The U. S. schooners of war Greyhound and Beagle left Thompson’s Island,
June 7, 1823, under the command of Lieuts. Kearney and Newton, and
cruised within the Keys, on the south side of Cuba, as far as Cape Cruz,
touching at all the intermediate ports on the island, to intercept
pirates. On the 21st July, they came to anchor off Cape Cruz, and Lieut.
Kearney went in his boat to reconnoitre the shore, when he was fired on
by a party of pirates who were concealed among the bushes. A fire was
also opened from several pieces of cannon erected on a hill, a short
distance off. The boat returned, and five or six others were manned from
the vessels, and pushed off for the shore, but a very heavy cannonade
being kept up by the pirates on the heights, as well as from the boats
were compelled to retreat. The two schooners were then warped in, when
they discharged several broadsides, and covered the landing of the
boats. After a short time the pirates retreated to a hill that was well
fortified. A small hamlet, in which the pirates resided was set fire to
and destroyed. Three guns, one a four pounder, and two large swivels,
with several pistols, cutlasses, and eight large boats, were captured. A
cave, about 150 feet deep, was discovered, near where the houses were,
and after considerable difficulty, a party of seamen got to the bottom,
where was found an immense quantity of plunder, consisting of
broadcloths, dry goods, female dresses, saddlery, &c. Many human bones
were also in the cave, supposed to have been unfortunate persons who
were taken and put to death. A great deal of the articles were brought
away, and the rest destroyed. About forty pirates escaped to the
heights, but many were supposed to have been killed, from the fire of
the schooners, as well as from the men who landed. The bushes were so
thick that it was impossible to go after them. Several other caves are
in the neighbourhood, in which it was conjectured they occasionally take
shelter.