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    914 fffte HeatitV. [Saturday,

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    SPANISH AND AMERICAN DEFIANCES. Magnific...

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    Cuba. Close Of The Campaign. The Atlanti...

    that it was undertaken on false information ; proves that the Creoles were far more hostile than the troops , from whom he says they received nothing but kind treatment . He lays the blame to the speculators in Cuban bonds , who had bought up that stock and made money by the rise . Lopez he exonerates from the charge of low motives , and speaks of the invaders as men not led away by love of plunder , but their own generous impulses . Lopez , he says , was ambitious , but " probably as much or more deceived ( by false reports ) than any man in the expedition . "

    THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GENERAL LOPEZ . Narciso Lopez , the chieftain of the Cuban invasion , was a man whose name will not be allowed to pass away into oblivion on the Continent and among the Islands of the West . He has been sneered at as a coward ; it has been shown that he was one of the bravest of the brave . He has been branded as a buccaneering plunderer ; it is clear now that he risked life , reputation , and property , for the independence of Cuba , the land of his adoption . Men have said that he was ba 3 e and ignoble ; the friendship of Valdez should have shielded him from the accusation . The land where Munoz triumphs , and where Riego fell under the balls of legal assassins , will know some dav that , for her ingratitude to men like Riego and Lopez , she is where she is—only next above Naples among the Red Monarchies of Europe .

    Narciso Lopez was born in Venezuela , about fiftytwo years ago . His father held lands , and was master of flocks and herds upon the plains in that tropical region . His mother , still living , is said to be a woman of rare moral dignity and mental power . The only surviving son of his house , young Lopez was early habituated to a hardy life , accustomed to scour the plains on the back of the fierce wild steeds of his country . When he was fifteen that desolating civil war , which cost Spain her ill-governed South American colonies , was raging in the land . Bolivar had been beaten , it was thought conclusively at Puertawhen , in 1814 , Narciso

    , Lopez , young as he was , had charge of his father ' s main establishment at Valencia , a town in the interior . This was held by and for the patriots , and Bolivar sent them orders to hold out to the last . For three weeks the gallant inhabitants defended a town without walls against the victorious Spanish army . The house belonging to the father of Lopez formed one of the angles of the square , and the defence consisted in maintaining the approaches to this square . This post was held by a body of men who soon felt that they had a leader in the gallant boy . But they fought in vain , Bolivar withdrew from , instead of heroic

    hastening to relieve , Valencia , and after a defence the town surrendered . Massacre followed . The father of Lopez was among the prisoners ; the son , unsuspected , escaped . But he did not the less hover about to help , if possible , his father . The next morning he found , in his searches , eighty-seven bodies with their throats cut like sheep . What could he , a boy of fifteen , accomplish ? Nothing . For some time he lay concealed ; but at last , in despair , " he enlisted in the Spanish army , and soon proved himself of almost unmatched coolness and daring .

    Shortly , indeed , after he entered the army under Morales , he showed himself a man of mark and courage . The Spaniards were engaged in attacking a fortih ' cd position , defended mainly by a curtain about fifty yards in length , and flanked by two bastions . The attack wan made in two divisions , one on each Hunk . It chanced that one division exhausted its ammunition , and signalled to the general for more . Three mules were loaded , and volunteers called for to lend them along the line of the enemy ' s

    fire . Lopez alone walked from the ranks . The mules were tied together head and tail , and the udventurouB young soldier started on the road . At about half distance one of the mules fell dead , it was the middle one . Lopez stopped , coolly disengaged it from its fellows , fastened the two remaining together , and amid a shower of halls pursued his way . And he reached his destination , his gun broken by one ball , his cap pierced by a second , his pantaloons cut by a third , and both mules severely but not mortally wounded . The place was taken .

    For this service he was oilered and refused a commission , but he accepted a horse and relief from the common drugeriea of a soldier ' s career . Jle was not a soldier by choice but necessity , and he cherished the hope of honourably quitting the service . But an ho did his duty , so he rose . At . nineteen he commanded a select body of horse witli whom it was a -point of honour never to turn the back . On one occasion : —

    << jvforillo at the head of a force of hcvcii or « 'ight thousand men , was pursuing the patriot army of l'au-z numbering about , " { 000 , over tin : llanos or plains of Venoxuelu trying •» vain l <) l ) li "K tlu ! luutUr to an engagement ' Thi » 1 ' aez found no diflieulty in avoiding , ; , s his ¦ whole force consisted of first rate cavalry , while the Smmish f-rmy waa mainly infantry . Lopi ¦/ . was at the head of the picked squadron , who never turned their backs He had loot half of it in a severe engagement that morning , and with the rent , M m number , was marching *>» t »» e « * " «»"' flttnk of tht \* y > «»«» »»* received wn order from the Ciencral to gallop forward und

