It will be recalled that the Cubans, in the first flush of victory, had
dispatched the good tidings to the Cuban Junta in New York City. These
reports were so sanguine of victory that even though later rumors of
defeat at the hands of the Spaniards did reach that body, they were
regarded as Spanish propaganda and suppressed. These adverse rumors were
vague, and unsupported by confirming data, and Spanish spies had been
for some time active in dispensing unreliable news favorable to their
country, so it is not strange that little credence was given to such
advices as came to the Junta from Spanish sources. Lopez himself was
overjoyed at the tidings from the patriots and began eagerly to organize
another expedition. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed among Cuban
sympathizers in the United States. In some places, particularly in the
south, public meetings were held, and proclamations of the liberty of
Cuba were read to the assembled crowds. Men crowded to enlist and
$50,000 was quickly raised to finance the expedition. The new recruits
to the ranks were of by far the best character yet enlisted. They seem
to have been, for the most part, actuated by the highest motives, and
aflame with zeal for the cause of Cuban liberty. Garibaldi, who was then
in the United States, is reported to have been approached to be the
leader of the new expedition, but because he had his own Italian matters
to attend to, he declined with regret.
The United States Government, of course, gave no official sanction to
the project, but it was deterred by the preponderance of favorable
public opinion from putting more than nominal obstacles in its way;
avoiding on the one hand the storm of protest which was bound to be
raised by Cuban sympathizers at any marked interference with their
plans, and on the other the anger of Spain and thus an international
complication. Spanish spies were as heretofore dogging the steps of the
conspirators and reporting their findings to the Spanish minister at
Washington, so that the United States Government found itself in an
exceedingly difficult position. However, preparations went on apace. A
steamer, the _Pampero_, was purchased by the Junta, and well stocked
with provisions. Arms and ammunitions were also procured, but these
were, as was usual, to be delivered to the steamer on the high seas.
At daybreak, on the morning of April 3, the _Pampero_ slipped from its
dock at the foot of Lafayette Street in New Orleans, and made its way
down the river. At the mouth of the harbor the difficulties of the
filibusters began. The vessel was overloaded, and Captain Lewis in the
interests of safety declined to proceed further until some of the party
had been sent ashore. A landing was made that night, and one hundred men
were detailed to be left behind. They protested vigorously against this
action. The plan was that the _Pampero_ was to be only one of many
vessels to be sent within the next month to the relief of the Cubans,
and that she was to return, immediately her company had been landed in
Cuba, for reinforcements which would be assembled and be in waiting to
sail. However, none of the company on the _Pampero_ desired to await
another sailing, and when she once more put out to sea it was discovered
that the number on board her had not been perceptibly lessened, since
many of those put on shore had, in the confusion, and under the cover of
darkness, stolen back on board and hidden themselves securely until she
was once more on her way.
The expedition thus auspiciously started was made up of the following
men and officers:
6 Companies of Infantry, including officers--219 men
3 " " Artillery, " " --114 men
1 Company " Cuban patriots (domiciled
in the United States) -- 49 men
1 " " Hungarian recruits -- 9 men
1 " " German recruits -- 9 men
The command of this little army was distributed as follows:
General-in-Chief Narciso Lopez
Second-in-Command and Chief-of-Staff John Pragay
_Officers of Staff_
Captain Emmerich Radwitch.
" Ludwig Schlessinger.
Lieutenant Joseph Lewohl.
" Jigys Rodendorf.
" Ludwig.
" Miller.
Adjutant Colengen.
" Blumenthal.
Surgeon Hega Lemmgue.
Commissary G. A. Cook.
_Staff of the Regiment of Infantry_
Colonel R. L. Dorman.
Lieutenant Colonel W. Scott Harkness.
Adjutant George A. Graham.
Commissary Joseph Bell.
Adjutant of Regiment George Parr.
_Company A._
Captain Robert Ellis.
Lieutenant E. McDonald.
Sub-Lieutenant J. L. LaHascan.
" R. H. Breckinridge.
_Company B._
Captain John Johnson.
First Lieutenant James Dunn.
Second " J. F. Williams.
Third " James O'Reilly.
_Company C._
Captain J. C. Bridgham.
First Lieutenant Richard Vowden.
Second " J. A. Gray.
Third " J. N. Baker.
_Company D._
Captain Philip Golday.
First Lieutenant David Rassan.
Second " James H. Landingham.
Third " James H. Vowden.
_Company E._
Captain Henry Jackson.
First Lieutenant William Hobbs.
Second " J. A. Simpson.
