The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-16
CAPTURING HAvANA.-We have class Of

the material world, however great may be the
odds, that can successfully resist them. Like
their stupendous prototype, the defeat of armies
and capture of besieged towns are mere ques-
tons Of time. An army of 5000 ilibusters
for instance, landing on the island of Cuba,
MIGHT operate as follows: Each man would be
good for at least two Spaniards per day, five
thousand multiplied by two gives ten thousand
killed daily, ten thousand multiplied by eight
would show return of Killed, in eight days, of
eighty thousand men, which comprise the whole
force of the Spanish army, now IN the island OF
Cuba This was capt. BobadiF mode of COM
putation, when he was ready to engage and Kill
off hostile enemy by contract, and we have
not the least doubt we have many of the same
metal, who would undertake to batter down the
Moro, besieee and take Havana, and subjugase
the whole island within stipulated time.
This taking of the Moro and Cubanos forts,
which command the entrance and harbor of the
city of Havana would not be as easy feat as
many suppose. The English made tile attempt
once, and though, aftera time, they succeeded,
it was taken atthe bloody price of ten thousand
British lives The following is an abridged
account of this famous seige, which has been
furnished the New York Mirror by a cores
pondent:
In the year 1862, 10 British ships of the line
and 8 frigates, with various smaller vessels OF
war and some 900 transports, and 10000 sol
diers, arrived off the Moro Castle, with the
avowed purpose of capturing that celebrated
fortress. The army landed to the eastward of
the Moro without opposition, and Immediately
beseged the fort. Five thousand men were
in the attack, and five thousand in
covering the siege and protecting the parties
engaged in procuring water
The hardships endured by the troops in car
rying on the siege were incredible. From the
nature ofthe country they were terribly exposed
to the shot Of the enemy, and their sufferings
for the want Of water were dreadful in the ex
IRENE. The fatigue and excessive labor and
toll endured in dragging the heavy artillery
over the rugged and rocky shore, and up the
steep cliffs, with the heat and thirst, occasioned
an immense number of deaths. @
The navy aided the siege by placing their
ships-of- the-line in position and bombarded the
fort for seven hours withoutintermission This
divided the Spanish forces, who were now com
PEELED to defend themselves at the same time,
on the land and sea side. The troops in the
fort Situated on rock one hundred and twenty
feet high defended themselves gallantly, and
the English suffered severely, and in order to
save their ships were compelled to draw them
off out of reach Of the Spanish guns.
.As soon as the Spaniards were relieved from
bombardment of the navy, the artllerists re-
turned to the land side. The fight now became
very desperate and destructive. The cannonade
continued seven days, the siege had lasted
twenty days, with little hope of taking the
Moro. AT this time the English received re-
enforcement of fresh troops. Now, inspired
with new hopes, the attack was renewed, their
exertion redou5led and at last with success. On
the 92d day of this memorable siege the fort
was captured. The city held out few days
and then surrendered, to prevent unnecessary
sacrifice of life.
The loss sustained by the English army and
navy was horrible. Contemporary writers mot
English say, "this fort cost England over ten
thousand men," n. O. Bul. |
RESOURCES OF RUss1A-The New York
Courier and Enquirer, contains long and inter- 7
osting misunderstanding what the financial re-
sources of Russia are to@neet the necessary
outlays for the support of the army and navy,
and the other wants of the state. The revenues
from duties, stamps, licenses, ETC., are estimated
At about two hundred and thirty millions of
dollars Besides this large sum is realized
rom the mines, estimated at seventy millions
more. In 1852 there was reserve fund of
300, GOO, 600 in silver rublos, or about $780,,
300, 900. In case of need the churches and
can furnish 800, 900 900 more the
convent of Alexander Nevski alone can at any
moment produce 100000, OOO. An appeal to
he patriotism of the people, similar to that Of
Alexander |, at the period of the French nva
ion, would again be followed by rush Of the
of every town and village to the
public squares to deposit at the feet of their
,tlnce their ready money, their gold and silver
tensils. Their merchants would again furnish
materials to clothe and equip the soldiers, the
obes and farmers such as they are) provi-
ions to feed them. With such boundess re- !
ources at her command, it will be long time
etore Russia will be in a condition to sue for
eace, or be reduced to the necessity of dis
1antllng her fortress OF reducing her navy. .
rom the above showing it is evident that
'hatever embarrassments the further prosecu-
on of the war may bring upon Russia, thew :
ill not be of a financial character !
LIABILITY OF WAREHOUSE kEEPERs-A very
Important case was tried in the superior court t
New York on the 18th ult 1t was an ac- |
on brought by Mr.. Williams, merchant in -
lat city, to recover bill amounting to 1854, g
u storing two cargoes of cotton from Savannah a
nd which the %defendants refused to pay, /
citing up a counter claim of 5000, for loss of !
otton through the carelessness or negligence
the plaintiffs, alleging, that although the a
lumber of bales received by them correspond o
with those delivered, yet there was def .
ency of about fifty five hundred pounds in
lie gross weight of the cotton, as detected by !;
lbsequent weighing It appeared from the b
fidence that whilst the cotton had been in e
arehouse, II of the bales had been opened, II
i'd rifled of portion of the contents They f.
ad apparently been opened near the end, and o.
strip-of cloth a foot in width cut out where q
re cotton had been distracted and the BAG
WED up again, as seam across it would seem o.
} indicate. The court put it to the jury that
lie sole question was whether the plaintiffs had {, o.
lown negligence or not in their care of the &c
,tton, when a verdict was found for defend Il
It's for the value of the cotton missing, less e;
aintif'c claim, for ctor,c.o