xt7gth8bgq47 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7gth8bgq47/data/mets.xml Quisenberry, Anderson Chenault, 1850-1921. 1906  books b92f446f48no2119062009 English Filson Club publications ; no. 21 : J. P. Morton & company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Louisville, Ky. Lopez s expeditions to Cuba, 1850 and 1851, by Anderson C. Quisenberry, Member of the Filson club... read before the club April 3, 1905... text Lopez s expeditions to Cuba, 1850 and 1851, by Anderson C. Quisenberry, Member of the Filson club... read before the club April 3, 1905... 1906 2009 true xt7gth8bgq47 section xt7gth8bgq47 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
FILSON

CLUB

PUBLICATIONS

No.

21

*

L OPEZ'S EXPEDITIONS TO CUBA
1850
AND

1851

BY

ANDERSON

C.

QUISENBERRY

M EMBER OF T H E FILSON C L U B A u t h o r of " T h e Life and T i m e s of H u m p h r e y M a r s h a l l , the E l d e r " ; " S oldiers in K e n t u c k y " ; randa o f the "The First John W a s h i n g t o n Family and other ginia T r o o p s in the French and Indian W a r " ; Quisenberry "Genealogical Revolutionary "Vir-

of V i r g i n i a " ; Families";

Memo-

" M e m o r i a l s of the Quisenberry F a m i l y in G e r m a n y , E n g l a n d , a nd A m e r i c a " ; E t c . , E t c . , E t c .

READ

BEFORE

THE

CLUB

APRIL

3,

1905

illluatratfh

" I n the b eauty o f the lilies Christ was born a cross the sea, W i t h a glory in H i s b osom t hat transfigures you and me;    A s H e died to m ake m en holy, let us die to m ake m en free.'

LOUISVILLE,

KENTUCKY

JOHN

P. M O R T O N

&

COMPANY
CLUB

P RINTERS

TO T H E FILSON

1906

  
  
PREFACE

T
Heart,

HE

subjoined to

account was

of

General Lopez's prepared The

expedias the in

tions

Cuba

originally

b a s i s of a n h i s t o r i c a l n o v e l , t o b e

called

Strong

i n w h i c h t h e t r a g i c f a t e of C r i t t e n d e n a n d h i s m e n ,

a n d t h e d a u n t l e s s h e r o i s m of t h e L i b e r a t o r s g e n e r a l l y , w e r e to be e x p l o i t e d ; t h o u g h the story was to be i n K e n t u c k y . fictional b a c k g r o u n d of the

I n o r d e r t o secure a c o r r e c t neces-

historical framework for the proposed novel, it was

s a r y t h a t I s h o u l d m y s e l f p r e p a r e a h i s t o r y of t h o s e i l l f a t e d e x p e d i t i o n s to C u b a , since n o satisfactory of t h e m were accessible t o m e ; a n d n o consecutive whatever published. The files of d a t a for this sketch were o l d newspapers, States was Consul at kept by f r o m the Havana, gathered mainly from the accounts account been

of t h e B a h i a H o n d a E x p e d i t i o n h a d e v e r

o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s of a n d f r o m the

United book

scrapit ex-

that

Colonel Crittenden's mother,

h a v i n g been k i n d l y loaned to m e for the purpose b y Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, of Missouri,

Colonel

Crittenden's brother.

T h e m a t e r i a l s g a t h e r e d f r o m t hese

  
4

Preface
together i n proper is now published not

a n d o t h e r sources were h a s t i l y w o v e n sequence, forming a narrative which

a l m o s t e x a c t l y as i t w a s f i r s t w r i t t e n , t h o u g h i t w a s originally intended for publication i n this form. instances of the almost the v e r y as t h e y w o r d s of t h e i n the disjecta o l d papers

I n some membra from

story,

appeared

which they

were copied, h a v e been used i n this

sketch;

i n w h i c h m y o w n w o r k h a s b e e n t h a t of a c o m p i l e r a n d a n e d i t o r , r a t h e r t h a n t h a t of a n a u t h o r . to Doctor Thomas E. I am indebted

P i c k e t t , of M a y s v i l l e , K e n t u c k y , often adorned the historic and which I

whose

scholarly pen has l i t e r a t u r e of

scientific

K e n t u c k y , for

the facts

h a v e e m b o d i e d i n t h e s k e t c h of C o l o n e l J o h n T .

