Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-20

house. we were compelled retreat leaving baggage and
stores and that night rather the next mornng We sue
ceeded in forming junction with Lope7 Las Posss hall an
hour before his march from that place. AT the Same hour
that Crtenden attacked al the hacienda body o. the
enemy eight hundred strong under Gen. Emma, attacked
Lopez at Las Posas.
leaving the Americans masters Of the 6s and two hum
dred Of their number among when we're several Of ns
highest ocers dead and woundedhe American loss Dens
in killed. wounded, and missing. only about thirty men,
among whom Colonel Downman and Lieut.. Lablzan were
killed. and Gen. Pragsy and Csps Brigham and Gout were
moray wounded After the scton, the Spanish wounded
were brought n and well taken OF .
would admit Lopez rode entirely unsred owe! the held
through the hottest the Ere, occasionally applying red
hide with sread deal vgor the shoulders Of such
men a. he thought could be hurried into hrns little aster
On the morning Of the l4th At O'Clock, Lopez marched
from Las Posas the mountains leaving there seventeen
wounded Spauards and thirteen of side, all OF whom
were bsyoneted BY the Spsnads aud their bodies piled
heap, cross ways Al the foot Of hill.
Twe days afss Con the l6th,) Lopez wss sssn attacked
by three hundred ances and six hundred infantry, while
encamped at hacienda which formerly belonged to himself
but was conscated three years since Here the action
lasted from IL o'clock one OF the hottest days ever
experienced The enemy were again compelled to retreat
with loss Of three hundred and twenty men and at the
moment that the retreat Of the SPaniads In one dec
ton was reported Lopez he issued order to his own
force to opposite, and actually that day made
forced march Of eighteen miles in five hon over noun
tain road. On the 10th, being still on the mountains we
overaken by severe rain storm, which destroyed the
greater portion ammunition, and rendered our guns en-
tirey useless We encamped the evening Of that day at
rancho the foot Of the mountains about two leagues from
Bahia Honda We remained undisturbed that night; and
were attacked Just at breakfast time the morning OF the
2Oh being taken by surprise, the sentry on the outpost
having left his post to wash himself In creek where he
killed Owing the unserviceabe condition of their arms,
tho force under Lopez completely routed nying TO the
mountains in all drecions-Lopez himself barely escaping
on horseback with the loss of bis saddle, PISTOLS and spy
of in fact bnt Wha he
night be encamped the top Of one Of the highest mountains
on the Island Of Cuba exposed to all the violence Of terrific
norther, without either shelter fire, or food.
It is impossible for me to describe the suengs of that
night Heaven forbid that pass such another. The
rain fell in torrents while and anon terrific crash would
announce that massive had en either before the
force Of the wind the still mshtier lightning That night
equaled ordinary lifetime On the evening Of the 2lsf
having been forty hours without eating killed horse
which was divided among hundred and twenty men,
who were all that remained with Lopez. We wandered
through mountains unable to extricae ourselves subsstng
on such leaves and could find until midday OF
Sunday the 24th when succeeded in reaching road
ming from Bahia Honda to San Cristoba along which
advanced until nearly night when two Spanish ancers were
discovered advancing but Aed seeing halt was
mediaey ordered and examination made Of the state OF
forces, which showed total Of one hundred and twenty
FIVE men, eighty muskets, about twenty Of which were
seviceabe and abb ut forty dy cartridges Under this state
of affairs deemed advisable 10 retreat which was or
dered and pursuit commenced by the enemy who lay in
ambush few hundred yards IN advance with force Of
nine hundred men. On the approach Of the enemy, the
whole force Of Lopez separated into small bodes and dpers
ed through the mountains throwiog away their guns and
every thing which could incumber them in their flight seven
only remaining with the General large number were
overaken and Immediately killed. myself one Of a
party Of eight who had previously determined on leaving Lo
pez, and attempting to escape from the leland
We remained in the mountains until the morning of Tues
day. the 26th whep having had but one meal in SIX days.
and feeling that could bear longer determined
go the plains considering that would be better to be
killed outright than die lingering death from starvation,
which certainly would up in the mountains.
We accordingly advanced to house where we were treat
ed with great deal of Kindness and received most excel
lent breakfast. An arrangement made to procure
guide the South shore with provisions, c and we were
about leave and conceal ourselves until night when, in the
twinking Of eye surrounded by two hundred
armed countrymen, who Immediately bound securely, and
inverted our pockets considering the contents lawful punder
That day we reached San Cristoba Until reached san
Crsoba we were under the impression that to be
Immediately shot, only consolation being that we were to
die with full stomachs.
On arrival there informed that procarna-
ton had been issued hours before arrest spaing the
lives Of all fllbpsteros who made prisoners, gave
themselves up within four days. except the traitor Lopez
After which an ORDER dated, think, the Gath of April [by
which all foreigners found n island ordered to be put
DEATH continue in full force On the 26th there
being forty prisoners left San Cristoba for Hava
na and Friday night reached Guayamo the terminus Of
railroad from Havana. There an order was received from
ing fearful that the prisoners would be to pieces by the
rabbe Havana We reached Mare the evening Of the
30th aud embarked upon the steamer Almendaes,
proceed to Havana when express arrived bringing nfor
nation of the capture Lopez and the steamer delayed
TO await his arrival, which took place at o'clock r M
Sunday the 3ls when Immediately left for Havana
Lopez entirely at liberty and smoked his cigarette with
apparently much unconcern ever he did in his e
Outside the habor of Marel Lopez transferred to the
fgate Pizaro, which conveyed him to Havana and
which he did until he left morning for the place
of execution.
The remainder of confined that night in the city
prison. in the Of the fort called the Ponta The pr-
passed through regular process their hair being first
close their heads They then passed into the hands of
another barber who deprived them Of their whsker then
another provided them with prison uniform and the
cises terminated by big negro, who securely fastened
them in pairs by chain, similar In size and weight to log
chain, firmly secured TO the ankle.
At the time Of my release from prison, which at 10
o'clock on the night Of the 4th instant there hun
dred and sixty Of force prisoners They all chain
ed and confined in large room, hardly large enough
however, for all to lilo down They treated very
kindly, and allowed all the privileges that could be expected
As matter Of course where many confined in
stances naturally follows that II must be very unpleasant
Their sentence years hard labor in Spain probably in
the construction Of canal They all appeared be in good
spirits at the time left being under the impression that they
would soon be released after their arrival in Spain.
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro and publicly garroed
in the square adjoining The prison, at o'clock in the
ing of Monday the ls OF September With him ended
only this expedition, but sincerely trust all expeditions to
Cuba.
In 10 the time left the Spaniards could for
hundred and seventy Cittendens
COMMUNICATION they had killed. that is, action wound
ed men who were left the field, and sick and fagued
men who gave ou, on the march and lef behind and
= IL 49, L.