Third " James Crangh.
_Company F._
Captain William Stewart.
First Lieutenant James L. Down.
Second " John L. Bass.
Third " Thomas Hudwall.
_Regiment of Artillery--Officers of Staff._
Chief--William S. Crittenden.
Adjutant R. L. Stanford.
Second Master of Commissariat Felix Hustin.
Surgeon Ludovic Vinks.
_Company A._
Captain W. A. Kelly.
First Lieutenant N. O. James.
Second " James A. Nowens.
Third " J. O. Bryce.
_Company B._
Captain James Saunders.
First Lieutenant Philip VanVechten.
Second " Beverly A. Hunter.
Third " William H. Craft.
_Company C._
Captain Victor Kerr.
First Lieutenant James Brandt.
Second " William T. Vienne.
_Regiment of Cuban Patriots._
_Company A._
Captain Ilde Foussee Overto.
First Lieutenant De Jiga Hernandez.
Second " Miguel Lopez.
Third " Jose A. Plands.
Fourth " Henry Lopez.
_Regiment of Hungarians._
Major George Botilla.
Captain Ladislaus Polank.
Lieutenant Semerby.
" Johan Petroce.
" Adambert Kerskes.
" Conrad Richner.
_German Regiment._
Captain Pietra Muller.
" Hugo Schlyct.
Lieutenant Paul Michael.
" Biro Cambeas.
" Giovana Placasee.
This seems perhaps an elaborate organization for so small a force, but
it must be borne in mind that Lopez and his followers firmly believed
that this time there was to be no repetition of the former lack of
enthusiasm on the part of the Cubans, but that they had only to land to
be greeted with rejoicing, and to have flock to their assistance a great
number of Cuban patriots. This impression was increased by forged
letters--which Lopez, however, accepted as genuine--which were waiting
for them at Key West and which are now believed to have been written by
a follower of Lopez in Havana, under duress and intimidating threats of
Captain-General Concha, for the latter having learned of the expedition
resorted to treachery to thwart the plans of the filibusters. These
letters intimated that Pinar del Rio and many cities in that vicinity
were in open revolt against Spanish rule, and prayed that Lopez come
quickly to the aid of the rebels, who were eager to join him.
Colonel Crittenden, in command of the artillery regiment, was a man of
the highest connections in the United States. He was a seasoned soldier,
being a veteran of the Mexican war, and having received his training at
West Point. In Lopez's band were also several officers from the United
States Custom House at New Orleans, and many men from the best families
of the South.
On April 7 the smoke of a steamer was seen in the distance, and it soon
seemed to indicate that the _Pampero_ was being pursued. Her course was
changed, and she either succeeded in outdistancing her pursuer, or the
latter decided that a mistake had been made in the identity of the
vessel, and abandoned the chase. The expedition neared Key West, and
they expected to find there United States vessels of war, and a strong
garrison. Therefore an attempt was made to disguise the character of the
_Pampero_ and her purpose, and the men were all ordered below. Lopez was
delighted to find that his anticipations were wrong, for there were no
men of war in the harbor and the barracks were empty. As the _Pampero_
docked, and the men came on deck, they were greeted by a shouting mob of
enthusiastic people. They were welcomed as heroes, and the inhabitants
came on board bearing food of the most tempting variety and cases of
champagne. A feast followed, at which the health of the filibusters and
the success of the expedition was drunk with shouts of approval.
Now the expectation had been to go up the St. John's River, where a
quantity of artillery for Colonel Crittenden's regiment had been hidden,
but the false reports in the forged letters made Lopez anxious to be on
his way to Cuba, and it was argued that the artillery would be
ineffective in the first engagements, for the roads were very bad, and
Lopez hoped to take to the mountains and conduct a sort of guerrilla
warfare. The St. John's River was some distance away, and there was
always fear of interference from the United States Government; and
besides, since this was merely a vanguard for a much greater invasion of
Cuba, and was intended to pave the way for the coming forces, why not
proceed to the rescue of the Cuban insurgents and let those who would
follow bring the artillery? Consequently, after consultation with his
officers, Lopez decided to sail for Cuba by the shortest route.
On nine o'clock of the morning of August 11, the filibusters found
themselves about ten miles from the harbor of Havana. Off Bahia Honda
they took on a pilot. Meanwhile, two vessels were sighted, and were
believed to be Spanish ships lying in wait for the expedition. A contest
of wits ensued, in which Lopez was victorious, and the _Pampero_
successfully evaded her pursuers. At eight o'clock that night they
neared Morillo, and Lopez decided there to make his landing. At eleven
o'clock this was accomplished, and while the provisions, arms and
ammunition were being brought ashore, the men were given permission to
lie down on their arms and rest for two hours. It can be imagined that
they were in the highest state of excitement and in no condition to
sleep, even if the attacks of mosquitoes had not made this impossible.