Pickett. that the

A s I was c o n s t a n t l y engaged w i t h other m a t t e r s c o u l d n o t be neglected, i t soon b e c a m e a p p a r e n t t h a t

c o n s t r u c t i o n b y m e of a n o v e l a l o n g t h e l i n e s p r o p o s e d w a s utterly impossible under the circumstances, if the work

was to do either the subject or myself even the

slightest

c r e d i t ; so t h a t p r o j e c t h a d t o b e i n d e f i n i t e l y p o s t p o n e d , if n o t a b a n d o n e d The one subject, of altogether. merely as an historical monograph, elaboration; but even is for

capable

considerable find

that I could not brief found and

the time. as it

T h e s k e t c h as p r e p a r e d , apparently and not been The

imperfect

is, h a s

altogether

l a c k i n g i n interest

merit by

  
Preface
F i l s o n C l u b , b e f o r e w h i c h i t w a s r e a d A p r i l 3 , 1905,

5
and

under whose k i n d l y auspices i t is n o w g i v e n to the w o r l d a s o n e of t h e i r v a l u a b l e series of h i s t o r i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s .

A b r i l l i a n t g a l a x y of g a l l a n t a n d i n t r e p i d y o u n g K e n tuckians, the more prominent Hawkins, of whom were Ellis, O'Hara, Logan,

Crittenden,

Pickett,

Stanford,

a n d B r e c k e n r i d g e , bore the m o s t conspicuous p a r t i n those e a r l y a n d d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t s t o c o n f e r t h e b o o n of l i b e r t y upon Cuba. distinguished T h e n m a y i t n o t be h o p e d t h a t some Kentucky author as James Lane such Allen,

or J o h n F o x , junior, fired w i t h the pride self of the every true

S t a t e l o v e t h a t is t h e take in an upon him-

Kentuckian, may of embalming

gracious

duty

immortal as

romance

t h e h e r o i s m a n d d e v o t i o n of t h o s e p a l a d i n s ,

w e l l a s t h e g l o r y a n d t h e c h i v a l r y of t h e i r d e e d s o f h i g h emprise?
A. HYATTSVILXE, MARYLAND. C. QUISENBERRY.

  
  
INTRODUCTION

T
less

HE

subject

of t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t

publication

of

The

F i l s o n C l u b is t h e E x p e d i t i o n s of L o p e z a filibuster, and the subject of t h e

to C u b a . book is

L o p e z was

therefore W h a t is

filibustering. filibustering, o r w h o is a filibuster? Different

origins a n d meanings h a v e been given, b u t we have doubtderived filibuster from the Spanish " filibustero," who the

a n d u n d e r s t a n d i t t o m e a n a c i t i z e n of o n e c o u n t r y i n v a d e s a n o t h e r , w i t h w h i c h h i s o w n is a t p e a c e , f o r p u r p o s e of s u b d u i n g a n d o c c u p y i n g i t . Filibustering has not always been the same,

but

in

one f o r m or another i t m a y be said to h a v e existed out of mind. race Away the back i n the shadowy the past woods came of of

time the his

human

hunter and

who the

seized shepherd

neighboring hunter,

who

down

u p o n t h e g r a z i n g p l a c e s of h i s n e i g h b o r i n g s h e p h e r d , w e r e filibusters. W h e n A l e x a n d e r the G r e a t crossed the acts Indus

a n d C aesar t h e R u b i c o n , t h e i r s u b s e q u e n t those of filibusters however, as much as

resembled Better The

anything in later

else. times.

examples,

are

found

  
8

Introduction

v i k i n g s of t h e N o r t h f o r m o r e t h a n a t h o u s a n d y e a r s w e r e masters of the s eas that washed Europe. Commerce

u p o n t h e o c e a n a n d t h e i n l a n d s eas a n d t h e g r e a t r i v e r s c o u l d o n l y be s eafarers. s afe w i t h t h e consent of t h e s e N o r t h e r n

T h e y carried their victorious arms to E n g l a n d ,

France, S p a i n , P o r t u g a l , a n d to other countries, a n d the only way for the countries was to invaded to keep those to out such

unwelcome arrived, as

visitors a

nationalize others

already The

protection

against

come.

v i k i n g s d i d n o t share the o d i u m u s u a l l y a w a r d e d t o pirates, b u t were considered respectable, England and France which and formed dynasties i n them by blood

connected

w i t h t h e n o b i l i t y of t h o s e c o u n t r i e s t o t h i s

day.

