The southern press., 1851-09-17
NARRATIVE.

NARRATIVE.
I became connected with the expedition q,
New Orleans. receiving, on the Both day of July
last, an appointment ms first lieutenant OF com
pany b, Of Col w l.. Crttcndcn's regiment
list artillery) commanded by Capt ,mes San,
ders. The expedition, as you are already aware,
left New Orleans at day. break on the morning
of Sunday the 3r1 of August, in the steamer
Pampero We were towed to the mouth OF the
river, our engine being out Of order. We re
mained in the river until "Wednesday tie 9Th.
and left through the North east Pass, at 6
o'clock, p. NJ, of that day. for Key West. The
intention ut that time was To 90 to hey West,
and there take on board pilot for the river ST
Johns-at which place we were TO embark
light battery Of artillery, with caissons, ammu.
milton and harness complete, together with
number Of cavalry saddles-and from thence
were 10 run 10 the south side of Cuba and
land as near rs possible 10 Puerto Principe.
We reached Key West and anchored some
distance from the city, at three, P. NJ of Sunday
the 10th instant. While at Ky West, quan.
tiiy of brandy aud champagne wa' received on
board, which was imbibed tQlerably freely by
Lopez and his staff About dusk OF that day,
no pilot appearing, Lopez called o council, com
posed entirely of Cubans and Hungirians at
tached to his staff, (no Americans being called)
who decided TO give up going TO the ST. Johns
river. and run Immediately for the coast OF Ca.
On, which was done at about 10, p. N. The
next morning, owing To the varition OF the
compass, from muskets being stacked near IT,
we found ourselves IL plata sight OF Moro Cas-
tie, and about twelve miles distant the vessel
Immediately headed TO the norihward and west
ward and sun out Of sight OF land. About 3
e tkat a. 10, IL tho pantaiu md
mate out Of Spanish schooner, To- act as pilots.
irving them 10 understand that they would be
shot IL they showed any disposition to escape or
deceive At !,p NJ, we again stof d in for the
land, and soon alter dusk sent boat IN TO re
connoitre, which was hailed by sentry on the
walls of the fort, situated near B hia Honda, the
ship not being more than mile from IL. AS
soon az the bOlt reported, lights were cxtin
guished and press Of steem put on, Tie ship
running to the westward along tie laui.
About 10 o'clock while running under ih
charge Of a pilot, under u press Of steam, the
ship suddenly struck, and before the engines
could be- stopped, had run more than her length
upon n corA reef After examining her situa
ticn. IL was found that she was lying il about
eight feet Of water, while her draft was ovef
nine feet and that il was Necessary thit the
rec should be Immediately landed, which wa
done; and about O'Clock on The morning OF
the 18th of August, the last Of Us discmharkcd
upon the shore Of what we hid been taught to
! consider would sooa be the free island OF Cuba
The FIRST boats which landed were fred upon by
a party Of twenty mer, who Bed on thcIr.llrr
being returned from the boat which contained
Captain Gouti, Ga Cuban commandlng al AneTi
can company Lieut.. birmingham, and abon'
thirty pryntps Of his compauy Ono OF GOutIs
men was wounded in the arm, and returned IL
the ship, and the cap of the lieutenant was cut
into halves on his head.
AZ daylight Lopez sent pronunciamento to
Los Posas, small village ten miles distant, In
which he informed the inhabitants that he was
about to march TO that place, and vorld give no