Now the information which Captain-General Concha had received concerning
the expedition had led him to believe that the landing would be made at
Mantua, and he was delighted when information reached him, as it
speedily did, that the filibusters had gone ashore at Morillo. He
quickly dispatched Colonel Morales by rail to Guanajay, where he
collected a Spanish force of about four hundred men, who were instructed
to attack from the front; while General Ena from Bahia Honda and Colonel
Elezalde from Pinar del Rio were to join forces to cut off retreat, if
the filibusters attempted to escape by sea, and thus Concha hoped to
surround and destroy the army of invasion.
Meanwhile, the _Pampero_ had been cleared, and under orders from Lopez
set out on a return trip to Key West to bring reinforcements, and Lopez
decided to march his forces to Las Pozas, ten miles away. Contrary to
their expectations, the filibusters had found the town of Morillo
practically deserted, and there were no enthusiastic patriots to welcome
their would-be deliverers. Now difficulty arose as to transportation of
the provisions, and the main portions of the military supplies. There
was no practical means of conveying them to Las Pozas, and in
consequence Lopez made a mistake which afterward proved his undoing. He
concluded to divide his forces, leaving Crittenden, with a hundred and
twenty men, to guard the supplies, and himself, with the remainder of
his army, to push on to Las Pozas.
He reached this objective without mishap, but again found conditions
very different from what he had been led to expect. This town, too, was
almost deserted, and there was the same disheartening lack of support,
and failure of the Cubans to join his expedition. Lopez determined that
on this occasion there should be no occasion to bring against his army
the accusations which the Spaniards had made at Matanzas. He therefore
ordered his men to accept nothing in the way of food for which they did
not pay, and he stationed guards at places where liquor was sold to
prevent any drunkenness on the part of his men. In consequence the best
of order prevailed.
An attack from the Spaniards was momentarily expected, and Lopez
maintained a careful watch for the approach of the enemy. This was
delayed until the next morning, when, in spite of his precautions, he
was taken virtually by surprise. A portion of his forces were eating
their breakfast, while others were bathing in a nearby stream, when word
came that the Spanish had overpowered the outposts, were then within two
hundred yards of the village, and that the attacking force was estimated
to be twelve hundred strong. Lopez hastily issued the call to arms, and
his men were arrayed to meet the on-coming Spaniards. A hot battle
ensued, in which, in spite of the fact that they were so largely
outnumbered, the filibusters were victorious and forced the Spaniards to
retire. However, Lopez suffered a very great blow in the death of
Colonel Dorman, who was the best disciplinarian and most efficient
organizer and drill-master in the army, while Colonel Pragay, Lopez's
chief adviser--who, however, had been responsible for persuading Lopez
to make the mistake of leaving Crittenden behind--was also killed, as
was Captain Overto. The other casualties amounted to fifty killed and
wounded. Even the fact that the Spanish losses were far heavier did not
compensate for the loss to Lopez of his three brave commanders.
Lopez's army had been increased by only a few stray Cubans, whom they
had encountered on their march to Las Pozas, and who had joined fortunes
with them. He now had fifty-three less men that at first, and besides he
was separated from his stores. Unless they were promptly brought
forward, or unless he returned to Morillo and Crittenden, he would be in
a serious situation, since help from the natives was not materializing.
While he was contemplating this situation, a messenger arrived from
Crittenden, asking permission to join Lopez, and the messenger was
promptly ordered to return with orders to Crittenden to march his forces
to Pinar del Rio to join Lopez there, and Lopez headed his men toward
the mountains, with the intention of pushing on to Pinar del Rio.