T h e p i r a t e s of t h e n o r t h of A f r i c a w e r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d as respectable thought filibusters of by as the the most vikings, but enlightened were well

enough

countries

t o r e c e i v e p a y f o r n o t p r e y i n g u p o n t h e c o m m e r c e of t h e contracting parties. Such pay i n our times would be

c o n s i d e r e d t h e c o m p o u n d i n g of f e l o n i e s , b u t i t w a s a l l r i g h t i n those The however, most days. and successful the filibustering of

thought

brilliant

feat, Mexico without

i n m o d e r n times was

conquest

b y D o n H e r n a n d o Cortez.

T h i s great

filibuster,

t h e c o n s e n t of h i s k i n g , u n d e r t o o k t h e c o n q u e s t of M e x i c o , a c o u n t r y " a t peace w i t h S p a i n , a n d succeeded. The mag-

  
Introduction
n i t u d e of t h i s c o n q u e s t Spain accepted i t as

9

d i v e s t e d i t of a l l i r r e g u l a r i t y , a n d the great acquisition that it was, to

i n c o r p o r a t e d i t i n t o h e r d o m i n i o n s w i t h o u t a s c r u p l e as t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e who had acquisition, and made the

filibuster

d o n e t h e b l o o d y w o r k of c o n q u e s t t h e f i r s t C a p a n d f i r s t G o v e r n o r of t h e c o u n t r y to our times, Don Francisco acquired. Miranda Veneto

tain-General Still appeared zuela

nearer

as a f i l i b u s t e r , t r y i n g t o w r e s t h i s n a t i v e the Spanish. He was the

from

first filibuster a and

gather an a r m y i n the U n i t e d States to attack country. fortune Of gentle birth, he and good was education,

foreign large of in the

i n Venezuela, designs

nevertheless to

suspected refuge

revolutionary the

compelled

take

U n i t e d States.

H e fought

w i t h the

French on

s i d e of t h e c o l o n i e s i n t h e R e v o l u t i o n a r y W a r , a n d afterw a r d i n the leave France French Revolution. for suspected He was compelled to

complicity with

Dumouriez,

a n d again came to the U n i t e d States, where he fitted o u t a n e x p e d i t i o n w i t h t h e h o p e of r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g h i s country. of the H e was unsuccessful, treachery, native

a n d falling into the hands was i m p r i s o n e d at Cadiz

Spaniards b y

i n S p a i n , w h e r e he d i e d i n c h a i n s after f o u r y e a r s of c o n finement. to others, A H i s miserable e n d m i g h t have been a warning b u t it was n o t so received. o n a larger scale w a s A a r o n N o one k n o w s pre-

greater m a n

a n d actor

B u r r , a n a t i v e of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

  
IO

Introduction
generally Mexico Monte-

c i s e l y w h a t t h e d e s i g n s of B u r r w e r e , b u t i t i s believed that he contemplated the conquest of

a n d t h e p l a c i n g of h i m s e l f o n t h e t h r o n e of t h e zumas. H e f a i l e d as c o m p l e t e l y

as M i r a n d a d i d , e x c e p t H e died, univer-

t h a t he d i d n o t die i n a p r i s o n l i k e M i r a n d a . however, without probably deserving it, almost

sally dishonored a n d despised. I f t h e a c t s o f G e n e r a l S a m H o u s t o n w e r e n o t t h o s e of a filibuster, they w e r e so n e a r i t t h a t i t w o u l d b e diffi-

cult to d r a w the distinction. of t h e

H e was certainly a citizen upon Mexico for the was

U n i t e d States m a k i n g war of T e x a s ,

independence at peace. made the

w i t h w h i c h his o w n country

H i s u n d e r t a k i n g w a s a s uccess, h o w e v e r , filibuster boon of of a a hero and his filibustering

which the his the

untainted

mankind. patriot,

H i s t o r y has a n d left

recorded for

d e e d s as t h o s e c r i t i c i s m of t h e Of the four

no room

filibuster. principal filibusters just named in the

Western two were

world   Cortez, Miranda, Burr, and successful Spanish for the and two failures. and Spain Each was

Houston    of them

concerned responsible

territory,

probably into the

i n t r o d u c t i o n of

filibustering

Western world. here m a d e

H e r barbarous

treatment

of h e r

people enable her-

t h e m a n x i o u s t o s eek f o r e i g n h e l p t o

t h e m t o t h r o w off t h e y o k e t h a t g a l l e d t h e m .

