# Complete history of the late Mexican war/Battle of Vera Cruz

Layout 4
Table of Contents
BATTLE OF VERA CRUZ.
The new army was designated to attack the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. The naval squadron, under Commodore Conner, was to assist the land forces. The squadron landed at Anton Lizardo, March 7th. The troops, sent from General Taylor, arrived in February, and increased his army to 12,000 men.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF VERA CRUZ AND CASTLE OF SAN JUAN DE ULLOA.
"Vera Cruz is situated in 19 11′ 52″ north latitude. One portion of its walls is washed by the Atlantic, and the shore on the opposite side is a dry and sandy plain.
"The city is small, but from the regularity which marks its laying out, it is beautiful. The streets are wide, straight, and well paved. The houses, of which there are one thousand and sixty-three, are mostly two stories high, and built of the Muscara stone, taken from the sea-beach.
"The fortifications of the city consist of nine towers connected together by means of a stone and mortar wall, which, however, is not very thick. The two towers named Santiago and Conception are the most important. They are situated at that portion of the walls looking toward the castle of San Juan, and are distant from each other one thousand two hundred and seventy varas. The other towers, including the one called San Fernando, are almost equal in shape, size, and strength. All of them can mount one hundred pieces of artillery of various sizes; and save those of the middle ones, their fires all cross in front of the ​guard-houses, the external walls of which form part of the walls which surround the city.
"Although the port of Vera Cruz is the principal one in the Gulf of Mexico, it is very dangerous during the seasons of the northers—that which is called the bay, being, in reality, nothing more than a bad roadstead. Baron Humboldt but too faithfully described the harbor of Vera Cruz when he said, that the only shelter it affords shipping is a dangerous anchorage among shoals.
"The castle of San Juan de Ulloa is unquestionably the most celebrated of all American fortresses. Its construction was commenced in the year 1582, upon a bar or bank, in front of the town of Vera Cruz, at the distance of one thousand and sixty-two Castilian varas or yards, and it is entirely surrounded by water. The centre of the area occupied by this fortress is a small island, upon which Juan de Grijalva landed a year previous to the arrival of Cortes upon the Continent, and, at that period, it accidentally received the name which it retains to this present day. It seems that there was a shrine or temple erected upon it, in which human victims were sacrificed to the Indian gods; and as the Spaniards were informed that these offerings were made in accordance with the commands of the kings of Acolhua (one of the provinces of the empire), they confounded or abbreviated this name into the word Ulloa, which they affixed to the island.
"According to a report made on the 17th of January, 1775, it was the opinion of a council of war, composed of distinguished officers, that this fortress, after all its defence were completed, would require a garrison for effective service, composed of seventeen hundred infantry soldiers, three hundred artillery, two hundred and twenty-eight sailors, and a hundred supernumeraries. ​"The exterior polygon, which faces Vera Cruz, extends three hundred yards in length, whilst that which defends the north channel is, at least, two hundred yards long. Besides this, there is a low battery situated in the bastion of Santiago, which doubles the fire on that channel. The southern channel is commanded also by the battery of San Miguel.
"The whole fortress is constructed of Madrepora Astrea, a species of soft coral, which abounds in-the neighboring islands. Its walls are from four to five yards in thickness, their exterior being faced with a harder stone. It is well supplied with water, having seven cisterns within the castle, which altogether contain ninety-three thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven cubic feet of water. Its full equipment of artillery pieces is three hundred and seventy; but it contained only a hundred and seventy seven when attacked by the French in 1838."
A regiment of Louisiana volunteers, under Colonel Russey, were wrecked in February near the island of Lobos. They were met by a large force under General Cos and ordered to surrender. They were without arms, but Colonel Russey delayed his answer until night, presenting at the same time a bold front. He lighted up camp fires, left his baggage, and, by forced marches, reached the American quarters at Tampico.
