Annexation and Narciso López--Letterbook

including, for example, a report on the expedition launched by López from New Orleans on 8 May 1850 ("...una nueva expedición de aventureros para invadir esta Ysla..."), during which he and about 600 men ("una horda de piratas aventureros"), many of them Cuban exiles in New York, took the town of Cárdenas carrying the flag which would become that of modern Cuba ("...un acto de piratería semejante no ha podido evitarse...porque no es posible cubrir las setecientas leguas de costa que tiene esta Ysla, pero los invasores han sufrido un fuerte desengaño al ver la prontitud con que acudieron tropas a escarmentar su osadía, y al enterarse en Cárdenas de la decisión y entusiasmo que reinaba en los campos y en todas las poblaciones de la Ysla en favor de la integridad del territorio...");



also containing detailed measures to be taken against the invaders; reports on past frustrated attempts by López to liberate Cuba and on the immediate aftermath of his May 1850 invasion (including rewards for loyalty, lists of casualties, etc,.); copies of royal orders; occasional copies of printed reports; surveys of infantry; proposals for its reorganisation; reports on subversive propaganda sent by López to the Cuban army; lists of expenses related to army supplies, the containment of epidemics, etc.; and general correspondence regarding local volunteer forces, plans for annexation by America, and related subjects



c. 500 pages in all, folio, bound in contemporary green roan gilt, 1 March 1848 to 8 November 1850

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Narciso López attempted another invasion of the island in August 1851. Once again, his faith in the support of the local population proved unfounded. His forces were surrounded by the Spanish army and most of his men captured. Along with many of his fellow prisoners, López was executed.