She

  
Introduction
s elf h a d i n v a d e d a n d c o n q u e r e d M e x i c o a n d p a r t s of S o u t h A m e r i c a , a n d ought not to have been disappointed when others invaded her domain. She finally filibustering, lost all her

possessions, p r i n c i p a l l y g a i n e d b y

i n the N e w

W o r l d , a n d t h e w o n d e r is, n o t t h a t she l o s t t h e m , b u t t h a t s he h e l d t h e m so l o n g . I n these expeditions f r o m the

U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s s o m e of t h e b e s t b l o o d of t h e c o u n t r y . A g r a n d s o n of P r e s i d e n t A d a m s , b y the n a m e of i n the been Miranda Expedition. the He was Smith, to of

was have

supposed coast

captured by

Spaniards o n the

Venezuela, a n d while this impression prevailed the Spanish m i n i s t e r a t W a s h i n g t o n w r o t e t o a f r i e n d of t h e of t h e y o u n g condition of all the that filibuster he father

offering to intercede for h i m u p o n the names and The plans father

w o u l d disclose associated

Spaniards

with him.

answered t h a t he w o u l d n o t purchase his o w n life u p o n such terms, a n d that he w o u l d not advise his son to b r i n g disgrace u p o n himself a n d his f a m i l y b y b e t r a y i n g w i t h w h o m he h a d that good the his acted. It was afterward those

discovered made names,

y o u n g m a n h a d not been escape to the United

captured, but Noted

States.

i n o t h e r e x p e d i t i o n s , m i g h t be g i v e n here, b u t t h e a u t h o r h a s e x h i b i t e d e n o u g h of t h e m i n t h e t e x t t o s h o w t h e v e r y best b l o o d of t h e l a n d was employed. that

A f t e r t h e f a i l u r e of M i r a n d a , f o u r - a n d - f o r t y l o n g years elapsed before another filibustering expedition was fitted

  
12

Introduction

out i n the U n i t e d States against a foreign country, unless the movements that and character, 1 851 three for the independence as t h e y of T e x a s In out were of

p r o b a b l y were. were fitted

1849, by

1850, Lopez fili-

expeditions of Cuba.

against

the

island

These,

although

true

b u s t e r i n g expeditions, were also m o v e m e n t s i n t h e i n t e r e s t of humanity. They were not for plunder and spoils,

b u t for t h e f r e e d o m of h u m a n beings f r o m t h e g a l l i n g yoke of tyranny. The Spanish had first depopulated

t h e i s l a n d o f C u b a w i t h f ire a n d s w o r d , a n d t h e n a f t e r ward so oppressed the English a n d F r e n c h a n d D u t c h driven f r o m the land

w h o came into it t h a t t h e y were a n d t o o k t o t h e sea as b u c c a n e e r s .

N o t h i n g like piracy The word means the wild

was attached to the name buccaneer. flesh-dryers, i s l a n d of a n d was

a p p l i e d t o t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of followed hunting the

San

Domingo, who

c a t t l e of t h a t l a n d a n d c u r i n g t h e i r flesh a n d h i d e s f o r the D u t c h market. They were not pirates, moreover,

because t h e y o n l y p r e y e d u p o n t h e c o m m e r c e of S p a i n , their enemy a n d oppressor. I t is possible t h a t t h e fili-

b u s t e r s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w e r e t h e l o g i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o r successors of these buccaneers, t h e o r i g i n a l enemies of the Spanish, for every filibustering expedition from

this country was against the Spanish. I need not, i n this introduction, say about the E x p e d i t i o n s of Lopez. They anything more are t h e subject

  
  
  
Introduction
of the twenty-first p u b l i c a t i o n of by The

13
Filson Club, and the in

a r e f u l l y set f o r t h i n t h e t e x t author. I am not

M r . Quisenberry, previous work

familiar with any

w h i c h t h e s e e x p e d i t i o n s h a v e b e e n so f u l l y a n d f a i t h f u l l y recorded. I t h a s n o w b e e n f i f t y - s i x y e a r s s i n c e t h e f i r s t of t h e s e expeditions was organized, a n d fifty-four Those who since t h e third

a n d last was them are

inaugurated.

