the evening resumed their march which they con-
nued without any incident worth relating until the
9TH. They halted once day to eat and sleep,
lines marching eighteen hours Of the twenty four
Their ony nourshment consisted OF beef roasted across
heir ramrods. Their average Ices was ten men a day
no gave up the road from the fearful heat Of the
climate and the excessive fatigue of forced marches
Almost inaccessible mountsips AL who Jagged upon
he march. and were picked up or fallen In With by
he enemy, we're instantly shot About midday on
he l5tt they reached plantation which formerly be-
opsedto (and stl owned by the family Gen. Lopez
he object a. much anxiety TO the nearly famished
here they were to have long rest and plenty to eat
Poor fellows they doomed 20 ssd disappointment
sort Of fatality attended all their endeavors TO satisfy
he crayr hunger They had been for days travelling
'ves mountains which the spsIi.rds found impossible,
ucent food 10 keep body and soul together and hsv
ct last reached Cen Lopez estate the haven looked
ward 10 the resting place where they hoped
after the dreadful hardships they had had under
they in the act Of sitting down TO bountiful
ffrf barn u hats