The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-23

ERnding OF tho First Expeditionary
Force Gcneral Hennimgsem I'm Conn
mand-A sketCh OF his Adventurous
Career.
In The NEWS a few days ago we published
an account of the arrival of Captain Bonneau,
Of this CITY, in Cuba, and stated that General
Jordan, of the Confederate army had also
landed on the island, the whole scheme being
formed and carried out with the knowledge and
tacit approval of President Grant. We expect
ed that in a short time there would be new de-
velopments, and we have received information
which enables us to confirm all that we have
already said as to the extent Of the American
movement in aid Of the Cuban revolutionists,
and the way in which the government is wink
ing at the shipment and departure Of large
bands Of gallant men, whose aim is to help the
Cubans to free themselves from the worn-out
despotism which is now endeavoring to crush
them back 10 obedience.
But, to the point. A letter was received
yesterday in this city from point which shall
be nameless in which it is stated that General
Henningsen, or Nicaragua fame, has actually
landed in Cuba with force Of eleven hundred
men, all we'll provided with arms and muni-
tions Of war. The letter, omitting names, is
"---, March 20, 1862
"Dedr--: Ireceived your letter on Saturday,
and the next morning went to see Henningsen
to deliver your message. To my great sur
prise found that he had gone out OF town,
and that his return was uncertain. Knowing
how important it was thai you should b able
to communicate with him, tried to ascertain
what had become of him, but without eject,
until this mOrninc when mat NJ, M
who told me the truth about it. Hen
ningsen is now in Cuba, and if You
want to reach him by letter you must
address him, care of --, Nassau.
N. p, and your letters will be forwarded by the
first opportunity. confess that this news
surprised aud shocked me, but he is not alone.
and may, we hope, be SO brilliantly successful
as to gild with fortune the days Of his decin-
ing life. About eleven hundred men are in the
party, all Of them old soldiers and more than
one hundred of them ex-of6cers in the Federal
and Confederate armies. Among the Confede-
rates are Major-General R, who as you
know, was one Of the coolest and bravest off,
GERS in 'he cavalry service; Brigadier-G General
S.. whose brilliant career you are
familiar with, and Colonel = and Colonel
B. who are well known to you by reputa-
ton. There are several ex-Federsl officers,
and the whole corps is under the command Of
Henningsen himself. His wife, hear, is
anxious about him, but she has confidence in
his tried bravery and skill, and believes that
he will come out all right. This is about all
that can gather. You had better wri'e inn
mediately to the address I have indicated
above, No time is to be lost.
ssYours faithfully,
General @. f. Henningsen, who is in com.
mand Of this Important expedition, and will
doubtless attain high rank in the Cuban army.
was born of Swedish parents In Enland
in 1815.s I'm 1esA when only nipsteel years of
age he sioine sshe Gailist Ia Spain ana
by his headlong daring soon rose to the rank
OF lieutenant-colonel. When the peace con-
vention was concluded, he returned TO Eng
land, but when the war again broke cut in
Spain he returned to that country, re-entered
the revolutionary army, and received o COM
mission as colonel. He was taken prisoner by
the Royalist troops, and after his release held
q high command in the Russian army in Cir-
cassia. He next joined with Kossuth in the
Hungarian revolution, but his plan of campaign,
though adopted was never carried out. When
the insurreotion was at an end Colonel Hen
ningsen came to the United States, and after
war Is joined the Nicaragua expedition, in
which he held tho rank OF maior-general
commanding, being the life and seul of the
forces. At the beginning of the late war, he
entered the Confederate army, AMI is said 10
have been the means, OF extricating General
Lee from the tolls Of Rosecrans, in the noun
tains of Virginia But General Henningsen
was no favorite with the Confederate govern
ment. He advised that 100000 rifles, 8OO,OOO
blankets, 400 pieces OF field artillery, and
5,oO0. 600 rounds Of small arm ammunition
should be bought at once and paid for by the
hypothecation OF cotton. These ideas were
communicated to General Toonbs, and by him
to President Davis, who said that Henningsen
was tool. When this tale was told to Hem
ningsen, he retorted that Davis was an ass,
which, coming to the cars Of tD,A Byesident,
cut off all hope Of promotion, f9hded his
career in tho Confederate army.&.SH
General Henningsen is man o.ssEonsiderable
literary ability and has written several stand
ard works on different subjects. or him, Gen:
eral Joseph E. Johnston said: 'No man, what
ever his profession, can talk with Henning-
sen half an hour without learning something"
The specially Of General Henningsen is artil-
lery tactics, but he is at homo in every arm ef
the service, and in his element whenever there
is sword TO be drawn. or people to be freed.
Since the close Of the war, General Henningsen
has been intimate with General Grant and
General Sherman, and has, it is said, been
admitted to their full confidence. This ac-
counts for the fact that the veteran general is
lot the head Of the expeditionary corps, and
that 1t should have been organized, shipped
and landed, without hint to the outside
world. This time General Henningsen counts
upon success, as q means Of cal,celling his an
cient grndge against Spain, resulting from the
Carlist-war. &
General Henningsen married, we believe,
daughter OF the late Senator Berrien, OF Geor-