were engaged i n at the

assumed

to have been

full-grown men

t i m e , s o t h a t a s u r v i v o r w o u l d n o w h a v e r e a c h e d t h e age of seventy-seven. But few men who have borne live the to

h e a t s of s u b - t r o p i c a l suns i n m i l i t a r y c a m p a i g n s seventy-seven. Lopez I k n o w of b u t o n e s u r v i v o r of t h e is n o w living, death

second been one

Expedition who associated

a n d he has a n d b u r i a l of This

singularly

w i t h the same

of h i s c o m r a d e s

i n the

expedition.

survivor

i s J o h n C a r l J o h n s t o n , a s o n of t h e l a t e J u d g e G e o r g e W . Johnston, who was 19, born i n Shelby County, Kentucky, schools at

on November in his native

1829.

A f t e r going t h r o u g h the his education was

county,

continued

T u s c a l o o s a , A l a b a m a , a n d f i n i s h e d a t W e s t P o i n t i n 1846. H e t h e n w e n t i n t o t h e M e x i c a n W a r as s e c o n d l i e u t e n a n t , a n d c o n t i n u e d i n service of the Mexican War, d u r i n g the he war. had At been the a close gallant few

in which

soldier, he went

to California, where

he r e m a i n e d a

  
14 months without

Introduction
finding or acquiring a gold mine, from it. and In

returned to

Kentucky

as p o o r as h e w e n t

1 850 he j o i n e d t h e s e c o n d

Lopez Expedition, a n d was a

b r a v e a n d efficient s o l d i e r f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g t o t h e e n d . I n the part, ceeded a fight at Cardenas, i n w h i c h he bore a n honorable was mortally wounded, but suc-

fellow-soldier

i n getting o n the boat

w h i c h bore the

retreating was

filibusters to K e y W e s t .

Here his comrade's w o u n d Johnston, and

dressed w i t h a s h i r t f u r n i s h e d b y on it written w i t h indelible ink,

having

" J o h n Carl Johnston, filibusters other displaces

Louisville, K y . "

I n a few d a y s after the and

persed f r o m K e y W e s t to their homes

the w o u n d e d soldier died, a n d the n a m e o n the shirt furnished a supposed clue to his identity. A letter was

sent to L o u i s v i l l e s t a t i n g his death, a n d a s k i n g w h a t s h o u l d be done with the body. The letter was answered by

requesting t h a t the r e m a i n s be sent to L o u i s v i l l e . the remains arrived, Cemetery, John when Carl he they were buried in the

When Western

a n d a headstone Johnston. returned to Of

erected course

b e a r i n g t h e n a m e of Lieutenant was Johnston, and

Louisville,

astonished

t r o u b l e d at t h e evidence t h i s g r a v e g a v e of h i s d e a t h a n d b u r i a l , b u t a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n of J u d g e J o h n s t o n , h i s f a t h e r , the grave was never disturbed, but allowed to filibuster continue name

t o b e a r t h e r e m a i n s of t h e d e a d

a n d the

  
Introduction
of h i s l i v i n g c o m r a d e . a s m i n d f u l of t h o s e of the o l d pioneers by of vandal the

'5

I f t h e c i t y of L o u i s v i l l e h a d b e e n b u r i e d i n this cemetery, b u r i e d there hands. The would not city owed to the have it a to graves been the fence order. and

disturbed

descendants

dead

b u r i e d there

keep

a r o u n d the b u r y i n g - g r o u n d a n d the lots i n decent I n s t e a d of t h a t , the fence once there was

removed,

m a n y of t h e m o n u m e n t s w h i c h t o l d w h o s e r e m a i n s o c c u pied the graves were p i l e d together in an unoccupied were was

c o r n e r of t h e g r o u n d , i n u t t e r c o n f u s i o n , c o m m o n stones. that

as i f t h e y

A m o n g the graves thus desecrated bore the name of

of t h e f i l i b u s t e r w h o

Lieutenant of

J o h n s t o n , w h o is y e t l i v i n g a m o n g u s a t t h e r i p e age seventy-six years. He cultivates his little farm

below

t h e w e s t e n d of t h e c i t y , a n d is a n e x e m p l a r y , g e n i a l , a n d worthy him. T h e r e h a s b e e n b u t o n e f i l i b u s t e r of n o t e i n o u r c o u n try s i n c e t h e t i m e of L o p e z . filibustering This was W i l l i a m W a l k e r , Nicaragua, was citizen, beloved a n d respected by all who know

who by in

rose t o t h e p r e s i d e n c y of

Central America.