    harass the rear of Paez ' s retreating army . Morillo had not recognized , at the distance , the fragment which remained of Lopez ' s gquadron , which he would nejer otherwise have sent on such a service , especially alter the morning ' s work . Rash as the order was , it wai of course obeyed . On the perfectly level prairie , which was the scene of the operation , what ensued was in view of both armies . Paez , provoked at the insolence of the little squadron , Halted , and put himself in person at the head of a splendid coips of about 300 men , his guard , the well known flower of his army , in scarlet uniforms , and every man superbly mounted ; and this corps was seen to detach itself from the main body , and rapidly destruction seemed

    approach the little band , whose inevitable before the swoop of that force . Lopez asked his men if they would stand or turn . They replied that they would do as he should . His answer was to fling himself from his horse , and command them to do the same , and to form into a line , standing their ground , as long as they could with lances and carbines . He thus repulsed the charge of Paez and his guard , refusing to surrender , maintaining himself until Morillo could hasten up all his cavalry to their support , and until the able Paez withdrew his guard , and left Lopez with what remained of his dismounted squadron , to receive the cordial embraces of his General , and the plaudits of the whole array which had witnessed the scene . "

    It was Lopez who brought the war of independence to its close in opposition to the Spanish general ; and on its termination in Spain ' s defeat , he was offered a command in the patriot army , so highly was his courage , devotion , and honour esteemed . Chance had thrown him on the side of Spain , but honour had kept him there ; and in 1823 he retired to Cuba . A singular instance is told of his high courage and devotion . He headed an expedition to the main land , and went on shore at a point inhabited by a wild and warlike tribe of Indians , with whom he had a severe engagement . He and his party were nearly perishing for want of water , and they sought it in

    the interior . They could find none . In their extremity , they met with an Indian on a creamcoloured horse with black feet . He was searching for his wives , who had been carried off by a hostile tribe . They asked him where water could be found , and he offered to lead them to a spot which they could reach by daybreak . Was he a decoy , and should they follow him ? In the midst of their doubt , Lopez proposed to mount himself behind the Indian , risking the chance of the Indian ' fidelity for the sake of his band , and seek for the water . He went , the strange pair rode all night through the forest , and returuea with the joyful news that the Indian

    was faithful . From 1823 he was a Cuban , having married and settled in the island . Spain , as we know , with the aid of French bayonets , had restored absolutism ; the army was " purified " ,- that is , the Liberal officers were dismissed . Lopez only retained his nominal rank of Colonel . He was a Democrat b j principle ; but when the revolution began , which ended in the quadruple alliance and the

    establishment of the present Queen of Spain on the throne , Lopez , who was in Madrid , entered heart and soul into the Christina cause . He fought all through the war against the Carlists , and won for himself a name amongat the bravest of the brave . On the great day when the Royalists were disarmed , Lopez was seen in the streets of Madrid , singly , and sword in hand , driving bodies of armed Royalists to the guard-house to deposit their arms . In this war he saved the army and the honour of General Carondelet , and he

    rescued General Vald < . z by an incredible act of cool intrepidity : — " Valdez had allowed himself to be surprised with only a small part of his army , in a village named Durango , where he hud established his head quarters ; the rest of the army being scattered in various directions on different services . Suddenly , through one of tnose rapid movements of concentration , which marked the system of warfare of Zumalacarregui , the celebrated Oarlist commandcr-in-chicf , he found himaelf surrounded in every direction with greatly superior forces . Durango was situated in a valley encompassed with hills of moderate elevation , of which the enemy Buddeitly took

    possession . Escape seemed impossible ; a bird alone , us it seemed , could carry intelligence to the nearest Chriatino division situated at Erinoa , ten or twelve miles distant , bo as to summon it to the rescue . Colonel Lopez , however , volunteered to do it , claiming it as his duty and right , us first aid de-camp , and pledging himself to bring up the division at Ermoa . The coinmandcr-inchief , though regarding the attempt as desperate , yet yielding to his demand , he told him he might take what force he required for tin ; purpose . ' I could not do it with the half uf the division , ' was the answer ; ' but let me have your piebald horse which you bought on my advice . ' It was brought , and Lopez mounted it , taking

    with him only his orderly ( a fellow on whom he could ( runt to follow him over and through anything ) , the latter being mounted on Lopez ' s own lavourite charger . Directing him to keep close to him , and to regulate his pace by hia own , and since it wus not likely that both would eucupe , instiucting him as to the ordrr to be curried to I'll iiiun , ho bet out at full Hpeed from Durango , along a road which passed between two eminences , both occupied by the enemy . Blackening his speed , as he got well clear of the former place and approached the enemy , but riding with cntiie confidence , he and his companion presented the appearance of deserters ; and two aquudronn , which had at first detached themselves from tho enemy on both sidcu to intercept them , blackened tho pao ©

    at which they moved down the road for that purpose . He then , with a nice calculation of the distance at which he might venture it , suddenly clapped spurs to his horse and rushed through the shower of balls which immediately poured down from both sides , and in the pursuit clea re d the gauntlet before they could cut him off , and the thing was done . In the words of Valdez's certification ' the astonishment of the enemy , and of the army , both of whom were watching the operation , he traversed the line ' and the army was saved . " '