Promptly on receipt of the desired permission from Lopez, Crittenden,
with his one hundred and twenty men, set out to join him. They had
proceeded only three miles when the little band was attacked by a body
of five hundred Spaniards. Crittenden's men quickly took to cover, and
fought so desperately that in spite of the fact that they were so
greatly outnumbered, they killed a large number of the Spanish forces,
and put the others to rout. But Crittenden, it would seem, had not
learned the proper lesson from the earlier division of Lopez's forces,
and his own plight in consequence, for he now decided to make the
mistake a second time. The little band had made slow progress, because
of the necessity for transporting the supplies in carts, and Crittenden
made up his mind to leave Captain Kelly for the time with forty men to
defend the supplies, and with the remaining eighty himself to lead an
attack against the Spaniards who were now rallying. But the Spanish
soldiers were better trained than were Crittenden's men, and the Spanish
leader was cleverer in manoeuvres and had a greater knowledge of the
country. He had no difficulty in effecting a separation between the two
bodies of Crittenden's men, and he forced those under Crittenden to flee
for their lives. They took refuge in a wooded ravine, where they
remained for two days and nights without food and without water, in
constant terror of a Spanish attack. Realizing that if they stayed where
they were they faced no better fate than slow starvation, they finally,
under cover of the night, emerged from their hiding-place and made their
way to the coast, where they took possession of four small boats and set
out to sea, in the hope of reaching Key West, or of being picked up by
some other expedition, since they had no doubt that several were already
on their way from the United States. Two days later, starving, and
almost mad for want of fresh water, driven by the tides back to the
shore and aground on the rocks, they were captured and taken to Havana.
The Spanish General Bustillos, gives the following account of their
apprehension:
"Your Excellency: I started yesterday from Bahia Honda, in the steamer
_Habanera_, with a view to reconnoiter the coast of Playitas and
Morillo, in order to remove all the means by which the pirates could
possibly escape; or in case of more expeditions to these points, to
remove the means of disembarkation. At seven o'clock in the morning, I
communicated with the inhabitants of Morillo, and was informed by the
inhabitants that, at 10 o'clock on the preceding night, one part of
them embarked in four boats. Having calculated the hour of their sailing
and distance probably made in 10 hours and supposing they had taken the
direction of New Orleans--I proceeded in that direction 18 miles, with
full steam, but after having accomplished that distance, I could not
discover any of those I pursued. Believing the road they had followed
was within the rocks, I directed my steamer to that point, and made the
greatest exertions to encounter the fugitive pirates. At 10 o'clock I
detected the 4 boats navigating along the coast and I could only seize
one. Two others were upon the rocks of the island, the fourth upon the
rocks of Cargo Levisa. When I seized the men of the first boat, I armed
the boats of the ship in order to pursue the second and third, which
were on the rocks, but the officers of the army who were in the boats,
as well as the troops and sailors, the commander of the boat, Don
Ignacio de Arrellano and the captain of the steamer _Cardenas_, Don
Francisco Estolt threw themselves in the water to pursue the pirates of
whom two only escaped. Having left their arms we did not pursue them in
order to occupy ourselves with the boat in Cargo Levisa, for it was one
of the largest and contained more men. These, twenty-four in number,
were hidden within a small neck, having the boat drawn up among the
rocks; and here the pirates were seized. The number of prisoners was
fifty well armed men, headed by a chief and five officers."
When the captives reached Havana, they were brought up on deck, stripped
except for their undershirts and trousers, and before the people who had
assembled at the dock they were made to undergo the greatest
indignities. Not only were they grossly insulted by word of mouth; they
were spit upon, and railed at, kicked and assaulted; nothing seemed too
harsh or vile for their captors to do in venting their spleen.
Meanwhile, when the Captain-General was apprised of their arrival, he
sent spies to them to take down their statements and farewell messages,
promising to transmit these to their families, but in reality his agents
were instructed to use every effort to influence each man to inform on
the others. In this, however, they were entirely unsuccessful. Concha
announced his intention of dealing summarily with the offenders, as a
warning to others who might contemplate an invasion of Cuba. Therefore,
without even the pretense of a trial, the following decree was issued
against them:
"It having been decreed by the general order of April 20 last, and
subsequently reproduced, what was to be the fate of the pirates who
should dare to profane the soil of this island, and in view of the
declarations of the fifty individuals who have been taken by his
Excellency the Commander-General of this naval station, and placed at my
disposal, which declarations establish the identity of their persons, as
pertaining to the horde commanded by the traitor Lopez, I have resolved
in accordance with the provisions of the Royal Ordinances, General Laws
of the Kingdom, and particularly in the Royal Order of the 12th of June
of the past year, issued for this particular case, that the said
individuals, whose names and designations are set forth in the following
statement, suffer this day the pain of death, by being shot, the
execution being committed to the Senor Teniente de Rey, Brigadier of the
Plaza.
"JOSE DE LA CONCHA."
Attached to this document was the following list of names. Since it is
known that fifty-two men were shot, the list is accordingly incomplete:
"Colonel W. S. Crittenden; Captains F. S. Sewer, Victor Kerr, and T. B.
Veacey; Lieutenants James Brandt, J. O. Bryce, Thomas C. James, and M.