H i s h o l d i n g of t h i s h i g h office

n o t of l o n g d u r a t i o n .

A f t e r b e i n g c o m p e l l e d t o flee f r o m

the c o u n t r y he h a d conquered, a n d i n w h i c h he h a d been elected gathered president, a force he r e t u r n e d to the to regain his U n i t e d States and

seat i n the

presidential

  
i6
chair. H i s force

Introduction
landed in Nicaragua, but brought h i m

d e a t h i n s t e a d of t h e p r e s i d e n c y . B r i t i s h s h i p Icarus,

C a p t a i n S a l m o n , of t h e followers

arrested W a l k e r a n d his few

a n d delivered t h e m to the Hondurenos, i n utter disregard of t h e f a c t t h a t W a l k e r h a d d e m a n d e d a t t h e s u r r e n d e r , w h e t h e r he was s u r r e n d e r i n g t o the B r i t i s h o r H o n d u r e n o s , and from Captain Salmon received the emphatic H e was reply

that he was surrendering to the B r i t i s h . by Captain Salmon, delivered to the

betrayed

Hondurenos, tried

b y court-martial, a n d condemned to death b y the fusillade. T h e next m o r n i n g after the v e r d i c t he was shot b y three

s o l d i e r s , e a c h of w h o s e b a l l s t o o k e ffect, a n d s t i l l h e w a s not dead. A f o u r t h soldier t h e n p u t his m u s k e t against

his forehead a n d blew out his brains. I have, however, said enough, a n d perhaps too m u c h , for an introductory to that chapter on filibustering i n a subject is book

devoted

subject.

The

interesting

enough, b u t its treatment has limits, especially i n a n i n t r o duction. the I therefore hasten that to leave the to subject, know with more

recommendation

all who

want

about berry,

it shall read the which are full of

f o l l o w i n g pages b y instructive

M r . Quisenfacts names Breck-

and valuable N o brighter

b e a u t i f u l l y s et f o r t h b y t h e a u t h o r .

t h a n t h o s e of P i c k e t t , O ' H a r a , H a w k i n s , L o g a n , enridge, and

Crittenden, mentioned b y M r . Quisenberry,

  
r

Introduction
w i l l be f o u n d i n o u r annals. ^ They were the noble

l

7

sons

o f n o b l e sires, a c t i n g n o b l y i n t h e c a u s e o f h u m a n p r o g r e s s , as t h e y understood it. If i t were possible for descendwas

ants to a d d to the glorious name done b y two filibusters

of C r i t t e n d e n , i t

w h o bore t h a t name, one i n the

m o m e n t of d e a t h , t h e o t h e r i n a m a r v e l o u s e s c a p e f r o m death. The first was William Logan Crittenden, whose

s a d f a t e M r . Q u i s e n b e r r y h a s f u l l y set f o r t h . words have stood was before ordered "A gone a l l over the c i v i l i z e d w o r l d . the to loaded muskets to of

His dying When he and he

his murderers and kneel,

t u r n his back

them

answered,

K e n t u c k i a n kneels o n l y to his G o d , " a n d muskets body.

t h u s s t a n d i n g erect he l o o k e d the death-dealing in the muzzle while they were emptied

into his

T h e second was George

B i b b Crittenden, who was i n the

F i s h e r E x p e d i t i o n , w h i c h set o u t f r o m T e x a s five h u n d r e d strong, crossed against and in the 1842, in pursuit of M e x i c a n raiders. a successful was They battle

Rio Grande but

a n d fought

great odds, to

their commander

wounded that

agreed

surrender u p o n the

solemn promise

t h e y s h o u l d be p a r o l e d a n d sent b a c k to T e x a s .