    Another act which brings recollections of Rome and Hegulus to our minds was performed by Lopez in the Carlist war . He was prisoner in a fortress in , the mountains of Aragon . The Christino 3 besieged the place , and the Governor threatened to shoot all his prisoners unless San Miguel , the Christino General , retired . Lopez was asked to send this threat to the General , and he did so , recommending at the same time that the siege should be vigorousl y continued . Miguel persisted , and the Governor offered Lopez and his fellows another chance of life . Lopez was to go to the camp of Miguel , and so state things as to induce the latter to withdraw . He

    went , breakfasted merrily , gave his message , a reiteration of the former threat , but he also gave Miguel full information as to the best means of capturing the fortress . This done , he rode back to his prison . On the next day Miguel stormed the place , the prisoners got possession of some muskets , the Carlists were confounded , and the prisoners escaped ; Lopez only quietly remarking that " they had na time , and they were afraid of reprisals , that was all" ! When Christina was expelled Lopez was made Governor of Madrid , which post he resigned on the appointment of Espartero to the Regency . He was Senator for Seville , Captain-General of several provinces in succession ,, and Commander-in-Chief

    of the National Guard at Madrid . In 1839 he insisted on returning to Cuba , which he had resolved to liberate or die . He had studied intimately the Spanish system , he had discovered what made up a Spanish Court , and to deliver Cuba from the Spanish yoke was the sole object of his life . " While Valdez was Governor of the island honour and friendship kept his hand still , though his brain was busy . He was popular , admired , and respected by the men of the Interior . He was generous , his manners were affable and kindly , he showed no pride , and he knew no fear . But he had judged the inert Creoles by his own standard , they feared to follow where he would have led . In 1848 his plan of revolt was discovered , and he fled from Cuba to the United States . In

    1850 his expedition was unsuccessful , and he again escaped . The third and last attempt was fatal . His small band were surrounded by ten times their number . The Creoles did not rise ; he had been deceived ; the Americans fought desperately—killing hundreds of the Spanish forces . But they were outnumbered and dispersed . Worn down with fatigue and hunger , they wandered about the mountains hunted by troops of soldiers and packs of hounds . The result was that Lopez was captured on the 29 th the

    of August , taken to Havannah , and garotted on 1 st of September . He died bravely . Ascending the platform with a steady step , he addressed the multitude with a firm voice , his last words being , " 1 die for my beloved Cuba . " . Thus ended the life of Narciso Lopez , who had lived like a hero , and who died like a martyr . Clearly , he had more right to levy forces in America in aid of Cuban liberation , than the Emperor ol Austria has to levy soldiers in Croutia to maintain Italian slavery .

    914 Fffte Heatitv. [Saturday,

    914 fffte HeatitV . [ Saturday ,

    Spanish And American Defiances. Magnific...

    SPANISH AND AMERICAN DEFIANCES . Magnificent , magniloquent , and magnanimous Spain thinks , in her simplicity , that the Stripes arm Stars may be compelled to lower to the flag ot tno bloody streak upon a golden field . Effete bpain thinks she can compete in arms with the young «""> of the West , and beat him even on the ocean . ^ her try . . , In tho lleraldo of the 14 th there is on » rl 1 " ' ' thoroughly Spanish , and thoroug hly absurd . y > is inevitable , it says , between Spain and the U " - States . The prospect of the war does not " » tIim ' lttl ° Spaniards . They would " gain much " and i »» nothing . ' ' Proceed lleraldo : — " It might be that even then we should not P 09308 ** navy equal in strength to that of the United Stales ; ^^ we are not going to fight general actioim ; no , l" will be waged by privuieers , and the services of our i ^ of war will bo confined to protecting them , watc llI"K . _ coasts , and cooperating in militury expedition" ' sionally . In this description of warfare we » ' » " |) y an inuneime advantage over the United States , f | 1 offering letters of marque to all coinem , which art ^ of credit upon fortune , payable at sight , we liholll M . - privateers , not only among the Calalonians » " . / . ' | ul , d cans , who are the best in the world , but also in i'i * . t and the l'hilippinu Islands , our lust expedition ^ Zolo having deprived its inhabitants of the I ^ ' ( v ( , of piracy they previously exercised . We Hhoi find tliem in the State , of the Union , lUtol ^ , [ d " , irivalrit ' B of commerce , ami because avarice n » u ' . j t viser , and often makes people forget their duty in opposed to their intercut . . , f ., f uo " Wlmt would the Government of the United bt » " ¦ » » then ? Wlmt would become of tho commerce oi

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 27, 1851, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27091851/page/6/