H. Homes; Doctors John Fisher and R. A. Tourniquet; Sergeants J.
Whiterous and A. M. Cotchett; Adjutant B. C. Stanford; Privates Samuel
Mills, Edward Bulman, George A. Arnold, B. J. Wregy, William Niseman,
Anselmo Torres, Hernandez, Robert Cantley, John G. Sanka, James Stanton,
Thomas Harnett, Alexander McIllger, Patrick Dillon, Thomas Hearsey,
Samuel Reed, H. T. Vinne, M. Philips, James L. Manville, G. M. Green, J.
Salmon, Napoleon Collins, N. H. Fisher, William Chilling, G. A. Cook, S.
O. Jones, M. H. Ball, James Buxet, Robert Caldwell, C. C. William Smith,
A. Ross, P. Brouke, John Christides, William B. Little, John Stibbs,
James Ellis, William Hogan, Charles A. Robinson."
On August 16, early in the morning, the prisoners were taken from the
vessel and brought to the Castle of Atares for execution. An appeal was
made to the American Consul at Havana, F. A. Owens, to use his influence
with the Captain-General to obtain some clemency for the condemned men,
but he not only declined on the ground that they had been declared
outlaws by the American Government, but he seemed to be utterly lacking
in kindness of heart or compassion, for he refused to see the men, or to
make any attempt to transmit their last messages to their friends and
families.
An eye witness thus describes the execution:
"Havana, August 16, 4-1/2 P. M.
"I have this day been witness to one of the most brutal acts of
wanton inhumanity ever perpetrated in the annals of history. Not
content was this government in revenging themselves in the death of
those unfortunate and perhaps misguided men, and which, it may even
be said, was brought upon themselves; but these Spanish
authorities deserve to be most severely chastised for their
exceedingly reprehensible conduct in permitting the desecration, as
they have done, of the senseless clay of our brave countrymen. This
morning forty Americans, four Irish, one Scotch, one Italian, one
Philippine Islander, two Habaneros and two Germans or Hungarians,
were shot at 11 o'clock; after which the troops were ordered to
retire and some hundreds of the violent rabble, hired for the
purpose commenced mutilating the dead bodies. Oh! the very
remembrance of the sight is frightful.
"I never saw men--and could scarcely have supposed it
possible--conduct themselves at such an awful moment with the
fortitude these men displayed under such trying circumstances. They
were shot, six at a time, i.e., twelve men were brought to the
place of execution, six made to kneel down and receive the fire of
the soldiers, after which the remaining six were made to walk
around their dead comrades and kneel opposite to them, when they
were also shot. They died bravely, those gallant and unfortunate
young gentlemen. When the moment of execution came, many, Colonel
Crittenden and Captain Victor Kerr among them, refused to kneel
with their backs to the executioners. 'No,' said the chivalrous
Crittenden, 'an American kneels only to his God, and always faces
his enemy!' They stood up, faced their executioners, were shot down
and their brains then knocked out by clubbed muskets. After being
stripped and their bodies mutilated, they were shoved, six or seven
together, bound as they were, into hearses, which were used last
year for cholera cases. No coffins were allowed them.
"A finer looking set of young men I never saw; they made not a
single complaint, not a murmur, against their sentence, and
decency should have been shown their dead bodies in admiration for
the heroism they displayed when brought out for execution. Not a
muscle was seen to move, and they proved to the miserable rabble
congregated to witness the horrible spectacle that it being the
fortunes of war that they fell into the power of this government,
they were not afraid to die. It would have been a great consolation
to these poor fellows, as they repeatedly asked, to see their
consul, and through him to have sent their last adieus, and such
little remembrances as they had, to their beloved relations in the
States. But Mr. Owens, the American Consul, did not even make
application to the Captain-General to see these unfortunate
countrymen in their distress, and their sacred wishes in their last
moments have been unattended to. Lastly, at the very hour of
triumph, when the people of the Spanish steamer _Habanero_ knew
that the execution of the American prisoners, whom they had taken
to Havana, had taken place, two shots were fired across or at the
steamer _Falcon_ off Bahia Honda; and notwithstanding that this
vessel was well known to them, having as she had the American flag
hoisted, etc., she was detained and overhauled by these Spanish
officers."
Another reliable source, the report of an American naval officer,
furnished the information, that after the prisoners had been shot, their
bodies were mutilated; they were dragged by the heels, and outraged in a
manner which would make the most unenlightened savage shudder; their
ears and fingers were cut off, and portions of these, together with
pieces of skull, were distributed to the Spanish officers as souvenirs,
while some of these grim relics were afterward nailed up in public
places as a warning against attempts to revolt against the Spanish
Government. Ten of the bodies were placed in coffins, and the rest were
merely thrown into a pit.
