The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-20
'.REMEMBER CRITTENDEN''
The Battle Cry Of Kentuckians
Who Will Fight to Free Cuba.

"Remember Crittenden" will be the
battle cry OF every Kentuckian who
lands to fight on Cuban soil. Nearly
halfa century ago Kentucky blood was
spilled there In the cause of Cuban free
dom, and the bones OF William Logan
Crlttenden and his men lie In some un.
marked spot in the city OF Havana.
They lost their lives In a flibustering
expedition which was unsuccessful be-
cause the expected uprising of the Gu
bans to aid II never took place. or the
$50 Kentuckians whom he had 30 were
killed in battle.s as many more escaped
and the others were captured with their
leader. Every one OF the captives was
shot.
Narciso Lopez, native Venezuelan,
who had lived for many years in Cuba,
was the organizer OF the expedition.
His first attempt, in 1S49, was frus-
trated by the United States authorities.
Al year later he succeeded in landing q
force at Cardenas, but was driven back
and forced to take TO his boats and re-
turn to Florida. Still, he was not dis
couraged, and in August, 1851, 500 men,
including Crittenden's Kentuckians,
sailed from New Orleans and landed
| on, August Is at Morillo. Lopez had
spread enthusiastic reports OF how the
Cubans would rise TO meet them. and
| their little force would be nucleus for
an army which was to spring into be-
ing instantly. thousands strong. lie
l had misreckoned. Only few strag-
Cling natives joined him. The Spanish
| attacked the invaders at once and rout-
| ed them. Crittenden's command bore
| the brunt of the attack, and, driven
| back by greatly superior numbers, took
| TO the woods, leaving q third or their
number on the field Of battle, In this
way so of them, with Crittenden him
| self, were captured and taken to Ha-
| vana. Lopez's main force had already
| been surrounded, and the Venezuelan
| was afterward garroted in Havana,
some of his followers being shot and
| others pardoned. II was decided that
| the Americans should be put to death
| by military execution. Tightly bound
| with ropes, they were brought into Ha-
| vana and kept confined for IL hours
after which they were led forth to their
| death.
In platoons of six they were made to
| kneel facing file of soldiers, and Were
shot. Crittenden, when bidden to get
| to his knees, replied:
"A Kentuckian kneels only to his
| Cod
He was shot standing. The bodies oi
| the victims were thrown into a trench
| An hour before the execution the hands
| of the captives were united, and they
were notified that they would have hall
| an hour in which to write any messages
or letters they wished sent. Col. Crit
tenden wrote to his friend, Lucier
| Hensley:
This Ia an incoherent letter, but the
| circumstances must excuse 1t. MY
hands are swollen to double their nat
ural thickness. resulting from having
them too tightly corded for the last II
hours. Write JOHN (Col. Crittenden's
brother) and let him write to my
mother. / am afraid that the news Will
break her heart. Ny heart beats warm
ly for her now. Farewell. My love t.
all my friends"
Some few of Crlttenden's men escaped
and put back for Florida in the vesse
which had brought them over, pursued
by the Spanish warship Pizzano. Mer
! were stationed at the magazine to blow
up the ship should capture become Ger
tain. They reached Florida by a mar
row margin, the warship having fired
on them. but with poor aim. Col. Crit
tenden was nephew OF John j. Crit
tenden. ex-senator from Kentucky. anC
brother OF ex-Gov. Thomas II. Crit
tenden of Missouri. He was 2S years
old at the time of his execution.--Th,
| Sun.