Daily constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 1846-1851, April 10, 1847, Image 2

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THE CONSTITUTIOMLI ST, ! Tames gardner. r. i i: n s. Pai’y, n**r annum Tn-Weekly, per annum, L , 5 00 If paid in advance, ; NN cckiy. per annum, 0 j if paid m advance, * J j T O C LUBS. WtcaUparticular attention to the following terms j of our paper: Tn Clubs, remitting Sit) IN advance. FINE ; COPIES are sent. Thu will put our weekly pa- j pgr ia the reac h of new subscribers at TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. fry All *»C’V subscriptions must be paid in advance, j y'T Pnstatre muss be. paid on all Cummanications n, ad Let’erp of business. <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