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<s.rss. -A 1 J! "'JU'" m '-A I
f l<\mn our Cnrresnnnrfent. 1
N. O. DELTA OFFICE. ?
Sunday Morning, ll 0 dock. A/jill I. j
Another American Triumph!
VER I CRUZ AND THE CASTLE
TAKEN!
Surrender nf Vera Cruz and the Castle of San
J,.an de Vina—Minnies and particulars oj
each dan's Operations.from the commence- i
merit of the Bombardment until the Vina! i
Surrender—Disposition if nnr Tmops since
the Surrender—'The American J'’ape hoisted j
on the Castle and in the City —Ecarnation |
of the Enemy, with the Surrender if Arms, j
Ammunition, dfv;.— The United States Army ;
in the Castle and City—Cc'cmoiuj if Sur- \
render—Seiere Norther, dpe,
Wei!—the great, the invincible Ca*t T r* of
Fan Juan d-* Ulna ha* surrendered alter live
davs bombardment! A'l the new-paper para
prnphs—all the sajje opinions of antiquated
commodores, and closet warriors—all (be
fearful predictions of nervous politicians have
proved, in this cas' 1 , so be mere fudge. The
\J. S.steamship Princeton, Cap’.Enge, which
| touched at the S. \V. Pass on the tnnrniyg of
the 2d inst eightv-lwo hours from \ era
Cruz, brought Midshipman S'mie. of (he
Banian, Mr. Gideon, of tiie poiom >e, and Mr.
M< livable, captain's cleik. of the Princeton,
w' o came up to the city on the towboat
Adriatic.
U v the arrival of our friend and correspond
ent •’.Mustang,” we are placed in possession
of the following highly interesting details.
[Correspondence of the Daily Della]
FRO3I THE FLEET.
Harbor of Vera Cruz, March 23, 1547.
Els Delta —From this delectable place I
once more love I lie pleasure of erect in g vou
and now I cm give vmi something that
null probable interest you. Well, we have
) a i a regular Waterloo fight, t>arriny? that the
killed and wounded have been unprecedent
edly small, considering! he showers of shells,
solid, era no and canister shot poured into us
bv the Vera Cruz «nos.—But I wish to inform
you r.f t!.e share that we of the Navy have had
in this last aiT.ir;
You must know that ou Monday, 22d inst.,
we landed a hatierv, consisting of four Pa>x
han 63s ;t n 1 two 3b—and Capt. L n e, of the
Engineers, selected for us an admiratiie site,
overlooking the whole city, within seven
hi ndred yards of its walls. A tall growth
of caparral hid the operations of the Engineer,
with two hundred workman, during the rnn-
Ffrtirtion of our sand-hag fort, hnt when it
was completed, on Wednesday, 24 h inst..
Mir rums were linmask-d and the chaparral
cleared away so as to bring ns a view of the
Ft rone-holds to he battered down. As soon as
the enemv -obtained a sight of our nice iitile
arrangemen', he opened a tremendous and
well directed fire upon it, and then our men
returned the favor with unmitigated pleasure,
and up so meridian that day die firing was
incessant on both sides. About that time
the ammunition of our little party gate not,
and consequently, thejjjgrested irom filer labors
within the trenches until relieved hy other
divisiens from the different vessels of the
fsuadron. Along with the relieving party,
sis aid to the commanding officers, was your
friend. who greets von as above Arrived at
the field of action, with an abundance of solid
shot and shells, our commander would have
opened immediately; but the officers of En
gineers requested that lie would suspend the
firing of his battery until lie could repair the
b caches which had been made in the bul
wark bv the cannon shot. This could be done
m effectoallv during the nigh'; and there- ■
fore it was determined to put off the com
mencement of hostilities until daylight next .
morning. Stretched on the barren sand, we 1
dosed away the night, w itching (.he magnifi- :
cent appearance of the bomb-shells, as they |
cirriimrofateil through the ambient spare ;
vi n 1 1 1 the rbiil air of morning gave us warning
that <’a ' was dawning; then I hove out and |
proceeded to the Captain's tent, fie was j
already on the ramparts of the bulwark, and !
the officers, semen and marines soon gathered
round their earns. 'l’ho Mexicans opened the I
fr* upon ns by delivering a superb discharge i
of round shot, which just grazed our parapet
btgj. We immediately returned the favor, :
and the fire became general on both sides,
and continued with unremitted vigi acre for j
two liours—ami I never even heard tell of a
inure beautiful display ofartiliery operations
than there I participated in.
Between 7 and 8 A. M. h became necessary
that we should cease firing to let nnr Paix-
Kans cool and go to hreak , H>f. Oar Captain
invited ns to bis quarters, and while taking
our porter, some shells fell and burst along
§de the canvas, throwing the dirty sand all |
over us. I was de’aded to return on b 'ard
si i ) for more shells, and ran a greater ri.-k of
losing mv allotted time here below in carrying
the mespag *. than if I had remained at the
guns. Wh eon my return, theenrmy was
making li s last expiring effort thowing a
constant stream of shell and shot right into ;
our little fort; and with such exactness that
J: e sand and gravel was living over ns in one
continual shower; end ii it had not been that ;
our bulwark of sand hags was superiorly con- i
etrucled, many of us would now have
lying on Sacrificios. As it was, but few
were killed and wounded, but -in the course j
of the day we made a breach in the walls, i
silenced the batteries, unshipped the guns
and drove the Mexicans from their forts, and
then mounted the ramparts, and gave them
three cheers. From daybreak up so 1 P. M.