When Captain Kelly and his forty followers had been separated from
Crittenden, they managed in some manner--the details of which have not
come down to us--to evade the Spaniards and to escape with such supplies
as they could carry. They took to the cover of the woods, and being
unfamiliar with the country wandered around, until they fell in with a
loyal negro who undertook to act as guide for them. He led them to a
dense wood, in sight of Las Pozas, and they sent him on ahead to report
conditions. He returned, stating that Lopez was in possession of the
town, and so they joined him, just as he was about to lead his men into
the mountains. Captain Kelly's men had been so engrossed with their own
predicament that they had remained in ignorance of the fate of
Crittenden's force, and they were therefore unable to give Lopez any
definite information concerning them, and he treasured the hope that
they too had escaped the Spaniards, and would be able to join him at
Pinar del Rio, in accordance with the original plan.
Lopez's forces were now reduced to about three hundred men, and they
found themselves obliged to leave their wounded behind them. They pushed
forward all night, and until about nine in the morning, covering a
distance of twelve miles. They shot a cow, and roasting the meat on the
points of their bayonets, ate it without bread or salt. They then
continued their march until eight in the evening, when, utterly worn
out, they lay down and slept on their arms until midnight.
The moon was now shining brightly, and Lopez awakened his tired army,
and again they were on their way. Shortly after dawn, they reached a
plantation, where they were received with kindness by the owner, who
was in sympathy with the cause of Cuban freedom. Two cows were killed,
and some corn roasted, and once more the little band was refreshed. But
now Lopez discovered that in the absence of a guide or a compass they
had been traveling almost in a circle, and instead of going southwest
toward San Cristobal and Pinar del Rio, they were within only three
miles of their original landing place, where there was a large Spanish
force. He immediately assembled his footsore companions, who were now
almost barefoot because the rough and stony passes had worn the shoes
from their feet, and led them on a forced march. Many had already
dropped out by fatigue, and the others were almost exhausted, but Lopez
realized that safety could only be assured by putting many miles between
his men and the Spanish garrison, and reaching, before they were
overtaken, some place of strong vantage.
The Spaniards seem, however, to have been thoroughly puzzled by Lopez's
circuitous course, and they sent word to the Captain-General that since
they despaired of capturing him, they felt the best measure to take was
an effort to induce his men to desert him. Concha, therefore, issued the
following proclamation, which was posted in conspicuous places all over
the vicinity where Lopez was supposed to be hiding:
"Proclamation!
"The Most Excellent Senor, the Captain-General, has seen proper to
direct, under this date, to the chiefs of columns in the field and to
the Lieutenant-Governors of Bahia Honda, Mariel, San Cristobal and Pinar
del Rio, the following circular:
"The greater part of the pirates who dared to invade the island have
been destroyed by the valiant troops of that army to whom the lot fell
of being destined to pursue them, as well as by the not less decided and
active cooperation of all the loyal inhabitants of the district they had
sought to make their den. Considering, at once, the unanimous confession
of all those who have been taken and executed, that they had been
brought here into a foreign territory through a complete deception,
having been made to believe that the country called them, that the army
would make common cause with them, and that triumph would be as easy as
it was certain, such being the promise of the traitor who led them; and
that the directors of such a foolish and disorderly enterprise could not
in any other way have got together the multitude connected herewith, and
also that public vengeance has already been satisfied by the severe
chastisement inflicted on those individuals hitherto captured, as well
as those that have perished by the balls or the bayonets of our gallant
troops; and that finally, the time has arrived to make use of clemency,
according to the dictates of humanity, I have determined:
"I. That quarter shall be given to every individual belonging to the
band under command of the traitor Lopez who shall surrender or be taken
by the troops of His Majesty within four days from the publication of
this resolution in the respective districts; it being well understood
that after the expiration of that period the general army order of April
20 last will remain in full force as it has up to now.
"II. The individual or individuals belonging to said band who shall
surrender said leader, Lopez, shall be free from all punishment, and if
he be a foreigner, shall be restored to his own country.
"This I communicate to you for your exact observance, ordering that it
be immediately published in all the district under your command. God
guard your Excellency many years!
"JOSE DE LA CONCHA.
"Havana, Aug. 24, 1851."
