The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
Ramon de Lago, who commanded the column, conveyed them to Havana by a
night march.
The second day after being separated from Lopez, the party under Colonel
Crittenden was captured by a detachment of Spanish soldiers and carried
into Havana, where, on the sixteenth of August they were shot, by order of
the Captain General. Very much exaggerated accounts of the circumstances
attending their execution were circulated in the United States; and by
forged letters respecting successes by the invaders, adhesions to them by
the people of the island, indignities to Americans, &c., it was sought to
excite the public indignation so that further expeditions should be set on
foot that would be altogether irresistible. The party whose managements
consisted of such systematic and persevering falsehood lost all its energy
when news came of the capture of Lopez and the remnants of his army. At
seven o'clock on the morning of the first of September, Lopez was
_garroted_--that being the Spanish punishment for treason--in the presence
of from eight to ten thousand troops. Brought from the prison he ascended
the platform with a firm and steady step. Facing the multitude he made a
short speech, and his last words were, "I die for my beloved Cuba." He then
took his seat--the machine was adjusted; at the first twist of the screw
his head dropped forward--and he was dead. He was a brave man, but of
feeble capacities, and the leading members of the Cuban junta in the United
States had no confidence in any movements subject to his direction. A few
of the prisoners taken about the time of the capture of Lopez have been set
at liberty, and others have been transported to Spain. The result of the
whole business shows that the bodies of the prisoners shot at Havana with
Crittenden and Kerr, were not mutilated nor anywise maltreated, as had been
stated, but that the story that they had been was fabricated to excite
indignation and procure reinforcements in this country; that the invaders
achieved no important success at any time, beyond the killing of General
Enna and the consequent repulse of the detachment led by him; that they
killed not more than two hundred of the Spaniards; that they at no time
were able to act on the offensive, but fought for their lives from the
first, and were at length surprised and utterly routed; that, though they
were landed in the very quarter of Cuba where Lopez was most likely to
obtain aid, yet they received none of any kind, and were not joined by a
single corporal's guard from the hour of their setting foot on the soil of
Cuba; that the Creoles, or natives of Cuba, so far from affording them such
aid as even cowards friendly to them might safely have done, evinced the
most active and deadly hostility throughout to the invaders and their
cause. We cannot doubt that they furnished the information which led to the
surprise and route of Lopez; we know that they finally deceived, betrayed,
bound and delivered him to Concha.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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