Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-19
BAY OF ST. LOUIS,

Ia or l1OUlo,
September s, 1916 5
Dear &r--Nothng OF importance occur
red after leaving port, until the morning
of the 9Th August last, when not far from
Vera C'uz, at day break, we found our
selves near three vessels, which proved to
be his Catholic majesty's ship Diana, of
pa guns, commanded by Jose Sorondo !;
the hcrmaphrodite brigs Cassidor and
L. Gcra, OF 10 guns each, the names
of the commanders of the two last men
toned vessels, were refused to be given
rs.
There were not less than FIVE hundred
men on board Of the two first mentioned
v.ss Is, as besides their crews they had
many soldiers. The LIE Gera appeared to
be in chase of another vessel The Diana
and Cassidor made for us, captain Cum
ninghan at the same time approaching
them. AS We approached within pistol
shot, one of the Spaniards on each side of
us, at the very moment that our f1ag was
hoistei, the Cassidor, without haiiing, or
without any ceremony. fred some of her
cannon loaded with grape ard canister
into rs and volley of uusketry. Captain
Cunningham Immediately leaped on gun,
and hailed, stating who we were, and de
manied the cause cf their firing The fl
ring continue d, interming'ea with the most
vulgar and bilingsg,tc abuse. I cbserv
ed single muslSet aimed from the quarter
deck of the Cassidor, aud evi iently iuten-
ded for captain Gu niagham, who was con-
spicuous by his elevation on the gun and
his epaulette. but which fortunately by
few inches missed him. and entered the
breast of marine, and lodged in his ne K.
We were ordered TO send a boat on board,
captain Cunningham said he would not
send but he would receive boat We
were then ordered by the Diana to send
a boat on board and lower our maiRsail.
with a threat that IN case of refusal they
would Sit k us. Captain Cunningham ore
dered Lieut.. A.. S. Campbell to proceed
on board the Diana, where his side arms
were taken from him, and he was placed
under a guard of marines, the gigs crew
were put la irons. threatened 10 be hung,
anl beat with swords. the marks of which
are yet evident
Shortly after lieutenant came on b6ar3
Of the Fircbrand, and while conversng
with captain Cunningham in his cabin, he
was hailed from the Cassid0r, and reques-
ted to get out Of danger, as they INTENDED
to fire into US, board and slew no quarters
he replied that we were an American
the reply from the Cassdor was, tina. we
we're scoundrels and liars and again ives
poured upon us every epIthet of a.
buse that cowardice or vulgarity could
suggs st, and siHgie musket shot was f.
red.
At this time captain Cunningham COM
mitied the only act which in my opinion
was not strictly correct it was the result
OF his feelings, not his judgment soured
and rritated by the conduct Of cowariI6
assassins. he exclaimed, opening his boz
som and sprIng,ng on gun, g fire at me
but not at my men." The Spanish boats
crew. that brought the Spanish lieutenant
on boa q Of us, when they heard the last
threat, Ieaped overheard, well knowing
thrir own nation. and convinced that the o.
cean presentea more probable chances Of
escape than our deck. The Spanish lieu
tenant was then hailed from the Diana, &,
ne ordered capt. Cunningham to proceed
to the Diana (; before he went he ordered
the colors down, which the Spanish lieu
tenant would not permit to be done. The
Spanish lieutenant mentioned while on
board Of us, that we had no right TO navi-
6 te the Gulph of NJ xico, that the Span
ish king claimed its exclusive sovereignty,
that We could have no Commerce there to
protect, that new governor general had
arrived at Vera Cruz, who had ordered
out all the vessels TO scour the coast, that
the whole coast was in a state Of blockade,
that their orders we're to respect the flag
of no nation, that to them there was no
difference between thc flag of the insur-
gents and pirates Gas they termed thu
Mexican RepubIcans) aud the United
States.
Among other insults equally unjustiiable
he accused the brave and respectable cap
taia Porter, Of the brig Boxer, of rob3ing |
4 Spanish vessel, and OF being a pirate
The Spanish lieutenant was then hailed, |
md prnceeded to the Diana and soon re- |