Instead

of t h i s b e i n g done, t h e y were sent to i n t e r i o r p r i s o n s a n d ordered b y those that S a n t a A n n a t o be d e c i m a t e d . were to be shot, white beans, To determine

m e a n i n g life,

a n d b l a c k beans, m e a n i n g d e a t h , were p l a c e d i n a recep-

  
r8
tacle, from which

Introduction
they were to be d r a w n . Crittenden

d r e w a w h i t e b e a n , w h i c h s e c u r e d h i s l i f e , b u t i n s t e a d of using it for himself he h a n d e d i t to a comrade, saying,

" Y o u have a wife a n d children, b u t I h a v e none, a n d c a n afford to risk another c h a n c e . " H e drew again, a n d was both men

l u c k y e n o u g h t o d r a w a n o t h e r w h i t e b e a n , so t h a t he and his friend escaped being shot. But few

w o u l d have t a k e n such a desperate noble-souled gallantly rank of Crittenden the took it

chance

for life; b u t to fight the

and

survived and to

through

Mexican W a r in the

rise t o

Brigadier-General

Confederate

service.

W h e t h e r s u c h m e n t a k e u p a r m s as s o l d i e r s o r f i l i b u s t e r s ,    * t h e y command the respect of m a n k i n d for honor and

courage, a n d deserve a place i n h i s t o r y .
R.
President

T.

DURRETT,
Filson Club.

of The

  
CONTENTS

PAGE

I CUBA I I T H E CARDENAS E X P E D I T I O N III T H E BAHIA HONDA EXPEDITION APPENDIX

2

3

32 66 121

  
  
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE

A . C . Q UISENBERRY
LIEUTENANT JOHN CARL M A P OF C U B A G E N E R A L N ARCISO L O P E Z COLONEL THEODORE O'HARA JOHNSTON

Frontispiece
13 23 28 34 37 42 44 73 77 CEMETERY 95 Ill

COLONEL J O H N T . PICKETT "ROSE HILL," A N C E S T R A L H O M E O F T H E PICKETTS

COLONEL THOMAS T . HAWKINS COLONEL LOGAN C. CRITTENDEN M ORO C A S T L E I N H A V A N A HUMAN B O N E H E A P IN CUBAN

ROBERT H . BRECKENRIDGE

  
  
  
  
LOPEZ'S EXPEDITIONS T O CUBA
i CUBA

e v e r b e h e l d , " a n d as b e i n g f e r t i l e a l m o s t b e y o n d tion. of H e found this lovely whom island inhabited by it w o u l d h a r d l y be account been of t h e m , they

W

HEN

C o l u m b t i s d i s c o v e r e d C u b a , i n 1492, h e s c r i b e d i t as " t h e m o s t beautiful land

deeyes

descripa just and were race to by a

p r i m i t i v e people

c a l l savages, for, b y all accounts that

his o w n ever

have

given,

l o v i n g , gentle, a n d affectionate race, hospitable a n d peaceable b e y o n d a n y people the w o r l d has ever k n o w n that

h i s t o r y g i v e s a n a c c o u n t of. were
S owing
the

T h e y h a d no weapons, a n d

t o t a l l y i g n o r a n t of w a r a n d s t r i f e . I t is e s t i m a t e d that when the island was four

discovered it was peopled b y more than hundred thousand of these gentle

Wind.

natives;

y e t , i n less t h a n a h u n d r e d y e a r s t h e w h o l e of t h e m h a d disappeared. An entire people had been exterminated,

a n d h a d v a n i s h e d f r o m t h e f a c e o f t h e e a r t h as c o m p l e t e l y

  
24

Lopez's

E x p e d i t i o n s to

Cuba

as i f t h e y h a d n e v e r b e e n . be called, for

T h e excuse, if excuse i t m a y that they did not

massacring them, was

w i t h sufficient a l a c r i t y e m b r a c e t h e r e l i g i o n of t h e i r c o n querors. Neither d i d they take k i n d l y to the oppressive

f o r m o f s l a v e r y t o w h i c h t h e y w e r e s u b j e c t e d ; a n d so i t was considered a d u t y to G o d to slay t h e m . They were The were

slain indiscriminately, singly, i n squads, i n droves. last great slaughter, w h e n t h e r e m n a n t s of t h e race rounded u p a n d exterminated, was on the

northwestern

c o a s t of t h e i s l a n d , a t a s p o t w h e r e a c i t y h a s s i n c e a r i s e n , t o w h i c h h a s b e e n g i v e n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l n a m e of t h e l o c a l i t y , Matanzas; shambles. All that now r e m a i n s of the childlike aborigines of the and Matanzas means the massacre, the

C u b a is t h e l i q u i d a n d m u s i c a l n a m e s t h e y g a v e t o topographical features of their beloved island.

