The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-17
HE QUEEN OF TIE APTuLES.
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HISTORY OF THE LOPEZ EXPEDITION,
WRITTEN by rHE LATE
Captain GENERAL DON JOSE DE Ia C0XCaA.
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Highly Important and Interest
ing Narrative.
Isf1eetions on the Condition Of Cuba and the
Policy Of the Spanish Government.
Importance Of Cuba to the United States,
DO, DC, 10.

DO, DC. DO.
Ne Teaders Of the New YORK HERALD need no
apaaogy from us for presenting them with the follow
NJ accurate translation of General COnchas account
q The hist Lopez expedition against the Island Of
Caba, in the summer OF 1851, and of the measures
and dispositions, military and civil taken by him to
defeat il. The subject is of uncommon Interest
h this country even though two years have passed
swsy since the events it nsrrates The article was
published in the Military Recieic, of Madrid, and
copied in the DtariO EspanOt, from which We make
81 translation. 1t forms part of the memoirs writ
IN, but not yet published, by General Concha, on
he Political condition, government and sdministra-
Zen Of the Island Of Cuba
GEN. CONCHA'S HISTORY OF THE LOPEZ
EXPEDITION.
The events which had just occurred in Puerto
Principe and Trinidad might have been sufficient 10
make me expect the near arrival o. an expedition
commanded by Narciso Lopez even if the inforns-
Ton which had concerning the management, the
Apyes and the fears, Of the annexatonists at home
odd abroad, had not persuaded that the invas IN
might At any moment take place. knew that Lo-
pa reckoned on a certain number Of people, and
vas prepared to embark, and | knew that certain
cent in the island might have compelled him TO
hasten his departure l could not, therefore, have
BEEN surprised by any Information apprisng me OF
His proximity or Decentralization.
On the night of the 18th of August was in
fxned ny the Captain of the port that on the re-
Hrement of the lookout of the Moro he had
stated to him that of two steamers reported in |
Gxht as war vessels of the United States, he had
perceived that one of them was not so, and that
after having been some moments cruising about it
lsd steered northeasterly direction. At half past
80 o'clock the following morning, received at
he Quinta de los Moinos, where vas stopping, an
Attenuation which the commandant of the frigate
Esperanto had given to the Lieutenant Governor of
1he Nariel, of having seen steamer filed with peo
PIE, which he suspected account of its maneuvres
I'D which he had not been able to recognize, it
Had carefully avoided that vessel. This information,
and those which | had had before, left no doubt
Mat that steamer brought the announced expedition
sgxinst the island l sent, therefore, Immediately
80 Of my adjutants to the commandantgeneral Of
ne station, with the object that soon as
- might receive communication from the
eommandant of the figate Esperanza, which
I supposed would contain the same information
Nat had received, he might tell him in my name,
hat hoped he had given the order for the imme
6ase preparation Of the steamer Pizarro, the only
enc disposabe in port the Colon being useless in
ssoeequence of its having been grounded The same
aSintant was afterwards to direct General Don
Manuel Emma, second Captain of the island, to pre-
Hut himself at the commandancy general Of the
sEsaion, after having ordered that the picked COM
panies Of the Queens regiment should proceed to the
wharf or Ia Machina, prepared to embark; another
nljutaDt went at the time, to give orders to my
uincipal and the picked companies Of the regiment
q IA Corona Barcelona, whilst directed myself,
personally, to give like orders to the regiment of
LesB.
At halfpast three o'clock arrived at the house
e the commandment general at the station, close TO
1he point at which the embarkation was to take
place. The troops had orders to be prepared at the
1rrt notice with their field equipment, and they lost
10 time, as at seven o'clock in the morning. General
Emma, with seven compan es Of grenaders and light
infantry and with force of seven hundred and fifty
Den, commanded by the valiant captains Villaoy and
Hgrdal. The steamer was to take in tow q schooner
prepared from the day before, and in which were
embarked thirty horses These troops brought with
Ahem medicine, camp beds, munitions pertaining to
tben, twelve thousand rations of biscuit and pre-
vions and the necessares for their horses for eight
days. The distribution which l had given to the
amy was such that calculated with certainty that
She enemy should be attacked at whatever point
they might disembark before twenty four hours,
by very superior forces. A column Of thousand in
fsntry and one hundred and twenty cavalry, with
fur field pieces was dsposable in the vuelta de Aba
%. To cover the jurisdictions Of Matanzas and Car
denas, had another column of equal force. Briga-
dior Vargas commanded two battaons, with two
squadrons and four pieces of artillery for the defence
fba IF tba fonr mo nf
Puerto Principe might reckon upon operations for an
equal force, whilst Colonel Quesada protected the
southern end pothern coasts Of the districts of Bay
ammo ard Hoguin with two battalions, and one hun
dred cavalry and 10 the extremity Of the eastern de-
partnent there might be organized an equally strong
column with the troops of Santiago de Cuba.
In whatever point therefore, the enemy might dis
embark, as according to all accounts, they
could not present more than eight hundred
men, they could be Immediately attacked by
very superior forces, with cavalry and artillery;
ehe sen forces were IN combination with those OF the
1and, to strengthen Instantly with troops the point
aktacked, anJ there disposabe In Havana three
battaons 10 assist at whatever point they might be
required, organized and armed as had been already
tile corps OF police.
As it is easy to understand / could not think Of
9arrisoning all points Of the coast aud therefore
had given orders til at the snail garrisons which some
OF them had, should join the forces Of operations,
whilst on the other hand, took care that certain
points such as Cienfuegos and Trinidad should he
defended at all cost.
For some time past, had fixed ss point of dig
egabarkation for the enemy, the headsnd of Mantua
On the northern coast OF Vuelta de Abaje, as well
because 1t was situated in appropriate place, in
reference TO the route which they would take
ArCm New Orleans, as from intercepted conmunica,
Cons and private Information which had. Thus it
was, that leaving uDgarrisoned that point On &C
0ount Of its distance from Pinar del Rio the centre
81 operations Of Colonel Ehzades column, had
named Of my chiefs to tGke particular notice Of
&c Typographical situation Of Mantna and the diff
ferent roads which lead ~ that point Colonel Eli
zalde had also precise and positive instructions az 70
how be should act il tbs expedition should disem-
lark there.
On seeing, therefore, the direction which had
been taken by the steamer announced rs suspicious
4 bad no doubt that my calculations would be veri
fed; and such really tie intention of Lopez, AZ
She declarations Of all the prisoners attested. Cen
Enna consequently received orders TO proceed 70