we had expended upon them between six and
seven hundred Paixhan shells and solid shot, j
This day's work nearly used them up, they I
only fired an occasional shell at she army
batteries during the evening of Thursday, I
and early on Friday, sent a fi ig to Scott, i
offering to capitulate. We are under ob'i
gallons to the army for affording us tIT j
chance of redeeming our credit, in a measure; j
and to Commodore Perry we are more than ;
f„ r jfop alacrity with which lie seized
upon the occasion which was offered of par
ticipating in reducing the city and culle of
m hia> mirwwiwpF* mmmmmmnem ■ ■ i. a mvsm^smn
San Juan de Ulna, (this is the right wav
spelling its cognomen.) Yes, the city of Vera
Cruz, foils Santiago and Conception, and
I fie Gar. tic of San Juan de Ulna, are all sur
rendered to the arms of the United State-;
and to-morrow morning, at 10, A. M,. our
troops are to march into the strong holds of
the Mexicans; and all the public property
pertaining to ilie above places we are to have
and to hold until a definitive treaty of peace
i shall be firmly established between the gov
i ernments of the United States and Mexico
Our loss in killed and wounded, at the naval
battery, was very inconsiderable; not more
! than ten or fifteen in all. A gallant young
: officer. Midshipman T. B. Shubrick, of the
steam-frigate Mississippi, was instantly killed
by a shot, through an embra-ure, win e ievel
i ling ids g'jn. and aiming at a tower on one
iof the torts. The commissioners appointed
bv Gen. Scott to arrange the terms of cap
| itubition, were Generais Worth and Pillow.
| and Col. Totten, Chief of Engineers, and on
the part of rhe ene;nv. Col. Herrera was one.
| the others not recollected. There will he a
1 grand procession to-morrow, and a general
| firing of salutes throughout the vessels of the
j squadron, about Ihe lime that we hni.-t the
j piriha and stars upon the castle walls and
city towers of old Juan and Vera Cruz.
I You re, MAR. IN US.
I IMPORTANT FROM VERA CRUZ.
22d March, lcn7.
j Edi. Della; The nights are exceed
-1 ingly cold, and the days exceedingly
j warm, which has excited the apprelien
I sion of some in relation to yellow fever;
I hut I made diligent inquiry along the
; w hole line; in relation to the health of the
; armv, and find that k was never better.
All the government horses in the use
j of the officers and other persons attached
to the armv, have been ordered to he turn
ed in for the use of Col. Harney’s lira,
goons, a great number of whom love
been left on foot by the wreck of the \ a
zoo.
ITom the ctuldiornness of a mule train
’ conveying the mortals to a position last
! ni-rht, one of the mortars uas dropped
fr 1 .
h-fore it arrived at the proper place. The
Mexicans discovered it, and continued
during the night an uninterrupted fne up
on if, in hopes, S presume, of killing some |
of our men, If they'- attempted to remove
it under cover of the night.
At 10 o’clock to-day a w hi e flag was
set.l Into the city. The hearer of it con- t
ve\c i a message fro n Maj. CL n. Scott,
addressed to Governor Morales, coinman
i der of the Mexican forces. This mes
sage was a formal summons tv stirren
der tho chv of Vera Gmz und Castle of"
San Juan tie Ulna, without a resort to
I anv further defence, as the General-in
i Chief of the American forces desired to
i avoid anv further bloodshed. Gov. Mo.
! rales replied in a very dignified tone and
| sivle of language, in substance, that he
I was sorry to he the cause of unnecessary ;
I bloodshed and loss of life, hut that he had
a high and important duty to perform, in |
volving tho honor of his army and the in
terests of ids country, and that he would
not surrender until lie had exhausted;
i every ot de(enc n .
j The Mexicans, during the 'forenoon, |
j set fire to several building*, and cleared |
■ a wav the masks to some batteries they :
had not hitherto exposed, notwithstanding j
they hart kept no a constant fire on our j
entrenchments dining the process of pre- |
pa ration, from the Castle, Fort Santiago,
and a bastion front in the rear of the cii* - .
The conferences between the belliger
ent force* having concluded at 2 o'clock,
i at 4 the American battery consisting of
: onh/ 7 mortars, commenced the bombard- j
I ment of the city. The shells fell into |
1 tiie place after the few first fi rs, and ex- j
i ploded with ns much precision as could
■ have been desjred. The city from, one
I end to the other, soon became enveloped
j in a cloud of smoke—the vivid and lurid
: flashes of the artillery, from their city
batteries breaking through it at brief in
i terval*, and report after report followed
I each other in quick succession, until af
ter the du-k of evening had passed, when
; they comparatively ceased. 'The round
I shot ami shells tell heavy and fast at the
I entrenchment he!.in I which onr l atte
rips were planted. Louisiana and KAn
, lucky were represented in the first fire
| noon tiie citv, hy a volunteer company
I from each of those State*. The former
bv Capt. Blanchard’s Plosoix company,
; acting with sth Infantry—the latter hy
| Cant. Williams’company, acting with (3ih
| Infantry. (
Rumors were passing so and fro in
double quick time from head-quarters to
the man with the spy glass, who duly re
ported all lie could see, which was little
eUe than fire, smoke and du-f, hut then
lie had “a right to think,” and an official
i thought in the army is worth the opinions
of all the sensible men in it.