These the

names survive to a most remarkable extent.

A s to

i s l a n d i tself, t h e r e i s a v e r y e v i d e n t i n s t a n c e of r e t r i b u tive justice i n the fact name it, though time that and the again Spaniards could they tried to never do so, they

b a c k e d b y a l l t h e m i g h t of o f f i c i a l a u t h o r i t y .

First

n a m e d i t J u a n a , i n h o n o r of a p r i n c e ; t h e n F e r n a n d i n o , for a k i n g ; t h e n S a n t i a g o , for t h e p a t r o n s a i n t of S p a i n ; and finally A v e all to no avail. Maria, for the H o l y V i r g i n herself; but and

O n e b y one these names a p p e a r e d

  
Lopez's

E x p e d i t i o n s to C u b a

25
by it

d i s a p p e a r e d ; a n d C u b a , t h e soft, m u s i c a l n a m e g i v e n the lovable aborigines, alone survives; and probably

w i l l survive for all time.
R eaping t he Whirlwind.

" A s y e s o w , so s h a l l y e r e a p ! " ferocious colonizers of Cuba left a

The

first

progeny

w h o , a l t h o u g h of p u r e S p a n i s h b l o o d , i n t i m e many generations began to be considered by

and

after

t h e h o m e S p a n i a r d s as h a r d l y S p a n i a r d s a t a l l ; a n d t h e r e fore fair prey. as These they latter native began to Cubans great were called of

Creoles; a n d

gather

masses

wealth f r o m the n a t u r a l a n d exuberant soil, i t clearly became

f e r t i l i t y of

their

w o r t h t h e w h i l e of t h e i r

relatives they Cuba Creoles

i n o l d S p a i n to come over a n d despoil them. d i d i n h o r d e s ; a n d the leeches w h o from Spain accompanied came over

This to

t h e i r s p o l i a t i o n of

the

w i t h e v e r y c i r c u m s t a n c e of i n d i g n i t y a n d c r u e l t y . When though the nineteenth of them century were dawned the Creoles, were enough their good

many

immensely

wealthy,

little better t h a n a c t u a l slaves.

T h e y were good

to create w e a l t h , or to s u p e r i n t e n d its creation b y own black slaves, but they were not considered of

enough Spain

for a n y sent over,

of t h e from

rights a n d heritages time to time,

freemen. of bloodisland, by

hordes

suckers, w h o civil and

filled

a l l the official positions i n the as these became

military; and

enriched

  
26
almost

Lopez's
open

E x p e d i t i o n s to
as they usually by fresh

Cuba
d i d i n four hordes, or

robbery, were

five years,

they

replaced

eager,

hungry, a n d rapacious. A
D espotic G overnment.

The

unhappy

island was

almost

without tyrants

a n y l a w e x c e p t the w i l l of t h e p e t t y who ruled it for their own

aggrandizement;

a n d the o n l y c o n s t i t u t i o n i t possessed f o r m o r e t h a n h a l f a century the was King the of Royal Spain Order of May the 28, 1825, by

which of

clothed

Captain-General This of the remarkable tyranny r u l e r of in a

Cuba w i t h almost the most that

absolute striking

power. instance from

document, modern

times

has

emanated

people w h o believe that   

themselves

to be

c i v i l i z e d , set

forth

" H i s M ajesty, the K i n g , o ur L o r d . . . has resolved to give to Y our E xcellency the fullest authority, bestowing upon you all the powers by which the royal ordinances are granted to the Governors of besieged cities. In consequence of this, His Majesty g ives t o Y o u r E xcellency the most ample and unbounded power, not only to send a way f rom the island any persons in office, whatever be their occupation, r ank, class or condition, whose continuance therein Y o u r E xcellency may deem injurious; or whose conduct, public or private, m ay alarm you, replacing them with persons faithful to H i s Majesty, a nd d eserving of all the confidence of Y o u r Excellency; but also to suspend the execution of any order whatsoever, or any general provision made concerning any branch of the administration, as Y o u r E xcellency may think most suitable to the royal service." Under such authority, it m a y w e l l be believed that and

conditions i n C u b a r