The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-23
TIE QUEEN OF THE ANTILLES.
AMERICAN HELP FOR THE CUBAN REV.
OLUTIONISTS.
Landing Of the First E1peditionary
Force-Genera1 Henntngsen in Com
mand-A Sketch of his Adventurous


Force-Genera1 Henntngsen In Com
mand-A Sketch Of his Adventurous
Career.
In TIE NEWS 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 short time there would be new de-
velopments, and we have received information
which enables as to confirm all that We have
already said as to the extent Of the American
movement in aid Of the Cuban reyolutionists,
and the way in which the government is wink
ing at the shipment aad 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 endeaYoring 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, OF 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
| as follows:
"---, March 20, 1869.
"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 that you should b, abls
to communicate with him, tried to ascertain
what had become of him, but without effect,
until this morning, when I met Mr. NJ,
who told me the truth about it. Hen
ningsen is now in Cuba, and il 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. I confess that this news
surprised and shocked me, but he is not alone,
and may, We hope, be so brilliantly successful
as to gild with fortune the days of his declin-
ing life. About eleven hundred men are in the
party, all of them old soldiers and more than
one hundred of them e1-offcers 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-General
s., whose brilliant career you are
familiar with, and Colonel J. and Colonel
B, who arc well known to you by reputa-
ton. There are several ex-Foderal officers,
and the whole corps is under the command of
Henningsen himself. His wife, 1 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 oil
that can gather. You had better wri'e i'm
mediately to the address I have indicated
above. No time is to be lost.
E-"Yours faithtuily, ----------------." ---.
General c. 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 England
in 1916. In. 1884, when only nineteen years of
age, he Joined the Callist army in Spain, and
by his headlong daring soon rose to tho rank
of lieutenant-c colonel. When the peace con-
ventioa was concluded, he returned 10 Eng
land, but when the war again broke out in
Spain he returned to that country, re-entered
the revolutionary army, and received COM
mission as colonel. He was taken prisoner by
the Royalist troops, and after his release held
high command in the Russiln army in Cir
cassia. He next joined with Kosssth In the
Hungarian revolution, but his plan of campaign,
though adopted, was never carried out. Whom
the insurrection was at an end Colonel Hen
ningsen came to the United States, and after
waris joined the Nicaragua expedition, in
which he held the rank OF major-general
commanding, being the life and soul OF the
forces. At the beginning of the late war, he
entered the Confederate army, and is said TO
have been the means Of e1tricating 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 600, 600 rifles, 100000
blankets, 400 pieces Of field artillery, and
5000, 900 rounds Of small arm ammunition
should be bought at once and paid for by the
hypothscation Of cotton. These ideas were
communicated to General Toombs, and by him
to President Davis, who Said that Henningsen
was tool. When this tale was told to Hen
ningsen, he retorted that Davis was on ass,
which, coming to the ears of the President,
cut off all hope Of promotion, and ended his
career in the Confederate army.
General Henningsen is man of considerable
literary ability and has written several stand
ard works on different subjects. Of him, Con
eral Joseph E. Johnston sail: mo man, what
ever bis profession, can talk with Henning-
son half an hour without learning something. "
The specially Of General Henningscn is artil-
lsry tactics, but he is st home in every arm Ell
the service, and in mis- element whenever there
is sword to be drawn, or people to be freed.
Sinos 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
at the head Of the expeditionary corps, and
that it should have been organized. shipped
and landed, without hint to the outside
world. This time General Horningsen counts
upon success, as o means of canceling his an
cient grudge against Spain, resulting from the
Carlist war.
General Henningsen married, We believe, a
daughter of the late Senator Berrien, Of Geor-
gia. Mrs. Henningsen is an accomplished
lady, and made hosts OF friends by her noble
conduct during the war.
Il is very evident that these Cuban move-
ments cannot much longer be kept secret, and