Many of the spectator.*, who were far
enough in the rear to bo out of d mger
1 themselves, expressed strong fears that tho
gallant little hand, who were there as a
guard to tiie mortars, would be compelled
to return; hut the mass felt confident that
no man would leave that spit with Ids
life —that tho-e men went the r e to per.
j form a duty to their country, and fully
i understanding and appreciating their pos-
I ition, would prefer leaving their lifeless
! bodies on the ground to returning one
inch therefrom. The only term that can
he known to such an army a* we have
I here at present, in the decision ot a bat
I tie. is victory—tot a victory made up of
“odds and ends”—compromisings and I
apology—hut a victory that w’ill redound j
to the honoi of the country, and one that j
those who participate in achieving may
i look hack upon, from the “scar and yel
low leaf” of life, with pride.
The Navy.
As soon as Com. Perry perceived the
( land forces engaged, lie ordered Captain
Tutnali, with what is called the ‘ Mus
1 quito Fleet,” consisting the steamers
! Spitfi.e and Vixen, and five gun boat*,
viz ; Roe ter, Bonita, Famj icm Falcon
and Petrel, to attack. Capt. Tatnall in
quired at w hat pcint he should engage.
Com. Perry very emphatically replied—
“ Wherever you can do the most execu
tion. sir.” Accordingly the liule fl-»el
took position under a point of land known
as the “ Lime Kiln,” ahnut a mile from {
I lie ciV, they were protected from j
a point blank shot of the Castle. As
soon as they got their po^ition in line they j
opened ' a fire of round shot and shell, j
at a rapid rate, and threw them “hand
somely” into the town and Fort Sanli* i
ago.
The Castle soon naid its respects to
Cant. Tatnall.and the powerful engines
of havoc and destruction were now in full
b!a-1 from every quarter, hurling their
dreadful and deadly missiles into each
other’s ranks in tapid succession, which
they kept tip until about dark, when the
Mexican batteries comparatively ceased. ;
and the “Mosquito Fleet” also field off
for the night.
At 8 o’clock the party that were in the j
trenches were relieved by another detail. I
The troops uho returned horn the en- i
trenchments were li ei ally covered with
smoke and dust, and so much disfigured
that they could not he recognised except i
l»v their voices. Shell after shell explod- j
ed in their midst, and shot after shot threw !
barrels of earth from the embankments j
over their heads as they lay in the
trenches. Their escape seems to have ;
been miracu ons, indeed, and every per- j
son is surprised that at least, one-half of
their number was not slate.
But here allow me to relate an incident
that occurred during the heaviest of the Hie
—it. is an evidence of the coolness of the
Arner can so'dier m time of the greatest dan
ger. and at the same time illustrates the ru
ling passion of a small portion of the army,
which amounts to a mania in some instances,
bronghr on, no doubt, by having too much |
j spare time, and no means wherewith to mn- ;
| ven h into usefulness. Asm ill party, who ;
| had been laying in the trenrljus all day. be
j cotaiiig tired of doing no:hire, as they said, ■
| were devising some means of passing away |
! tbe time. At length one of them proposed a \
j game at cards, an i halt ed < ut an oid greasy |
l pack, and some tiaif mof them s it. down !
i in the ditch to piav, with noTiing hut fobuc- |
! co f.»r stakes. They became much interest- |
1 ed. and it was not long before they forgot till
| about cannon, bomb-shells, ; \ exicans hatte- j
* ties, or any tiling else, but their tobacco and
j flip cards. It was not long, however, before ,
a 13-inch shell fe I or the top of the embank
ment; the explosion completely covered them
with the earth; they all scrambled out as
quick as they could, and shaking the sand
from their clothing, and cleaning if out from
their eves, one of them very coolly remarked,
“Well, boys, I’ll be darned if that did’ut come
miuhty near being a ‘ten strike’”
° MARCH 23.
A Norther sprang np this morning, which
| bus been blowing furiously all day, filling the
air, and covering everybody with sand. 'The
; Mexican batteries have been quiet, with the
exception of a few shot about midnight, when
| they opened a sharp fire for a short time.— :
! Our mortars have not ceased during the !
1 niirht, but. continued to pour info the city a ,
i constant si ream of fire. At one time I stw i
a* manv as six shells in the air, the v\ hole
| of which exploded in the city, about the same
time, with a terrific and deadly effort.
Just as daylight was approaching, Capt.
| Tattnall's Mu-quito Fleet, weighed anchor. I
and under cover of a moon somewuat cloud
ed, approached wi: inn GOO yards of iiie ( n<-
tle. As soon as they had got their re.spec,- ,
fire positions they opened a broadside fr m
ih> p H, which was answered by the Cas
tle with great spirit, both bv round shot and j
shell. Capt. T. continued the engagement
for ahout half an hour, althoiigli the signal ■
from the Comrnod ire’s ship, railing Irm off. :
had be n 'misted for some lime; but, I sup
pose, was ro t seen, on account of cloud a of |
I smoko which hung around the shipping.
This attack of Capt. T. on the Casile is j
considered one of the most daring feats tint
Ins been attempted since the commencement j
of host iii! ies.
