Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-09-24
CUBAN EXPEDITION.
Full Account Of it by Lieutenant Var
Vechten,

The steamer Winfield Scott, which ar
rived at New York, on Friday, from New
Orleans, touched at Key West, where she
took on board Lieut. Z. S. Van Vechten,
Of Lopez's expedition, who has been par
doned and released by the Captain Gener-
al Of Cuba. Van Nechten has furnished
the New York Herald with history of
the expedition, which, on account of its
extreme interest, we insert entire
NARRATIVE.
| became connected with the expedition
at New Orleans, receiving, on the 3Oth
day Of July last, an appointment as First
Lieutenant of Company b, of Col. W. l..
Crittendens regiment list artillery, COM
manded by Capt. James Sanders. The ex-
pedition, as you are already aware, left
New Orleans at day-break on the morning
of Sunday, the 3rd of August, in the
steamer Pampero. We were towed to the
mouth Of the river, our engine being out
of order. We remained in the river until
Wednesday, the 9th, and left through the
Northeast Pass, at o'clock, z. NJ, of
that day, for Key West. The intention at
that time was to 60 to Key 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,
ammunition and harness complete, togeth-
er with number of cavalry saddlcs--and
from thence were to run to the south side
Of Cuba and land as near as possible to
Puerto Principe.
We reached Key West, and anchored
some distance from the city, at three, p.
NJ, of Sunday the 10th instant. While
at Key West, a quantity Of brandy and
champagne was received on board, which
was imbbed tolerably freely by Lopez and
his staff About dusk of that day, no pi-
lot appearing, Lopez called council, COM
posed entirely of Cubans and Hungarians
attached 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 Cuba, which was done at
about 10, p NJ. The next morning, ow-
ing to the variation of the, compass, from
muskets being stacked near it, we found
ourselves in plain sight of the Moro Cas-
tie, and about twelve miles distant; the
vessel Immediately headed to the north
ward and westward and run out of sight of
land. About 8, p. NJ, of that day, Lopez
took the captain and mate out of Span
ish schooner, to act as pilots, giving them
to understand that they would be shot if
they showed any disposition to escape or
deceive At l, ?. NJ, we again stood in
for the land, and soon after dusk sent a
boat in to reconnoitre, which was hailed
by sentry on the walls of the fort, situa-
ted near Bahia Honda, the ship not being
more than a mile from it. As soon as the
boat reported, lights were extinguished
and press Of steam put on, the ship run
ming 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 be-
fore the engines could be stopped had run
more than her length upon a coral reef
After examining her situation, it was found
that she was lying in about eight feet of
water, while her draft was over nine feet
and that it was necessary that the force
should be Immediately landed, which was
done; and about 2 o'clock on the morn
ing of the 18th of August the last of us
disembarked upon the shore of what we
had been taught to consider would soon
be the free Island of Cuba. The first boats
which landed were fired upon by party
|of twenty men, who fled on their fire be-