The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-04-14
MORNING, APRIL Ia, 1854.
The Harbor of Havana--moro Casti,

The Harb0r of Havana--MOrO Castle
! fil!iLuser having asked The editor of the New
| York Mirror about the military defences of Fla
wanna, that paper replies as follows:
In reply TO the above communication, we will
stale that the Moro has been taken, and could be
1 again very easily. With the appliances for as
saultng ciiadels that modern science has added to
The art Of war. it would fall inte enemys hands
with tri1ing loss 10 the assailans. at least with
sach defenders now garrison the fortress
We're Gen. Scott ia land dozen regiments on the
! Island, a few miles TO the eastward, the Moro
Castle, the Cabanas Ferr, and the City OF Havana,
/ e"uid be takeneby regular approaches. with less
| difficulty ;han was experienced at Vera Cruz-
In order that our readers who have not visited the
Queen Of the Antilles p" may form proper idea
| OF The city harbor, and deiences OF Havana, We
| will attempt description from memory.
| The harbor is one OF the best in the world,
being deep enough for vessels Of the largest class,
and sufficiently capacious 10 accommodate thou.
sand ships. The entrance is by channel three
quarters OF mile long. but narrow that only a
single vessel can enter at once, and fortified
| through The whole distance with platforms, works
and artillery. The mouth of this channel is Sc
cured by two strong castles. That on the eastern
slde-called the Moro Caste-is built in the form
Of i triangle, fortified with bast:ons, and mounted
with forty pieces Of cannon, almost level with the
another strong fort, called the Punta, connected
with the town, 10 The north. The city is situated
on the western side of the harbor, and is surmoun-
ted by ramparis, bastions and bitches. Besides
these forifications, it is surnounted with works,
all of them furnished with artillery, even to pro-
fusion A square cltadel-EI Fuerie-stands at
the northeast corner of the town. This work, al.
so, has heavy cannon, and here the treasures of
the government are deposited. 1t was at the foot
of the hill upon which this fort stands that poor
Cri'tenden and his party were shot and mutilated.
The Cabanas is fortress situated east OF the
Moro, and directly opposite the city. 1t is per-
h4rs, the largest, it certainly is one of the lar
gesr, fortifications 10 the world 1t is perfect
Cretan labyrinth as every one will remember who
has wandered through It, with or without guide
1t was rebuilt, enlarged and strengthened after its
restoration by the BRUSH, at an expense so enor-
nous, that when the cost Of its construction was
made known to the King Of Spain, he honestly
asked whether the wall were made of silver
This fort commands the whole harbo- and city,
and is hardly musket shot distance from the
Moro, with which We believe it is connected by
subterranean passage-though we not quite
clear on this point
In 1862, during the war with Spain, the Eng.
lish, under Lord Albcmar rle, laid siege TO Havana,
and took it after desperate assault. On the 9Th
of June of that year, the British squadron count.
ing $50 vessels of all sizes, appeared off the coast.
The Spaniards had large feet Of ships of war in
the harbor. had mounted their iortresses with
heavy guns, and made all necessary warke pre-.
parations. They had in the forts and city, Of
regular troops and militia, 27,615 men under
arms. The priests and woman were sent out of
the city, and vast preparations were made to
stand siege by laying in ample supplies of provi-
sions. They sunk three ships 10 the harbor's
mouth TO prevent the entrance Of the British fleet,
and their fortresses defended with great cour.
age and valor.
The British land forces numbered ,O41 men
of all arms; their loss veEy 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 Ea
vana. But it not until "A days Of unwearied
exertIon, with loss 10 The Spaniards of upwards
of one thousand men, that the Moro was taken.--
With the Moro, 800 pieces OF cannon, morars,
and large supply Of small arms and ammunition,
fell into The hands Of the English. Still however,
the Spaniards ely defended the city but the
English, who could now turn their own cannon
against them, demolished all their Notifications,
and after some slight delay in negotiation, The city
OF Havana was finally taken possession Of.
1t was just two months and eight days from the
date of the arrival Of the expedition to the day the
British took possession Of the city. With the cap-
tai there was given up The whole territory annexed
10 il, extending l90 miles westward so that this |
conquest the most decisive OF all that had TAX
IN place throughout the course Of the war. 1t
mad besides all The effects of naval victory
Nine ships of The line fell into the hands Of the |
,onquerors; three had been sunk in the harbor :;
Ind two, far advanced on the stocks, destroy.
ID. The loss of the Spaniards in ships of war.
merchant ships, money tobacco, and other articles
If value was estimated at E3 000, 900 sierling.-
On the return of peace in 1863 Havana was re.
stored TO the Spnniards. The keys of the city
we're formally delivered up to the Conde de RicIa,
IN whom the government had been conferred on
he 7th Of Jaly OF that year, and the English gar
ison was embarked for Europe.
-~~~~~0o~~~~~-~ -~~---
Our GOLD DIGGINGs.-It has been supposed
" some that the celebrated Dorm Mine was rapidly
ailing; we had feared among the rest from
accounts received some weeks ago. We have
ust been informed that this is all mistake. The
treat original vein IS swelling TO its former dimen.
ions and promises thousands upon thousands still.
The New York Company also cheered by fine
Indications and will soon enlarge their operations
rn.loId. They confidently anticipate golden
arvest. MIR. D. P. Self is also doing well on bis
remses. 10 short, the gold prospec, with US are
till briant.-Elge. AdU., 22d inst.