Since writing the foregoing, I have been j
furnished by a gentleman with the following
mrmora ml c
Monday Erening, March 22 —Hove up
anchor and got under wa \a * ,),, v * z. oteam—
ecs Spitfire and Vixen, setup. H es r. L ent.
SierreF; Bonita. L'euf. Benham; Tampico,
Lieut. Griffin; Falcon. Lieut. C>!osson; Pe
trel, Lieut. Shaw; came toan liorat 5 30.
And Opened fire at 5 35; ceased firing at 7,30,
by order o(M. <ptaiu 1 a'nad.
March 23.—At 5 30
hove up anchor and was taken in tow hv
Spitfire and Vixen at 5 50 and commenced
firing at 6.15; at 6.30 was recalled by the
Cominndo r e, but heid on shout In m notes
longer; had tne T - e of the Cast e and town,
thev fired grape, round and shell; the shore
battery attempted to rake us with grape, but,
fell short. We had not a man hurt. although
the shells hurst all around us. The Petrel
had a hole shot, through her starboard quarter
from a piece of shell, ami her bowsprit shroud
cut awav. A shell also hurst under (lie
quarter of the Spitfire and split one of her
boa’s.
Luring the whole of to-duv (23 1) General
Patterson, in conjuction with the* Navy, has
been making the most extraordinary exer
tions to finish an entrenchment to plant a
marine battery, enn-isting of three fiS’s and
two long 32’s. which had been landed during
the course of the day from on board different
vessels* of war.
The officers and sailors have heretofore
borne the brunt of all the labor in landing
the arms and munitions of war belonging to
the army, and have applied themselves to it
with an energy that certainly entitles them
to ureat credit; but now that they had an op
portunity of participating in that part of the
expedition where honors are to be won and
laurels gathered, they exerted themselves
with an almost superhuman eff-rt.
About 200 volunteers and sailors were at
tached to each piece of ordnance, which was
hv them conveyed over sand hills and hollows
half knee deep in sand, and through a lagoon
about 2 feet deep and 75 vards wide, with a
soft bottom. They were all placed in pnsi
tion,about three miles from where thev land
ed, during the night. Ihe sailors and the
volunteers worked admirab’y together.
During the early part of last evening, the
town was lighted up hy a building on fire,
which was ignited bv the bomb shells. It
was in’ ossible to tell what building it was, i
but if was supposed bv the engineers to be
the Barracks. As soon «es the fire was dis
covered from our mortar battery, 1 was very
much gratified to observe the cessation of our
f lre —for notwithstanding we were endeavor
ing to destroy their town, or compel them to
surrender if, with their other strongholds
and fortifications, still humanity would seem
to rpquire that a temporary cessation of hos
tilities should take p'ace under such circum
stances. War is terrible in its mo>t modified
form, but the besieging of a city like \ era
Cruz, when we know that we are buttering
down the houses over some fellow
heads, but cannot fell whether we are de
stroying the soldiers—our real antagonists—
or the women and children. And then to
witness tbe burning houses lighting np the |
church spires and domes of the prominent
buildings, with the families moving about on i
the fops of the houses in the utmost conster
nation and apparent despair, cannot do other
wise than excite a fueling of commiseration.
March 24.—After the fire in town lust
night, our batteries again opened and contin
ued until morning. During the day the ar
my guns have worked very slow, on account
of a short supply of ammunition, being pre
vented from landing any yesterday by the
norther.
Early in the dav. Gen. Patterson let the
town hear from him. Toe entrenchments
and guns were entirely nmi scovered bv the
.Mexican-, until the “Sailor lad-,” commenced
unmasking. Thev soon commenced pouring
into the city a severe and effective tire, until
about 4 o’clock—their position being only
500 yards from the walks of the town, anti
with such a range as to enable theni to tLnk
most of the fort idea' ion< and works from
whence the enemv was tiring.
The following is the size and weight oflhe
guns with their officers, as far as i could
learn them;
Potomac—2 32 pounders, C 3 cvvt., Capt.
Aulick and Lieut. Baldwin.
Raritan —l 32-pounder. G 3 cwt., Lieut. In
ger-011.
Mississippi—l 8-inch gun, C 3 cvvt , Lieut.
Lee.
Albany—l 8-inch gun, G 3 cwt,, Lieut.
Perry.
St. Marys—l 8-inch gun, G 3 cwt., Lieut.
Kennedy.
'Piie navy battery s r t the town on fire
again fo-dav.
'The Mexicans did not fail to return Gen.
Patterson’s fire with great energy and rapi
dity, and 1 am sorry to say with some effect
—killing 4 and wounding 6—among the lat
ter was Lieut. Baldwin, of the Potomac.
At 4 o’clock ilie officers and crews from
the navy were relieved bv the following:—
Capt. .Mayo, Lieuts. Semmes, De Camp,
Frailey and Studman; Passed Midshipmen
Nelson, (Lz’er and Wager; Midshipmen
Hiubrick, Joe Smi’h, Majuvv and Upshur.
lUrath of .Itr. Shairielt.
