The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-06
HOW HAVANA WAS
CAPTURED in 1862

CAT lUNED LIN l(0Z
From the New York Sun
If we are to have a war with Spain,
and an invasion of Cuba by United
States forces. it viii not be the first
time that this country has furnished
troops for the capture of Havana. In
1862, soon after the declaration of war
between England and Spain, the Brit
ish government dispatched an expedi-
tion against Havana. The land forces
We're commanded by Lord Alhermarle
(William Anne KeppeD, the victor of
CullCden. and the fleet by Admiral Sir
George Pocock. who had recently re-
turned from a brilliant campaign in
the East Indies The expedition, as or
ganiZed, was to consist of $4,000 men,
of which Lord Alhermarle carried with
him 1000 British regulars. Eight thou
sand We're to be furnished from the
British forces then in the West Indies
under General MoncktOn, and 1000 from
the continent of North America. OF
these 1000 were to he British regulars
and 1000 provincial troops.
o
Tho fleet left Spithead March 6. and
upon its arrival was reinforced by the
feet there under Rodney's command,
and soon after on its way to Cuba. by
Captain Hervey's squadron. Monck-
tons troops joined Albermarle at Mar
Unique and the land forces We're aug
mented to 1l,25l The English fleet ar
rived off Havana on June 8. Here Po-
cock divided his fleet With the larger
division he sailed down the coast past
Havana. on the next day he manned
his boats and made preparations appar-
emily for landing AZ a point about four
miles west Of Havana. But this was a
mere feint to distract the attention Of
the Spanish while the actual landing
was made by the u'l.r division under
Commodore Augustus Keppel, brother
Of Lord Albermarle, about six miles
east of Havana. Here the army was
landed in three divisions. commanded
respectively by Lieutenant General Ell
lott, Major General Keppel, another
brother Of Lord Alhermarle, and Brig
adler General William Howe, after
ward the Lord Howe" of our ReVolu-
tion. With this force was also Colonel
Guy Carleton, who. as Sir Guy Carle-
ton, surrendered New York city to Gem
eral Washington i'm 1873. on this ocCa-
sion he DISTINGUISHED himself by his
Eallantry i'm repclling a charge made by
the Spanish cavalry upon the landing
forces.
Commodore Keppel gives this account
of the landing: AT an appointed sig
mel the nat-bottomed boats containing
the troops repaired to their respective
rnnnAVNn1G hA ct nf b. liY,.,
of battleships, whose Captains con-
Quoted them to the shore. While the
embarkation was going on the enemy
made a show Of resistance from a
preastwork which they had thrown up.
Upon this Commodore Keppel directed
the Mercury and Bonnetta to pour their
fire into them, and they We're soon put
to flight. \ more considerable body OF
men making their appearance, he or
dered Capt. Hcrvey to run in and bat
ter fort situated AT the mouth of the
BOCca Mao, which in the course Of an
hour he completely silenced, and the
army landed without further molesta-
ton" He thus describes the defences
Of Havana at that time: The harhor
of Havana, which is spacious enough
to contain a hundred sail of the line
principal of these, the MORO, built upon
a narrow point Of land, is inaccessible
from the sea. To the east it is fortified
by several works and by a deep ditch
half of which is cut out of the solid
rock. On the opposite entrance of the
harbor stands Fort de la Punta; fur
ther i'm and on a level with the water
is a strong battery mounting twelve
guns, called The Twelve Apostles,
and higher up a work opposite the
Point Gate called The Shepherds Bat.
terry Above these are the Cavannos, a
chain of hills which range from the
Morro to the plains of Gunamacoa. A
chain of hastions and other works de,
fend the town to the west"
The landing having been successfully
accomplished, one division of the army
under Major-Gen Keppel, marched t.
! the west to invest the MORO Castle anG
| the fortifcations on that side of tn,
| harbor. Gen. Howe's division was as
| signed to the investment of the Castle
| del Punta, while Gen, Elliott, with the
centre division, cut off communication
| with the interior of the island. Tn,
| British commanders at once com
| menCed the erection of batteries at tn,
| most advantageous points on the lin,
Of investment. This was accomplished
| under great difficulties, The troop
We're unaccustomed to the heat of I
| Cuban summer, the water was scarce
and very bad, there was great want o
| fresh provisions, and the army sool
began to show signs of epidemic dis
ease. At one time there were 5000 sol
| diers and 5000 seamen on the sick list
| Fortunately, Albemarle had brough
with him from Martinique about 80
| negroes and these performed the great te