The two commanding officers, immediately after landing at Lizardo, reconnoitred the city in the steamer Petrita, and thought best to land on the beach due west of the island of Sacrificios. At daybreak on the 9th, about 2,800 troops were transferred, in each frigate, and proportionate numbers in smaller vessels, to Sacrificios. A little after 11 A. M. the squadron moved off majestically. The day was fine, with a gentle breeze from the south east, and a smooth sea. The passage occupied between two and ​three hours, and the vessels were anchored without confusion. Gen. Scott ordered the landing to be commenced immediately, ordering the steamers Spitfire and Vixen, and five gun-boats, to form a line parallel with and near the beach, in order to cover the landing of our men in the surf-boats. As the boats, 65 in number, received the troops, they assembled in a line, abreast, between the fleet and the gun-boats and pulled for the shore, all at once, landing without resistance. General Worth commanded this first line of the army and formed his men, 4,500 strong, on the beach and neighboring heights just before sunset, and by 10 P. M. an army of 10,000 men were on shore, without any accident occurring. All but a few companies had landed. The next day the artillery, horses, provisions, and other materials were landed, and the remaining troops, making more than eleven thousand men. General Scott landed early in the morning, and preparations were immediately made to surround the city. As our men advanced, some shot and shells were fired from the town and castle, but without effect. At 2 o'clock, March 10th, a brisk fire from the enemy commenced. One of our men had his thigh broken, and two others were wounded. A small detachment was sent out under Captain Gordon to reconnoitre. He found himself, after going two or three hundred yards, near a body of men and hailed them. They answered in English, and soon answered again by a volley of bullets, which was returned by the detachment, and the Mexicans were obliged to retire into the town. At sunrise, the steamer Spitfire, Capt. Tatnall, took position in front of the city and castle, and commenced firing. She continued for an hour, and the city and castle returned the compliment. Soon after the Spitfire opened her fire, the 1st and 2d divisions moved up the beach towards the city about a mile and commenced ​to invest the place. Four or five regiments of Mexican infantry and cavalry appeared in front of the city, half a mile from our men, and commenced firing upon us. One of our mountain howitzers and some rockets were placed on the hills. A few shots were fired and rockets sent; but without effect, Captain Taylor was ordered to try the six-pounder, which caused the Mexicans to retire behind the hill. One Mexican was killed.
General Worth was successful in taking his position on the right of the investment by 11 o'clock. The line, circumvallating the city, was to run along a chain of sand-hills about 3 miles from the city, ranging from 300 to 1500 feet high, entirely commanding the town and fortifications. The heavy guns from the castle could reach the right wing.
After Worth had taken his position, General Patterson's division took up its line of march, with General Pillow's brigade in advance, in order to form on the left of Worth's division. After proceeding a mile, they met the enemy in a thick chaparral. There was a smart fire for about twenty minutes. The Mexicans retreated. Gen. Pillow had great difficulty in advancing through the chaparral. He proceeded about half a mile farther by 4 p. m., and met the enemy again, in ambuscade. Their fire was heavy upon our men, and General Patterson sent the New York regiment of Shields' brigade to aid General Pillow; but only one New York company arrived, before General Pillow had routed the enemy by a charge. Only two of our men were slightly wounded. A body of the enemy were seen at a little distance, at a house known as a magazine, on the left flank of Pillow's command. A 6-pounder was directed towards them, and a few shots were enough to disperse them. Towards sun-down. Gen. Pillow ​reached, by great effort, one of the highest points in the rear of the city, and erected the star spangled banner. The batteries from the town and castle, kept up a continued firing till dark. One shell exploded in front of General Worth and staff.
At 7 a. m., (March 11th) General Quitman's brigade was ordered to relieve General Pillow from the place which he occupied during the night. The Mexicans, thinking that our men were deserting the heights, approached and were met by General Quitman, who advanced to the top of the hill. A smart fire was kept up for an hour.
Capt. Davis, of the Georgia regiment, with twenty riflemen, were sent as skirmishers, to move round under the hill and engage the enemy in close quarters. About 200 of the enemy advanced on him, and he held them in check until Colonel Jackson, with the balance of three companies, and Col. Dickerson and his regiment, came to his aid. The enemy were obliged to retire, with the loss of several dead and wounded. We had seven slightly wounded.
At 9 a. m., General Twiggs, with his mounted rifles in advance, moved up to take position on the left of the line. It was very difficult as the cannon had to be lifted over sand-ridges by the men, in many cases. The force all reached their destination by the sea-shore, above the town, about sun-down. Thus the city was surrounded by us, our line reaching about eight miles. General Worth occupied the right. General Twiggs the left, and General Patterson the centre.
Our men now commenced placing their heavy batteries in position to open upon the town.
By the 22d, seven ten-inch mortars were in battery, ​and the others nearly ready. At two, P. M., General Scott addressed a summons to the Governor of Vera Cruz, and received an answer in two hours. The Governor supposed that Scott ordered him to surrender the town and castle (though that was not the case, as Scott was not prepared to make such a demand).