25 /h. —To-day the combatants appear to
he more eager on both sides, and the tiring
more rapid—’he army battery mounts 11 ten
inch mortars, four long 24’s and four Co
horns. During the morning. the Mexicans
concentra'ed their lire as much as possible
upon Gen. Paste r ; <*r! and the Navy, hut the
retorn fire through fire day silenced two of
ibeir batteries, and the Navy breached the
walls in different places. Mid-df pman Shn
brick and three ors were killed, and one
mortally wounded. Mr. Sbubrick’s death
was announced at Head-quarters in the fol
i lowing laconic note, by the pommtimJer at
the entrenchments: “Mr. Fhubnck has been
killed at his gun fighting.” On inquiry, 1
learned Tie further particulars as follows:
He was shooting at a gun in one of the bas
tions in the rear of the city, and was watch
ing the effect of his shot upon that piece of
art dlerv when a ball from the piece he was
: shooting at struck him—hut tlie last shot he
fired dismounted the piece that killed him—
thus, in all probability, both artillerists lost
lives in shooting atone another almost
simultaneously.
Col. Hpenny’s* Dra josn FigbT.
Inform ilion was recci cd in ca up this morn
thnt a body of Mexicans were hanging on our
rear intending to force the lines if possible and
make their wav into the city with a number of
ca'tle. Col. Harney, with one hundred and
twenty dragoons was ordered out in search of
them, and report his observations. He discover
ed the n ahoui iwo thousand in nimbeo-ntrench
rd at a Ivi ige and supported by two *rrs ofar
t Ilerv. three miles from Gen. Patterson’s bead
quarters. Col H irnev started on his return,
intending to prepare properly and attack them
the next morning. Rut the gallant, old sol
dier knowing that delays are dangerous,could not
hear the idea of leading the enemy after ha’ ing
came in sight of them, without ha’ing a brush.
.AeeonlingL, he returned to tbe place,took a po
rtion where he could watch their movements,
and keep his men secure from the enemy’s lire.
'l’he Mexicans commenced firing at him, and
threw a perfect shower of halls ail around him,
t.ut without injury. Col. Harnev then despatch
ed am esse n for to camp for a small reinforcement,
and same artillery to break the hreafworVs. He
was reinforced form Gen. Patterson’s Division,
bv Lieut Judd, with two pieces of .artillery, about
GO Dragoons d’smounted. atoi six companies of
the Ist and 2nd Tennessee Volunteers, under
tbp command of Col. Haskell, accompanied by
Gen. Patterson in t>orson, although he did not
takethe command from Col. Harney, but merely
participated as any other individual who was en
„;,.fpd. Col, flame' then formed the Tonnes
s mans on thp right, his Dragoons on tho left, and
advanced slowly, to draw the fire of the Mexi
cans. until Lieut Judd got his artillery in such
position as he desired 'fhe movement succeed
ed admirably; Lient. luld got his group i with
in 150 yards of tbe Mexicans, am! commenced
lirinrr —thev attempted to return it, but as soon as
a slight breach was made in parapet, Col. Har
ney ordered a charge, which was answered bv a
v.-H from the Dragoons and Tennesseeans. Col.
Haskell. Cart. Cheatham and Capt. Foster were
tiie first men to leap over tbe breastwork, and as
a naval officer remarked, who witnessed tbe
whole affair, the balance went over so much like
“a thousand of brick” that there was no telling
who was first or hst. As might have hern ex
pected, the Mexicans were unable to stand a
charge from ‘'the b..y« who stood the fire oflhe
Black Fort at Monterev.” A few ofthe incum
brances were soon thrown out the wav, and Col.
Harnev, with his Dragoons leaped the bieast
workand gave chase. He bad not proceeded
more than a mile before he found the enemy
firmed in line to receive him. He immediately
deployed, and from the bead ofthe line ordered a
charge. When he approached within about 20
yards ofthe enemv’s line thev give him a fire from
their side-arms, hut over shot. Then came the
tost, of strength and skill—the Dragoons, with
sword,in hand, met tiie confiding Lancers with
p tinted lance, ready to receive him. The contest
was but fir a short time. In many instances
lances were twis'ed from their clenched hold; the
Mexicans were unsaddled and driven lielter-ski I
ter in every direction, and pursued by the Dra
goons in detachments. CM. Harnev .and several
of his oftLors met their men in single combat.
h:>f none of them receiv d any injury except
Lieut. Neil, Adjutant ofthe Regiment, who was
wounded severely in two places from his mag
nanimity in attempting to capture a Mexican
instead of killing him. In full run he overtook
the letreating Mexican, ami placing his sword in
front of hi n commanded him tosurrender. where
upon the Mexican drove his lance info his mag
nanimous adversary. As the Lieutenant wheel
ed his horse to despatch hi n. another Mexican
charged up and struck him with a lajice. How
ever, severlv wounded as he was, in two places,
he conqured one of his foes, and a Corporal came
up in time to “settle accounts” with the other.
In this affair Col Harney had 1 wounded and
t killed Lieut. Judd dad one killed, and theTen
nesseeanshad Messrs. Fox, Long, Woodly, and
one other of Capt. MoCuwn’s company whose
name i could not ascertain wounded. Mr A oung.a
I’exan K in-rer, who was acting as guide, was
also wounded slightly _ Nm.-lwo Mexicans
were found dead at the bridge behind the bicast
work. Col. Harney killed 50 and wounded
about the same numb. r. Ihe Mexican force
near 2000; Col. Harnev’s about 500.
CM. K iskell, Capts. Cheat bam. Foster. Snead,
! Lieut. Judd, and all tbe officers and men in toe
| command, are spoken of in the highest terms bv
I Col. Harnev for theuigallant conduct ihrtfughout
j the whole affair.