Meanwhile stragglers who fell by the wayside, and afterward fell into
the hands of the Spaniards, were brutally treated, and murdered in the
most revolting manner, their bowels being ripped open by bayonets after
they had been practically flogged to death.
A native guide who offered his services to Lopez, now led him to a
coffee plantation near Las Frias. He represented to Lopez that the owner
was a sympathizer, and that the wanderers would be given rest and
shelter, and a place to hide until the arrival of reinforcements from
the United States. This guide is believed to have been a Spanish spy,
for while Lopez and his men were received with the greatest courtesy,
and entertained for two days by the planter, their host secretly
dispatched a courier to the Spanish leaders, and presently a Spanish
army arrived to attack the filibusters. Lopez dispersed his men, who hid
themselves behind the trunks of mango trees, and picked off the Spanish
soldiers, with the result that the Spaniards were put to flight, and
when word presently came that General Eno was advancing to the rescue of
his compatriots with a force of two thousand men Lopez retreated to a
high hill, with the remainder of his army, now reduced to two hundred
and twenty men, many of these disabled by wounds. Lopez was in a
position of vantage, and small parties of his men fired on the advancing
Spaniards, wounding their commander, and several of their number.
[Illustration: FALLS OF THE HANEBANILLA
Each of the Provinces of Cuba has its own characteristic charms of
scenery; among which it would be rash to attempt to choose. Santa Clara
boasts the great falls of the Hanebanilla River, a scene of majestic
splendor. This is one of numerous cataracts on the rivers of Cuba,
enriching the scenic attractions of the island, and at the same time
suggesting immense value as sources of industrial power.]
Lopez now endeavored to reach a plain near San Cristobal, but his men
were worn out, their clothes torn, their flesh bruised and
bleeding, and their feet lacerated so that they could hardly walk.
Dissatisfaction and dismay was rife among them, and presently they sent
a committee to Lopez, asking him to advise them just what he intended to
do, and what he expected to accomplish, and stating that unless he had
some good plan, they were unwilling to proceed further. Lopez listened
to them attentively, and asked for suggestions. They were all for hiding
in the mountains, until relief should be sent to them from the country
which they all now sorely regretted leaving. While putting this project
into execution, they were again attacked by the Spaniards, three or four
of them were killed, and a number taken prisoners, and immediately
executed. One hundred and forty men escaped with Lopez through the
woods. Many of them had lost their arms; only sixty-nine guns remained,
while on most of these the bayonets were broken. They had no food and
they killed Lopez's horse and ate it. Open dissension broke out among
them. Lopez was, as will be recalled, under sentence of death, having
been condemned, after the betrayal of the first plans to free Cuba, to
be killed should he ever again be apprehended on the island. A price had
been set on his head, and now, with characteristic self-abnegation, he
besought his men to deliver him up to the enemy, securing clemency for
themselves in return for such action. To do them justice, they were
heartily ashamed, and repudiated the suggestion. Finally after a long
discussion it was decided to stake all on one attempt against the
Spaniards, and consequently they made their way again to the plain near
San Cristobal and there attacked a force of five hundred Spanish troops.
They were charged by the Spanish cavalry, and all but six were taken
prisoners. Lopez and his remaining six followers took refuge upon a
plantation. They were received with cordiality and assured of the
sympathy of their owner, Senor Castenada, who offered to hide them until
their friends, whom they believed to be even then on the ocean, or
perhaps making a landing on the island, should rescue them. He gave them
good food and drugged wine, and took them to the upper part of the
house, to his bedrooms, that they might sleep. They were utterly
exhausted, and soon fell into deep slumber, whereupon Castenada notified
the Spanish authorities, who at once sent troops to take the little
company prisoners. So profound was their sleep that they were securely
bound before they realized what had happened. They were at once taken to
Havana, where the Captain-General was so delighted at the turn events
had taken that he issued a proclamation complimenting his brave officers
on their capture "of this dangerous traitor."
Concha did not accord Lopez a trial, but at once issued a proclamation
ordering his execution. It was dated October 31, 1851, and ran as
follows:
"By a superior decree of the Most Excellent Senor, the Governor and
Captain-General, Don Narciso Lopez, who commanded the band of pirates
that disembarked at the place called Playitas, to the leeward of the
capital on the morning of the 12th instant, has been condemned to the
infamous punishment of the garrote. The execution is to take place at
seven o'clock in the morning of September 1st. The troops of all arms
composing the garrison of the town, and the forces from elsewhere, will
assemble at sufficient time beforehand, at the camp of the Punta, where
the scaffold is placed, around which they will form a square. The
regiment of Galicia will take its station in front with a banner
displayed. The other corps will be present with all their disposable
force. The artillery will take the right, with the engineers next them;
the other forces without distinction will occupy the places assigned to
them. The cavalry will be stationed according to the direction of the
Brigadier, the Royal Lieutenant commanding the town, who will command
the troops, having under his orders the staff officers of the army, and
an equal number of town adjustants. A true copy.