Scott now determined to open his seven mortars upon the town. The small vessels of Commodore Perry's squadron, two steamers and five schooners, came within a mile and an eighth of the city and opened a brisk fire, which continued till 9, A. M. (March 23), when the Commodore called the vessels away from so dangerous a position. By noon we had ten mortars battering the walls of the city. The ten inch mortars planted about eight hundred yards from the city, were very effective. Our men, thus far, from the time of their landing had only four or five men wounded, and one officer and one private killed. The officer was Capt. J. R. Vinton, of the U. S. 3d artillery. He was killed in the trenches, March 24th, at ten, A. M. The naval battery. No. 5, consisting of three thirty-two pounders and three eight inch Paixhans, opened a terrific fire, under Capt. Aulick. The battery was active till two, P. M. We lost four sailors killed, and Lieut. Baldwin was slightly wounded.
March 25th, battery No. 4, consisting of four twenty four pounders, and two eight inch Paixhans, opened.
Now, batteries 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, were shaking the whole foundation of the city, by their tremendous fire.
On the evening of the 24th, the foreign consuls signed a memorial, requesting General Scott to grant a truce, so that the neutrals and women and children might retire from the city. Our heavy guns made dreadful havoc, ​destroying many women and children. General Scott replied:
First, That a truce could only be granted on the application of Governor Morales, with a view to surrender; second, That in sending safeguards to the different consuls, beginning as far back as the 13th instant, he distinctly admonished them, particularly the French and Spanish consuls—and, of course, through the two, the other consuls—of the dangers that have followed; third. That although, at that date, he had already refused to allow any person whatsoever to pass the line of investment either way, yet the blockade had been left open to the consuls and other neutrals to pass out to their respective ships of war up to the 22d instant; and, fourth, he enclosed to the memorialists a copy of his summons to the governor, to show that he had fully considered the impending hardships and distresses of the place, including those of women and children, before one gun had been fired in that direction.
On the 26th, General Scott received overtures from General Landero, on whom General Morales had devolved the command, and on account of a heavy norther, he was unable to communicate with the ships until the 27th.
The American Commissioners were. Generals Worth and Pillow, Colonel Totten, and Capt. Aulick.
It was finally agreed that the city and castle should surrender to us.
The following are the terms of capitulation:
"1. The whole garrison, or garrisons, to be surrendered to the arms of the United States, as prisoners of war, the 29th instant, at 10 o'clock, A. M.; the garrisons to be permitted to march out with all the honors of war, and ​to lay down their arms to such officers as may be appointed by the general-in-chief of the United States' armies, and at a point to be agreed upon by the commissioners.
"2. Mexican officers shall preserve their arms and private effects, including horses and horse-furniture, and to be allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the rank and file, five days to retire to their respective homes, on parole, as hereinafter prescribed.
"3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in article 1, the Mexican flags of the various forts and stations shall be struck, saluted by their own batteries; and, immediately thereafter, Forts Santiago and Conception, and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, occupied by the forces of the United States.
"4. The rank and file of the regular portion of the prisoners to be disposed of after surrender and parole, as their general-in-chief may desire, and the irregular to be permitted to return to their homes. The officers, in respect to all arms and descriptions of force, giving the usual parole, that the said rank and file, as well as themselves, shall not serve again until duly exchanged.
"5. All the materiel of war, and all public property of every description found in the city, the castle of San Juan de Ulloa and their dependencies, to belong to the United States; but the armament of the same (not injured or destroyed in the further prosecution of the actual war), may be considered as liable to be restored to Mexico by a definite treaty of peace.
"6. The sick and wounded Mexicans to be allowed to remain in the city, with such medical officers and attendants, and officers of the army, as may be necessary to their care and treatment.
"7. Absolute protection is solemnly guaranteed to ​persons in the city, and property, and it is clearly understood that no private building or property is to be taken or used by the forces of the United States, without previous arrangement with the owners, and for a fair equivalent.
"8. Absolute freedom of religious worship and ceremonies is solemnly guaranteed."
At the surrender on the 27th, our army were drawn up in two lines, facing each other, and stretching more than a mile. The enemy left the city at ten o'clock, passed between our lines, laid down their arms and colors and marched for the interior. General Worth superintended the evacuation and then entered the city. Our flag was erected over the Plaza and saluted by the guns of the city and squadron. General Worth was appointed Military Governor.