Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-20
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER Is, 1851.
INTERESTING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE
LATE CUBAN EXPEDITION. y,


The arriyalof the steamer Winteld Scott New
York puts US in possession of some particulars well
worthy of the readers attention. This vessel took
on board, off Key West, Mr.. PHHLR. s. Van
VEcHTEN who went out in the Pampero, as Al
lieutenant in the band of men commanded by Lo-
pez, and was released at the special solicitation OF
Capt PLATT, Of the United States sloop of war Al
bany, by the Captain General, who consented to
release any one of the prisoners in whom that off,
Ger might personally feel an interest. and Of whose
previous good conduct he had knowledge. Mr..
VAN VECHTEN. with whose parents, residents OF
Albany, Capt. PLATT was acquainted, was there
upon liberated, an Aid Of Gen. CoNcHA taking him
on board the Albany, which was Immediately taken
out to sea by Government tow-boat and pilot.
Col. HAYNES and Capt. KELLY were released with
out solicitation, and fourth person, also released,
has, it will be seen, arrived at New Orleans.
On Friday, after his arrival at New York, Mr..
VAN VEcHTEN caused to be published the following
letter written on board the Winfeld Scott, giving
his experience Of the Cuban invasion:
On BoAaD STEAMSHIP WHITFIELD ScorT,
.s SEPTEMBER IL, 1851.
became connected with the expedition at New Orleans,
90
rst lieutenant Of company B. Of COL w. L. Crittendens
regiment, (ls srlery,) commanded by Capt James San
ders The expedition, you already aware, left New
Orleans daybresk on the morning of Sunday the Sd Of
August in the steamer Pampero. We were towed to the
mouth Of the river our engine being out Of order We re
manned in the river until Wednesday, the 9Th, and left
through the Northeast Pass o'clock p M of hs day.
for Key West The ineation at that time go Key
West and there take board pilot for the st. Johns
at which place embark light battery Of artillery,
with cassons, ammunition, and harness complete together
with number of cavalry saddles and from thence to
run to the south side Of Cuba and lard possible
Puerto Principe. .,s....,s s...s.
We reached Key West and anchored distance from
the city, at P. M. of Sunday, the 10Th instant. While
Key West quantity Of brandy and champagne received
on board which imbbed toeraby freely by Lopez and
his staff About dusk of that day, pilot appearing Lo-
pez called council composed entirely Of Cubans and Hun
galians attached to his staff (no Americans being called
who decided give up going the st. Johns river and
Immediately for the of Cuba, which done about
I0PM The next morning. owing to the variation Of the
compass from musets being stacked it. found
selves in plain sight Moro Castle and about twelve miles
distant the vessel Immediately headed to the nohward and
westward and run out Of sight of land. About p M of
that day Lopez took the captain and mate of Spanish
schooner to act pilots giving them understand that they
would be shot il they showed any disposition escape de-
ceve At p M. we again stood in for the land and soon
after dusk sent boat reconnoitre, which hailed by
sentry on the walls Of the fort situated Bahia Honda
the ship not being than mile from it. AS the
boat reported lights exnguished and press of steam
nut on the ship running to the westward along the land
About 10 o'clock, while running under the charge of
pilot under press of steam, the ship suddenly struck and
before the engines could be stopped had than her
length upon coral reef After examining her situation,
was found that she lying about eight feet Of WATER while
wa at
the force should be Immediately landed, which done
and about o'clock the morning OF the 18th of August
the last of us dsembaked upon the shsre Of what had
been taught 10 consider would be the free island
The first boats which landed fred upon by party Of
twenty men, who fed their fire being returned from the
boat which contained Captain Gout, "a Cuban commanding
American company Lieut. Lainngham, and about thirty
privates Of his company One Of Gous men was wounded
in the and returned in the ship and the cap Of the
iieutenant cut into halves on bis head.
At daylight Lopez sent pronunciamieno to Las Posas
small village miles distant, in which he informed the in
habitan that he about march that place, and would
rive no quarter any whom he found there who did
him. There being means of transporting baggage at Ca
banos where landed Lopez ordered COL Crienden
dred thousand muske cartridges three thousand muske,s,
and hundred pounds Of POWDER in kegs together
with the personal baggage Of oil the officers saying that he
would march Las Posas with the regiment OF infantry
commanded by Col bowman, and send thence
portation and that he would remain there until Joined
BY COL Cittenden. Accordingly Lopez marched o'clock
with three hundred and twenty hreo leaving Crteadsn
at Cabanos with one hundred and thirty At o'clock
that night Cenden received two carts, and started mme
-dstsly after to join Lopez at Las Posas
The carts being heavily loaded, and the bad, our
progress Of necessity slow not advancing pre than
mile an hour About hours after daylight the morn
ins Of the l3h reached house containing and
sog shop, about four miles from Las Poses The advance
guard and main body only had reached the house, he rear
guard with the being still quarter of mile behind
and were engaged in eating breakfast their arms being laid
aside, when they surprised by the report Of muske,ry
and the whistling Of bullets which proceeded from the ad-
vanced guard Of body of the enemy 1--WE hundred strone
We immediately seized guns and killed nine Of the enc
my, and made prisone of party beina injured
Not seeing any Of the enemy the Colonel concluded n
forsging party that had attacked us and onr
guard having up with the CARTS ordered ma N re..
our breakfasts which did. About ten minutes .fe, -
again attacked by the whole force Of the cnemv tbav
having the advantage Of position being posted on the brow
OF hill overlooking position with belt Of chspsrra
three hundred yards wide, intervening which we
could FIRE. Crttenden Immediately gave the order TO
charge leading himself and forced the enemy
large body Of chaparra eighty yards the
Of their first POSITION from which they opened heavy
6re upon force appeared in sight the brow
of the hill.
Finding ihahe could maintan that position Cten-
den gave order to the house, which done
while the enemy resumed his position the bill and again
opened his fire upon which Crtteuden ordered second
charge the time saying that he wished small party
70 attain position at the right flank Of the enemy charge
from that side the be charged from the front
Second Lieutenant W. H. Crafts (so Of company b. and
nysef volunteered, and succeeded in staining the position
rh twenty Afer rm'rirg ia it for about bal! on