North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-08
r.L. NstA York Sun.
From the New York Sum-
Interesting Particulars IA 49, ~
the late Lopez ExPeOIIAOA'


the late Lopez ExPe0lIAO"'
On Yesterday we had the pleasure OF an inter-
view and conversation with Col w m ScoCt nayn1a'
late commandment Of the First Regiment OF Tue
Liberating Army of Cuba who arrived IN tnlS IlC9
on Monday IN the ship Norma from Havana, De-
;no oUa the four prisoners released by the Capt
CIenaral As we have Col. Haynes PERMISSION 10
mako nublic the statements he made to us IN the
course of the conversation, will present them 10
orr readers as briefly and comprehenslDly as posi-
BILE. In the first place, Col. Haynes emphaUcaliy
denies that Gen. Lopez deceived, or in any way
ootad disbonorabIy towards the men who volun-
tecred to accompany him to Cuba. He also lndlg-
nantly repels the charge made in certain class OF
American journals, that the Expedition was OF a
niratical or punderng character or had its origin
in any motives that would do dscredit to an hon
orable man and an American. And here we may
observe that he speaks in terms of contempt for
Iieut. Van Vechten. Col. Haynes states that Van
Vechten acted like pusilanimous coward, desert
inc his command in the very first engagement and
that his men afterwards refused to fight under
him. Such is the man who has attempted to
maign Gen. Lopez, and libel the motives OF men
of true courage and gallantry. a.,
With regard to the change in the place OF l'lIu
inc, Col HAYNES informs us that the original de-
sign was to land on the Eastern part OF the lslno
as that WAS the part from which the most positive
assurances of aid were received. After the exPedl-
ton sailed from New Orleans, they touched al
Kew West to take in provisions and some equip
ments, intending then to go up the st. John river
to drill the men and take board some fine pieces
of artillery that they had in that neighborhood
At Kew West, however, parties friendly to the eX-
petition stated that they had just received letters
from Havana informing them that there were SIN
thousand men in the Western Department ready
to Join the Expeditionists and two thousand III the
city of Havana, and suggesting Bahla Honda rs
rood point for landing. The American officers re-
Il lint
Others strenuously advocated the landing at the
place thus suggested. Gen. Lopez himself hestat-
ed some time but finally decided TO land on the
Western Coast and the American officers also gave
their consent. This Col. Haynes regards as the
great and fatal error. Had they followed out their
original intention, he thinks Tar different results
would have followed
We have already published full details Of the
occurrences after landing, and therefore omit
much OF Col. HAYNES conversation regarding them.
He fully eSoneEsges Gen. Lopez from the charge q
deserving Col Crittenden and his command.
In the battle Of Las Ptsas, which fought IL
n open 6d, neither party having the protection o
Ezaos u woods. the SlraniaTds had 100 men, while
1hs forces u 1hs ExTe1IloalSts only amounted Il
z1,1Ri $50 mzn- reI Ihs SgEgniar1s were routed
win -raRl loss.
Col HAYNES sI,eaks N the highest terms u Gen
Lopez h a Inan and q soldier. No MAN, he SAYS
s1IIla i,s hraver H. SAYS thai IL r all unqualified
istshssa3 uha1 Gen Lopez finally deserted hs men
H shArs3 every danger with them 10 the last anl
mini VERY compelled them 10 scat
lI u FzT101s dzracncInS- As Gt1neri~ Col HAYNES
rs-zr5s Lopez IL azTe bean qual about The bas
N L1= Spanish sasr5oa- tn initr1or IN ability
almost any Of our American Generals
As barring upon the char-e that his baen made
against the expeiit;cnists that they were animated
by desire for plumber, may state that Col
HAYNES Informs US that the greatest strctness was
to- faEi IN no linz
of cent from the inhabitants unlawfully. As
Col of the regiment, he invariably placed a guard
at the doors of groceries and of other houses the
occupants of which expressed any apprehensions,
in all the villages they entered, or through which
they passed. So much gratitude did the people
feel for this protection, that dcputation from
OF the villages went to Havana and besought the
Captain General in his behalf, and this he thinks
may have been the chief cause of his release.
Col III. also states that it is not true that the
Creole inhabitants showed bitter hostility to the
Expeditionists After their dispersion he SAYS tha
he was received and kindly treated at several plan
tations. The Creoles would also assemble i'll the
house in which he was, and talk to him about the
expedition, asking him why they came in such
foolish way, with force that could effect nothing
against the numerous troops of Spain
They said that if Lopez had only brought mer
enough to sustain himself decently for short time
the whole Island would have risen to his aid. A.
it was such was the rapdity of the movement o
the Spanish troops, that almost before the news o
the Eberators could be spread, they were surround
ed, and all access to them utterly cut off The
whole country, except the little space to which the
Lberators were confined, was in the possession o.
the authorities and the least attempt to ioin o.
q disposition to sympathize with Them on the part
OF the Cubans was instantly punished with death
Add to this the fact that the only intelligence thai
could be had of the Liberators among the people
was, that they were defeated, for Lopez and hi
party had no means whatever of making their stu
alton known, and SO the Spaniards had it their owl
way. Col. Haynes says that the native Cubans
to man, are anxious for the overthrow of tn,
present tyrannical government, and the moment
favorable opportunity presents it will happen H
thinks the Cubans would have been fools to hav
attempted rising for Lopez, under the crcum
stances, for they certainly would have failed, ben.
entirely destitute of arms ammunition, leaders, AM
information. Many did attempt it, but were takel
on the roads, and shot like dogs; and when Co
Haynes left Havana, upwards of three hundre
persons, OF the first families, were in prison fo
having endeavored to make rising and assist Lo
PEE. Col. Haynes having been a participant i
the Expedition from first to last in all the battle
and subsequent misfortunes, his statements am
opinions can be relied upon as correct.
He assures us that the failure of the Creoles +
rise, by no means proves that they did not wish t
JOIN Lopez lie is confident that they did desir
to do so, but were overawed by the Spanish so
dlery. AS whole, they are a servile race, wit
but little courage, and so accustomed to be groun
down by their despotic masters, that the sight of
,lo SVanr,,