1 The Naval Officers at Gen. Patterson s bat
-1 tcry were relieved to-day by Capt. B cose, Lts
Knox, VVemford, Alder,Taylor.Purse Harris, Mid
shipmen Bennett, Mayo. Alorr.’s ant! some otuers
whore names I could not learn, Drs. Baxter,
IN’una and Hambleton.
Tn-dav a white ll ig wassent in, asking, on hr
j half t»f the })■’< iple, to allow tbe;:i to leave tlie*citv ,
• with their families and persons who were making
no resistance. I could not learn what was the
precise nature ofthe reply, hut tiny did not get
what thev desire.1 —-they bad waited a little too
long. Gen. Scott was not the person to bo caug.it
by a ruse ofthis kmJ.
M arcti 23, 18-47.
L ist night Gov. Morales was strongly impor
tuned bv the inhabitants, w ni are said to he suf
fering severely, to surren icr the town—bflt lie
was obstinate, and would not listen to I four ap
peals. Ife declared he would not surrender the
garrisoned works until e cry man wa- buried un
derneath the ruins, and not one stone lelt on top
of another. Thereupon a meeting *d the Nali n
; a! Guard was held, and Gov. Morales was de
posed and Gen. Lnndero placed in command.
Our batteries worked last night, and up tofi
o’clock this morning, with apparent increased
\ igor, when a Hag of truce was received by Gen.
Scott, with a proffer on the part ofthe Mexicans
to treat fir a surrender. Accordingly, a com
mission on our pari was appointed, consisting ot
Gins. Worth and Pillow, Cid. Pollen, and
i C ipt. Aulick. of tiie navy, who met tho .Mexi
can commssion at the Lime Kiln, on the right ot
our mortar battery, about one mile distant, and
thev continued in session during the dav,
E irL this morning a Norther sprung up very
suddenly, and blew most furii uslv all day. Rude
Bore-.s piped his shrillest .whis’le, and old Mep
tu'C see ned to do his best, in the general com- j
motion by land and sea; the rifted clouds flew
like sable-winged messengers of death through
the air; while the furious, lashed ocertn piled her
crested waves far upon the beach The clouds
of sand swept like bail across the strand, from
hill-ton to the valley’s depth, and almost like the
fumed sirocco of Egypt.with maelstroom-force. nr
the sweeping blast over Z diara s desert, filled
the air with darkness, and man and beast with
feelings of dismay. The mariner was temptst
toased hv the quick surges ofthe angry deep, and
fear might well blanch the cheek of the boldest;
tire soldier cowered low, to escape the drifting
sand that, in almost impalpable particles, pene
trated even the smallest apertures; tents were
lifted from their positions, and in many instances
torn literally into ribbons, and clothing and camp
equipage were strewn in confusion for miles
arou ml.
During the prevalence of this violent gale, the
steamship Alabama went ashore, but was got off
with tin’ assistance of the boat’s crew of the
Princeton, under Midshipman Rns-ett. The j
brig Porpoise, about 10 mib s at se.a, was thrown
on her bea n-ends,an i compelled to throw over
hoard her lee guns. A bout 30 vessels were driven
shor • opposite Sacrifieios of which the E.iza S.
Leppcr was got off by the Princeton.
The following is, as far as I could learn, the i
list of vesse s:
Vessels ashore, from the gale of the 2Jth.—-
Barque Mayflower—foremast and bowsprit gone;
barque Vlopang; brigs Orio, Will, Othello, Mary
Anna; Carolin•• —masts cut away and
Apalachicola. Peterson, and John Potter; sciirs.
Mary, Pevto ■, Pl.intaganet, Lila. Blanche E.
Sayre, A. J. Horton, Coinne, Monitor, Sea,Elea
i nor—doubtful, Piioche Eliza, Louisa, Cornelia
and two topsail schooners, names unknown.
Shi]> Diadem—dismal d at anchor, and, the
Mafl over ran foul of tier; ship Shenunga—dis
masted outside, since towed ir ; brig E. G. Fierce,
ami a brig name unknown—d.smasled, aschoon
cr mi's: te-ma-t an 1 bowsprit gone doubtful.
During tho wh ) e oflhe dav, amidst the preva
lence eff the storm, the commissioners were en
deavoring to settle the terms of treaty. Tiny
adjourned at night, and gave tbe Vlexicans unto
G o’clock on the 27ih to accept or reject. The
enemy was evidently in a hal pos tion and try
ing to ect the best terms, possible. But General
Scott, I think I nay safely say, representing the
interests of our country, and holding, as it were
the honor of our arms in hi- grasp, \\ ill accede to
no proposition but such a one, in general terms,
as he may advance. He would prefer whipping
terms out of them, inch hv inch, if necessary,
than toyield the inter* s's ofthe* nation,or bom rof
our flag. Our banner must be planted upon tiie
walls ofthe citv and cas»le of San Juan deUlua,
in honor and respect by the wor.d at large
March 27. 1817.
This morning the Mexicans did not accede to
the terms ofthe commissioners, and orders were
given to fire again at 9 o’clock. However, about i
that hour the enemy solicited another meeting ot i
the* romaiis-ioiu-rs.
