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TEX.AS ST.ATE LIBRARY
men being well uniformed may perhaps lead the Spaniards to imagine that they were U S, troops & only a small part of a great expedition. in fact the battle at Matanzas could be won without striking a blow - The R R depot at Matanzas will be at once seized, and arrangement,; be at once made to proceed to Ravanna - At first view it might be thought rediculous that a single regiment shoulJ endeavour to take a place of 400 thousand inhabitants but when it is considered that the large majority of these are in favor of the Americans & that those who are opposed, the spanish troops, are scattered along the coast & but few comparatively left at Ravanna, it will be seen that it is the Safest tho' the boldest move that could be made, and after taking possession of the principal parts of the town including the Moro Castle (which is said to be quite accessible from the city) the cubans can be formed into regiments & the spanish soldiers whipped in detail, and the whole island possessed and declared independent - The Moro castle being occupied the harbour will be commanded, and no reinforcements whether spanish or English can be received by the spaniards from that quar- ter - A steamer (there will doubtless be some in the port) can be sent to this country setting forth that Cuba is free, but that reinforce- ments are wanted, and it will not be long before more Americans are there, than will be wanted. - The U S government may then recog- nise the independence of Cuba, or if not the Southern States will & England & spain & Europe besides can be defied - It may be said this plan is bold, and assumes that every step will be successful when the result is doubtful, not so - for the very boldness of the direct move- ment on Ravanna, made even by a single regiment of determined Ameri- cans will in a great measure guarantee its success - Another objec• tion may be raised that it will be impossible to keep secret. the object for which these companies are raised - and this is the only objection that can be raised against it - but by knowing the men engaged & binding them to a strict oath of secrecy, this objection would no doubt be found surmountable - A board of officers should be established at Savannah to carry on the necessary business, mrrespond with the cap- tains of the different companies, issue orders &c &c With the fnateria1P of the last expedition this plan could be carried out without serious difficulties, and is respectfully submitted Apalachicola May 1851 = [Endorsed in pencil] A plan to capture Cuba from Spain - No. 2474 1852 Feb.. rMIRABRAU BtrONAPARTE LAMARl. MONTGOM- ERY, [ALABAMA.l TO f JUAN-, NEW YORK, NEWYORK.l The death of Dr. Porter; the question of a new guardian; matters conne.cted with Juan's musical and literary education and his treatment at Condert's school; a gift for a friend in .Laredo; inclosing money. A. Df. 4 p. 8panish; in no. 2416, p. 34-7.
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