"ZURITA."
The Spanish archives contain the following names of members of the Lopez
expedition who were taken prisoners about this time and who witnessed
the execution of their leader. Most of these men after a long
imprisonment were finally pardoned, through the intervention of powerful
friends, and returned to their homes:
Elias Otis, Michael O'Keenan, John Danton, First Lieutenant P. S.
VanVechten, M. L. Hefren, Captain Robert Ellis, W. Wilson, W. Miller, P.
Lacoste, M. Lieger, P. Coleman, Henry Smith, Thomas Hilton, First
Lieutenant E. H. McDonald, D. D. Waif, H. D. Thomason, Charles A.
Conunea, Emanuel R. Wier, First Lieutenant J. G. Bush, Conrad Taylor,
Thomas Denton, C. A. McMurray, J. Patan, Conrad Arghalir, Jose Chiceri,
G. Richardson, John B. Brown, Thomas S. Lee, Captain James Aquelli,
Franklin Boyd, Thomas Little, Commissary J. A. Simpson, George Wilson,
First Lieutenant D. D. Rousseau, First Lieutenant Robert McGrier, J. D.
Hughes, William H. Vaugale, Francis B. Holmes, Malbone H. Scott, First
Lieutenant W. H. Craft, J. D. Prenit, Julio Chasagne, John Cline, George
Forster, C. Knoll, Nicholas Port, Patrick McGrath, Charles S. Daily,
James Fiddes, S. H. Prenell, W. L. Wilkinson, C. Cook, James Chapman,
James Brady, Henry B. Hart, Jacob Fonts, Preston Esces, William
Cameron, Thomas Mourou, Isaac Fresborn, Cornelius Derby, Peter Falbos,
Benjamin Harrer;
_From England_: William Caussans, John Nowes;
_From Ireland_: Henry B. Metcalfe, George Metcalfe, James Porter, Thomas
McDellans;
_From Cuba_: Bernardo Allen, Francisco Curbiay Garcia, Ramon J. Arnau,
Jose Dovren, Manuel Martinez, Antonio Hernandez, Martin Milesimo;
_From Germany_: Johannes Sucit, Edward Wisse, Wilhelm Losner, Robert
Seelust, Ciriac Senelpi;
_From Matanzas_: Ramon Ignacio Amaso;
_From Hungary_: George Baptista;
_From New Granada_: Andres Gonzales;
_From Alquizar_: Francisco A. Leve;
_From Bayamo_: Manuel Diaz;
_From Navarre_: Antonio Romero;
_From Spain_: Francisco J. Zamaro;
_Nationality not Stated_: Antonio L. Alfonso, Manuel Aragon, Jose
Bojanoti y Rubina, Joaquin Casanova, Miguel Guerra, William MacKinney,
Dandrig Seay, Leonardo Sugliorti, J. D. Baker and Luis Bander.
In accordance with the Captain-General's proclamation, the execution of
Lopez took place on the morning of September 1. The scaffold was erected
on a platform ten feet high, in a flat space opposite Morro. The garrote
consists of a post, and a stool on which sits the prisoner, while a
metal collar is passed around his neck and fastens him securely to the
post. A screw having long arms is attached to the post, by means of
which, at one turn, metal points are thrust into the victim's neck,
causing dislocation and death.
There were present on this occasion, three thousand infantry, two
hundred cavalry and twenty thousand witnesses. Lopez presented a calm
and dignified appearance. With his hands tightly bound he walked to the
front of the platform and said in a strong, clear voice:
"I pray the persons who have compromised me to pardon me, as I pardon
them. My death will not change the destinies of Cuba."
Then as the executioner bade him be quick, he exclaimed:
"Adieu, my comrades! Adieu, my beloved Cuba, adieu!"
Thus died a man, as brave in his last hours as he had been during all
the strange fortunes and vicissitudes of his adventurous life, who had
sacrificed everything for a principle which seemed to him dearer than
all the material benefits which the world might have conferred upon him.
The Spanish leaders destroyed his body, but they could never destroy
that far more precious thing, the spirit of freedom which he had
instilled in the minds and the hearts of the Cubans, and which was to
live after him and at last lead Cuba to victory.