While speculation was rife in reference to the
result ofthis meeting, and every person waiting
with eager anxiety to hear the finale ofthe delib
erations of the commissioners, i heard a young
officer propose a new and s miewbat novel mode
to induce tho Mexicans to come to terms, which
was as follows: To despatch a messenger from
head-quarters, without hi ing dressed in the pomp,
nii le and circumstance of glorious war, and an
nounce at the gales of the city that Gen. T aylor
hid arrived, with a force of Texan Rangers, and
in ended to sleep in tbe city to-night. I do not
pretend to sav what would have been the effect
ofthe young officer’s proposition, but it did not
appear to meet with much favor among his asso
ciates.
Gen. Patterson’s battery was relieved to-davby
the following officers from the Navy: Capt. Fur
rest; Lieuts Case, Eld, Blunt, ITumphrcv, Almy,
Rogers, and C alhorne; Midshipmen Hu' ter,
Rensh-w, Ciliey, Smith, Genet, Barbour, Carter,
Jones, ami Lodge.
A general impression pervade? the campto-dav,
that the Mexicans are treating only for the pur
pose of repairing breaches and fixing upiheir de
stroyed fortifications; hut our engine, rs and ord
! nance officers have not been behind them in this
' respect. Durmg the day, we have been placing
‘ our (runs in better positions, supplying the maga
z:ne with ammunition, an I providing the army
with se,aling ladders and tbeir appertunances,
ready to scale the walls, and pass tbe breaches, if
necessary to take tbe city by storm.
The terms, howev r, were agreed upon, and
submitted for ratification.
M arch 28, 1847
1 Com. Perry was preparing to land another bat
: terv of 10 guns from the Ohio, but tbe necessity
was oh iated by the ratification hv both parties of
1 the capitulations agreed upon by the comroission
-1 ers.
The Mexicans surrendered the city of Vera
Cruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulua, and
tbe armanent and munitions ot war, together
with their small arms. The officers retained
their side arms, and the whole surren lerod as
prisoners of war, and are allowed to retire into
the country on their parole, Gen. Scott furnishing
them four days’ rations.
The following was issued from Head-CXuarters,
which directs the manner and force to take pos
session of the surrendered works. The brigade
designated by Major Gen. Patterson, is Gen.
P Hows:
Gen. Orders No. 72. Army Head quarters. )
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz,
i March 23. )
I. By articles of capitulation sisned and ex
, changed, the City of Vera CTuz and the Castle of
> ■ San Juan de Ulna, with their dependencies, are
J to he garrisoned by the forces of the United
I I State# to-morrow at 10 o’clock A. M,
_ -Kjjtm,' :■ _ -u. .>■> -i-1. in-r-r
2. In the meantime no officer or man of enid
forces will approach either ot those places nearer
than our batteries Nos. 1,2, 3, 4. 5, respectively,
except by special order oi permission on soma
matter of public duty.
3. Pending the ceremony of surrender, the
w ];o!e army will stand by its arms, earn corps
ne.ir its present ground, ready to advance and at
-1 tack if necessary.
i 4, Tim Ist Brigade of Regulars and a > olun
! teer Brigade, lobe designated bv iVlaj. Gen. Pat
; terson, together with any detachment from the
I u. S. Squadron, under Com. Perry that he may
be pleased to designate, will he present at the
ceremonies of evacuating and surrendering.---
These forces will occupy such positions at the
ceremonies as may be assigned by Brig. Gen.
Worth, detachments of whose Brigade will gar
rison the surrendered works.
5 Until those garrisons, with their necessary
i guards. sentinels and patrols, are duly established,
! no other person whatsoever will be allowed, rx
j cept on special duty, to enter either of the surren
■ dered places. ,
{). The inhabitants of \ era Cruz, and thrr
property, are placed under the safeguard ofevery
I Americans honor; and any miscreant, who shall
j do injury to any persons or property, shall be
1 promptly brought before a military commission,
j under General Orders No. 20.
By command of iVlaj. Gen. SCO I* P,
(Signed) " 11. L. Scott, Asst. Act. Adj. G n,
M r :ii 29, 1847.
The camp of the First Brigade has been ver/
active in mek ng preparulions to receive the com
pliments of the Mexican armv, and their arms,
and to occupy the position which they are about
to yield to the superiority ol'nurarms and courage
of our troops. The following order, No. Id. will
show vou the disposition of our troops in the gar
rison. and the order oftaking possession :
Order? No. IC. Head-quarti rs Ist P.rujade, >
Camp Washington, near Vuru Cruz. March '«iß. }
Ist. The Brigade, except Fie guard of all de
scriptions, will he under arms at BA. M to mor
row morning, cantccnsfidcd and uav crsacks sup
p'ied as prescribed.
2d. Lt. Col, Duncan’s light battery will lake
tin* head oftfte column, anil he prepared to fire a.
salute of "28 guns.
3d. One Company of 2d Artillery and one
company ofßth Infantry under Major Wright
will occupy Port Conception; 1 company nf3d
Artillery and 1 company ot Infantry under Major
i Scott will occupy Fort 8t Jago; 1 company of
| Artillery and 1 company Ith Infantry, 1 compa
ny (»th Infantry and 1 company Bth Infantry tin
ner Lt. C<d. Belton will occupy the Castle of San
Juan de UUn, t \c remainder o r the Brigade not
on duty, will he marched to the Plaza,
-lt!i At 2 o’clock P. M., the flag of the U. S.
will he hoisted on the several named works, and
a salute of 28 guns fired from each, beginning at
Fort St. J (go—next Fort Conception —next San
Juan de Uiua—and finally from the light battery
of the Plaza.
fit t. Not an officer or soldier will lie allowed to
leave their ranks or station until further orders.
