The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-25

the road from the fearful heat OF the climate and the
cessye fatigue Of forced marches almost inaccessible
mountains All who Jagged uoon the march, and were
picked up fallen in with by the enemy. were instantly
shot About midday the nth they reached planta-
ton which formerly belonged to land is still owned by
the family Oh Gen. Lopezhe object OF much anxiety to
the nearly famished men. there they were to have
long rest and plenty TO eat Poor fellows they were
doomed 10 sad disappointment sort OF fatality attend
ed all their endeavors to satisfy the cravings of hunger
They had been for days travelling over mountains which
the Spaniards found impossible. cutting their way with
their machetes. and with scarcely sufficient food keep
body and soul together and having at last reached Gen.
Lopezs estatethe haven looked forward TO- the resting
place where they hoped recover, after the dreadful
hardshps they had had TO undergothey in the act
OF sitting down to boanul dinner, which the old gen.
era had at last been able 10 procure for them, when
that very moment they reduced almost 10 despair by
the cry of :" the enemy upon !" Indeed time was
barely allowed for the fly TO their arms when the
Spanish lances. who had rapidly formed in front of the
infantry prepared 10 charge. The liberators had been
taken by surprise Fortunately for them, Lopez had
chosen such advantageous position for his who
posted among mango trees, that. had not
of his aids mprudeny ridden through the ranks, saying
that the general believed them to be friends-patrots-
who had 10 join them, the whole OF the $50 ancers
must have been killed but, even it was timely dis
covering his error the general issued his ORDERS and
rble was the havoc made among them. Such warm
reception put the rest to flight and Lopez became elated
with the bravery Of his men, who had gained de.
cided victory the Queens troops that he formed
the bold plan OF attacking their infantry on their own
ground. His little army was accordingly marched to
high hill, distant about quarter Of mile which they
enabled TO reach before the whole force OF the roy
stists had time to form prevent them The main body
of the Spaniards, consisting OF 1000 infantry, now
charged upon the beraors and the battle became gen.
era The royalists were protected by chappara and
Lopez had posted his upon hill Perhaps the fine
position which Lopez had chosen for his men, and their
decided superiority the Spaniards marksmen,
again resulted in his favor nasmuch that, after about
half hours constant firing both Sides the govern
ment troops withdrew in good order, leaving Gen Lopez
OF the field The royaliss lost in this action their
in chief (hs excellency General Don Man
uel de Emma, lieutenant governor OF the isand Colonel
Nadal, many officers of less note, and considerable
number of men, The loss Of the berators very
small upon this occasion, owing entirely to the splendid
position which they had taken up; il amounted only to
| killed and wounded The loss OF the Spaniards,
cordng to their official accounts amounted to about SO
killed, including the commander in-chef The dinner
which the liberators stood mach in need Of and for
which they had fought valiantly, enjoyed with
double zest, from the fact of their being nearly de-
pIved of it, The remainder of the 17lh, all the 18th,
and part of the 10th, were spent in marching.
About IL, noon, of the 10th, while in the mountains
storms prevalent this of the year in these
attitudes, especially in Cuba and which deluge the
ny with rain. This continued without ntermssion Tor
wo days; and then it was, and not till them that this
,rave little band Of heroes were reduced to something
ike despair. They had now been week ten days
he island of the time without food had fought three
battles, and had yet been joined but by two
If the people TO whose calls for aid and assistance in the
overthrow of yrannca and despotc government they
lad promptly responded Exposed to all the fury of
pitiless storm, in barren mountain for two days. their
nuskets and ammunition were rendered completely use
ess from lie heavy rains; and dying of hunger and
and only then, did these brave become
They had left New Orleans without cart.
idge boxes, ball screws, wpers, picker and
,rush Their haversacks were useless in keeping out
be water. and the little ammunition that remained to
hem that which they took from the Spanish troops
liter the battle OF Las Posas" In this deporabe con-
lton they found themselves within half mile OF the
owa OF San Crstobal, which they could have taken,
they but, upon careful inspection
IF their Ammunition il found that only about thirty
Dr. forty muskets servceable They accordingly
abandoned their intention Of taking that town, but
eced good position TO it, AID enaamped there for
he night. They continued their march the following
day, the goth; but dspirted had they become
from hardshp-. and the base manner in which
they now found they had been deceived by the
wreiched Cubans-who had made false Representations
III
would but and assist them TO obtain their indie
pendence from the dominion Of Spain-tha this hand
full OF brave men, who had ventured their lives their
ALL in the of freedom found themselves most cop.
ardiy abandoned by those who had aured them to
their destruction They had too surely found that the
Cubans know not how to conquer their independence,
and consequently be free by their efforts
Many OF the men now became ILL., and were left TO die
10 the mountains and the road side, and, if death
bad not already kindly put end 10 their suferngs to
be murdered by the ferocious Spanish and Creole peas
antry On the 2ls they had been fortunate enough to
procure something to eat for breakfast and were all busy
engaged in cooking when the royalst troops came upon
Lopez's sentinel before he had time give the alarm
aud they again surprised The number Of the lib.
orators had become reduced to about $50 men, and
they bad amongst them some so musketsa portion only
Of which fit for nevertheless, they instantly
formed into position, upon hearing the pockets sound the
alarm But they no longer had any confidence ia them
selves indeed, il is most extraordinary how they had
held out so long, under the dreadful pvatons they had
had 10 endure and therefore is surprising that
after defending themselves noby long they were
able agains, the immense force brought to bear upon
hem they found impossible to Withstand the effects OF
The heavy artillery brought into action by the royal troops
and the bberaiors ronedfying, dispersed in every
iirection-eacb man taking his own through The
mountains and seeking his safety 10 fight Now began
The real hardshps OF their adventure. Alter the last bat
e il may be said the expedition dispersed the
wandeed about in the mountains for days together in
small bands OF three and four living upon roots, and
lergoing the greatest prva,ions They hunted by
he soldiers and peasantry with bloodbounds IL they