The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-04-11
The IsarbOr of Hayama--MorOC CaitI,

u lliDuHlcr having aSheu Tue eulloT ~ lue
New York Mirror about the military deiences
Of Havana, that paper replies as follows:
In reply to the above communication, we
will state that the Moro has been taken, and
could be again very easily. With the arpli
ances for a>>auiting citadels ihat modern sci
encc has added to The art of war, it would fall
into the ememy's hands with trihing loss to
the as>aiant>, at least with such defenders as
now garrison the fortress. Were GrD. Scott
miles 10 the castw ard, the Moro Castle, the
Cahana> Fort, and the city of Havana could
be taken by regular approaches, with less diff
cn!iy than wa> experienced at Vera Cruz. In
order that our rcaterS, who have not visited
the "Qu,en Of the Antilles" may form prop
or idea Of the city, harbor. and detences of la
vana, We will attempt description from mem.
Ory.
The harLor is one of the best in the world,
hcing deep enough for vessels Of the largest
rIa,S, and sufficiently caI'acious 10 accommo-
date t''"u-....d ships. The entrance is by a
chammcl tErer.qnarlers of a mile long, but so
narro" that onty a single vessel can enter at
once, and fortified through the whole distance
with p atE"rm>, works and artillery. The
mouth of this channel is secured by two strong
castles. That On the eastern side-calIed the
Moro castIe-is built iu the form Of triangle,
fortified with blstiunS, and mounted with forty
pieces If cannon, almost level with the water.
On the opposite side of the channeliS is another
strong foIt, called the Punta, connected with
the !oAn, to the north. The city is situated
nSiI,, q h,r
rounded b., ramparts, bas,iRs and ditches.-
Besides these Notifications, it is surmouned
with woIk>, all of them furnished with artillery,
even to profusion. \ square citadel Ell Fu.
erte-slamIs at the northeast corner of the
toAn. This work, also, has heavy cannon, aud
here the treasures ofthr government are depos-
tied. 1t WAS at the foot Of the hill upon which
this fort >iapds that poor Critenden and his
party were sho, and muli!ated.
The Cabanas is Il fortress situated east of
the Moro, and directly opposite the city. 1t
is perhaps the largest, as it certainly is one of
the strongest tnrlifira,ions in the world. 1t is
perfect Crctan labyrinth, as every one will
remember who has wandered through it, with
or without guide 1t was rebuilt, enlarged
and strengthened after its restTation by the
British, at IN expense so enormous, that when
.lhr cost Of it, construction was made known
to the King OF Spain, he honestly asked whe.
iher the walls were made of silver. This fort
commands the whole harbor and CITY, and is
hardly 4 mu>ket shot distance from the Moro,
with which we believe it is connected by sub
terranran pas .agr--though we are not quite
clear on this point
In l7G2, during the war with Spain, the Eng
lish, under Lord Aihemarle, laid siege to Ha.
vana. and took it after p desperate assault
On tie 9th of June of that year, the British
squadron, counting $50 vessels of all sizes, ap-
prarrd oil the coast. The Spauiards had
large fleet of ships of war in the harbor, had
mounted their fortresses with heavy guns, and
made ali necessary warlike preparations. They
had in the forts and city, of regular troops and
militia, 27.6l5 men under arms. The priests
and women were sent out of the city, and vast
preparations were made to stand siege by
laying in ample supplies of provisions. They
sunk three ships in the harbor's mouth 10 pre-
vent the entrance of the British feet, and their
fortresses were defended with great courage
and valor
The British land forces numbered l4,04l
men OF arms; their loss was very considerable
both by the climate and the desperate defence
of the enemy. The Cabanas soon fell into the
hands of the English, who approached from the
land side, having Landed the troops to the east
side Of Havana. But it was not until ii davs
of nmwcaried eScr;ion, with loss to the Span.
iariS Of upwards Of one thousand men, that
the Nov" was taken. With the Moro, 3O3
riecc* of cannon, Il mortars, and large sup.
ply of small arms and ammunition fell into the
hands of the English. Still, however, the
Spanards bravely defended the city; but the
English, who could now turn their own cannon
against them, demolished all their foriiications