(Ith. During tile ceremony of the surrendering
of the Mexican troops, not the slightest noise or
cheering will he permitted. When ocr flags arc
hoisted in addition to t ie batteries, they nmv be
salutid with cheers bv sod ers not under arms.
By order of Brig. Gen. Worth.
(Signed) W , . Vackai.i., A. A. G.
i At 9 o’clock, 3on. Worth’s and Gen. Pillow’s
1 Brigade formed about 300 yards apart, opposite
i each-other, and the Mex’cans marched out. stack-
I ad their arms and'marched off. Our troops then
moved in column in'o the cit y at 2 o’clock, plant
ed the Star Si angled Banner on the walls, tv hero
but a short time previous had waved that of a
vain and conceited foe. The Stars and Stripes
i went, up fir.-t on Pert Santiago, then on Fort
i Conception and then on the Castle and other
i places. Eaeli flag as it went up received the na
| tinnn! s-iute, which was answered by the Squad
j ron—-the yards of the vessels were manned and
! ou r colors hailed with three cheers.
Com. Porrv was present in the Musqulto Fleet
under Capt. Tatnall at the evacuation and sur -
render.
The Mexicans variously estimated their loss at
from 500 to 1000 killed and wounded, but all
agree that the loss am -ng the soldiery is compara
tively small and the destruction among the wo
men and children is very great. Among their
kTed is Gen. Felix Valdez, an oilici r of sum**
celt h ity. Our !• ss in the Aimv and Navy is
about 25 filled and absu* 10 wounded, hut many
ofihem slig 1 t'y. Among our filled are two offi
cers ofthe armv and one oflhc navy. Ca' tains
Alburtis and Vinton of the armv, and Midship
man Shi’.hrick ofthe navy.
Lieut. Cnl Dickinson. Li< nts. Neil nne Bald
win. I am happy tosiae are recovering very fast,
and the wounded generally are doing well.
At the time of surrender, the Mexicans had but
two days ammunition and three day s subsistence,
which accounts for their generally withholding
their fire durng the night.
( During the bombardment, our army have
1 thrown the following number and size of shut-
Army Cutlery.
3 00 ten-inch shells, 90!bs. each.
500 round shot, 2. r >lhs. each.
‘2OO eight-inch howitzer shells, 681bs. each.
G .n. Patterson ’« .Vary Battery.
1000 Paixhan shot, 68! bs. each.
800 round slut, 32lbs. each.
Musquito Fleet. Copt. Tatnall.
1200 shot and shell, averaging fi2lbs. each.
Making in all 6,700 shot and shell, weighing
4G3 6001 hs.
The destruction in the city is most awful—one
half of it is destroxed. Houses are blown to
j j ieces and furniture scattered in everv direction
I —t he streets torn up, and the strongest buildings
i ser'n usly damaged.
Gen. Scott has certainly achieved a great, glo
l rious and almost bloodless victor over an enemy
’ in a position (bat was considered impregnable.---
Tbroiighnut the whole affair he has preserved
the most perfect equililuium of temper and the
• characteristic coolness and courage of a great
f General and noble soldier, and while, from the
necessities of demand ng from the enenn his own
I terms, he has tempered the vigor of the circum
stances with humanity—-the best evidence of a
brave and competent officer.
The Engineer Corps under Col. Totten have
applied themselves to the discharge of their du
ties ns became them in their position, and endur
i ed the privations and exposure to the weather
j anil the fire ofthe enemy without regard to health
or loss of life.
No division nr portion ofthe armv has been bet
ter conducted than that of the Ordnance
thr ughout the whole of the operations, and no
men are entitled to a greater degree of credit
than Capt. Huger and Lieut. Hagner; their
duty has been arduous, and thev have labored
night and day to discharge it, in fair weather and
•buljinthat the general depot and in theenfrrneh
ments, and I saw these officers up to their knee*
in water daring the prevalence of the heavy
norther to rescue their stores from loss.
Gen. Patterson has acquired for himself a high
reputation as a gallant soldier amt officer. Hia
official dul : rs ha e nec-sarily been heavy ami
laborious; in which lie Ins been well sustained hy
an efficient staff consisting of Maj.G. A. Mc-
Call, Copt. McClelland. Lieut. S. Williams and
j Lieut. Mcad.
A though the veteran Twiggs and that aMo
officer Col. P. F. Smith have not had an oppor
tunity of attacking the city, or figuring conspicu
ously in the engagement, they have had an im
portant and responsible position assigned (hem,
on the road to Mexico, which they maintained
and occupied with great vigilance.
The general health ot the army is good. The
' men have been well supplied with provisions
| since their first landing; hut how con'd st be
I otherwise, with-ueh an officer as Capt. Grayson
j at the head of the department, seconded by tho
quartermasters now in the service.
Capt. D'anehard. Lieuts.Tenbrinck and Nieh
f ols, and the whole Phoenix company ofLouisiana
Volunteers, have passed through the battle with-
I out injury. By their strict conformity to the dis
cipline ofthe army, and their noble conduct in