The National tribune., 1898-07-14
BY BELLE FISK ANDREWS.

In 1850, Lorenzo Stratton, of Cincinnati,
published pamphlet of some 81 pages,
giving The History and Adventures oI
the Cuban Expedition, by Lieut.. Hardy, OF
the Kentucky Battalion
Throughout the account the writer calls
the party which left Cincinnati and
vicinity, Kentuckians, although about
half the men were Buckeyes. The Off
GERS, however. hailed almost entirely from
the State of Davy Crockett, a grandson of
whom was in the expedition. In his re-
port of the undertaking the historian re-
1ates that the Martha Washington, carry
ing 170 Liberators, sailed from Cincinnati
on Thursday, April 4, 1850, and at Louis
vile took on 40 more Kentucky sym
pathizerS. The officers in command of
the troops were Mai. Wm. Hardy, of
Kentucky a tall, athletic young man of
IS, who had served in the Mexican war;
Capt. Henry Robinson, of Cincinnati
another youth of IS, who had been in the
Black Hawk and Mexican wars; DR.. Sam
Scott, Kentucky giant of six feet, and
the 'fatherly guide and counsellor OF the
gallant and true-heaTted Florence (Ky.b
boys; and Lieut. Richardson Hardy,
editor and proprietor of the Cincinnati
Nonpareil.
On April II the Martha Washington
reached Freeport, a few miles above New
Orleans, and the men were landed and
left in charge of Dr. Scott and Lieut..
son went on TO the Crescent City to have
an interview with Gen. Gonzales and Col
Pickett p.
A few days later the Counsellor arrived
from Evansville, bringing little squad of
Franfort boys and so many men congre-
eating in this vicinity began to cause
surprised comment. To allay suspicion
as TO their designs, it was given out that
they were en- route to the gold fields of
California; and, indeed, most of the men
themselves did not know their deStina- |
tion or the object of the expedition About |
fortnight was required to complete the |
commanders preparations, and it was
not until April 25 that the Georgiana set l
sail from New Orleans, carrying all the |
Kentuckians-about $50 in number-ex- |
cept Col. Pickett, who preferred to sail |
with Gen. IOpeZ'S party.
The Georgiana was towed out into the |
Gulf, where, after getting rid of the tug, |
she took on from a small fishing smack |
Senator l.. j. Sigur, of the New Orleans |
Delta; Mai. T. I. Hawkins, OF Newport, |
KY; and Lieut.. Albert ". Johnson, of the |
Kentucky Battalion; also, 10 boxes of U. S. |
muskets and 10000 ball cartridges. The |
men asked what these boxes contained, |
that they were so heavy, and were told |
that they held shovels and pick-axeS; |
but, as the lid of one burst open, revealing |
the contents, the adventurers smiled and |
said they had handled that kind of pick
axes before.
Sigur, with a large batch of letters sent |
back by the Liberators TO the dear ones |
left behind got down into his little craft |
and returned to New Orleans.
The Georgiana, with her overcrowded |
deck, was an object of interest to all the |
boats, which nearly filled the Gulf at this |
point, and United States revenue cutter |
cast suspicious eye upon her, and |
sailed entirely around her, but she was, |
nevertheless, allowed to depart.
On May they reached Contoy, a desc
late island about II miles from Yucatan,
where they landed, and, selecting the
highest point, they formed a camp, which
they named Pelican, on account Of the
large number of these birds seen in that
vicinity. But the water was so poor here
that it bred sickness, and securing a
Spanish pilot, they set sail again two
days later, hoping TO meet the other
branch of the expedition under Lopez |
Owing to adverse winds, however, and
the poor sailing qualities Of the Georgiana,
after four days OF aimless wandering they
found themselves once more in COntoy
Bay.
In the meantime. about a week after
the departure of the Georgiana from New
Orleans, $50 to 160 Louisianians, under
Col. Wheat. set sail in the Susan Loud.
They crused about in the Gulf until over
hauled by the Creole, which left New Or
leans May 10, carrying Gen. Lopez and
Sldb oDpul EVO A1iSolSSippidIS. SOi
Wheat's forces were then transferred to
the other ship, and the Creole's head was
turned towards the place of rendezvous off
the coast of Yucatan
Contoy Bay was sighted May 13, and
after taking on board the passengers Of
the Georgiana, the Creole sailed for
Mugeres Island TO replenish her water
supply. Here 10 men deserted, not one OF
whom, our historian proudly explains,
was from the Kentucky Battalion. The
adventures must have sailed consider
ably out Of their way, for on May IS they
of the following morning Sunday they
had landed at the pier Of Cardenas.
II was not intended to have any fight
ing at Cardenas, it being believed tha
the city, -n surprised, would surrende