Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-02-13

hlC NbaNR
Mi place by Gen. Santa Anna.
Il i, | believe known with you, that the
Castle Of ST. Juan de Ul!oa, which forms
and commands this harbor. is the only spot
nav left TO SPAN of her immense Mexi-
San dominions. On this place, strongly
fortified. well garrsoned and amply pro.
vided with all the munitions OF war, and
proyisi,ned tor nine months, the Spanish
hsg s,if waves, and bids defiance 10 the
whole 'orce Of the Mexican empire. There
is a report in circulation that an American
now hire, 10 conjunction with an Irish
doctor, proposed a Quixotic scheme to the
Emoeror, for blowing in the walls by the
explosion of guu-powder which was pro-
posed 20 be attached to large copper rings
in The walls of the castle Tor the moOring
Of vessel: those rings are fixed in heavy
bars OF The same metal, which are worked
in he wall (at that place about 20 feet
tbicS) and fastened on the inside. II IS
r~er,sI. that those men were closetted with
X. imperial Majesty, at Mexico, every
dsy foe week in the month OF July
Whether their propositions were finally
rejected is not known, but from this mo-
men, llurbiie seriously set about prepar-
atoms for the reduction Of St. Juan.
Bombs, mortars, and cannon, were trans
ported to Vera Cruz, and officers and
trcops were ordered on TO conduct The
siese
In the m-an time an attic mpt was made
hy the autbrritie. of the town to bride the
yarr,son of the castle, through the instru-
mentality Of a bOatnan IbIs was anoth>
or bosx. IN. fellow had 700 doubloOns in-
trusted TO hin as an advance 70 the gar
r;son, and the promise of 1900 more when
the castle should be surrendered: indeed
6, sapsu,ne were the Mexican officers ut
the success of their plot, that they sent the
Imperial h.g over 10 be hoisied as a signal,
n. Io end Iut T. other Off Frs were on the
m,l. lag before day, to catch the g,eam
of the mornings first BEAM" that they
might greet the Mexican flag waving 70
;r;umah on the frowning battlements Of the
caslle-but ;hey were sadly disappo,nt ed
The Waterman had disclosed the whole
affair to Gen Davilla, the Governor OF st,
juan de Iiioa, ard delivered him the
money Day;lls rewarded him with fifty
dnuhloens, aud wrote over TO til civil au-
tborities oil Vera Cruz. that he would re
turn mem he balance il they would ap-
nrODrN1Ie VI I'D SONbe CUdItlfDfC ppoC wi
work u public utility.
Foiied j. this attempt they endeavored
10 get il by stratagsm:-fwo officers went
over 10 the castle as deserters, and by a
plausible tale induced he Governor 10
send over a detachment OF about ESQ men
10 take possession ot the town, which he
was induced to believe would be deliver
ed up without firing a shot. They landed
about 2 O'Clock in the morning, but on
entering the tovn they discovered the
trick which had been played upon them
and retire led again TO their h"ats with the
loss OF fron so to 90 metz Eaied, wounded
and prisooers. The next norning there
was some caunonading between the town
and a gun boat, and some shots were also
fred from the castle
OF his petty affair II is sufficient to say,
that IL commenced IN treaCbery and ended
IN disgrace 70 the Nexicsns. On this &C.
casios Gaa- Santa Anna, who was Cover
ncr of the town. is said TO have been gull
~ OF >~evsral very insubordInate acts, and
70 have practised something like treacherY
towards Gen. Ichavar,a, the Captain Gen.
of this and the Provinces of Puebla and
Oyscca-a REPRESENTATION OF which being
made to tue Emperor, Santa Anna was
promoted from a brevet to be a BrgadIer
General by co omission.
On th- 10th OF Nov lturbide left Mexi-
co for Vera Cruz, TO treat with General
Lemour, governor OF ST. Juan de Ullca,
but iit MT proceed further than Aalapa.
Thrth.r Santa Anna had repaired TO re-
cei,e him, but The Emperor would MT see
him. Th,s roused the Generals p'ide;
aud being shortly after ordered to Mexico,
instead Of cbeying the order, he posted TO
Vera Cruz. ordered bis regiment, (which
s the best drillei 10 The s~ervice) under
srGs. h%arrspgued them. and proclaimed
az ladependen; Republican Government
Several Others on separate command
have declared for him, but ! tear be can.
not yet place reliance on bis troops.
We have Just received information OF
his having attacked the advance OF lCbs.
y~sria's army yesterday morning at day
break, at a place about Is leagues from
here, called Plan del Rio" which be de-
iea;ed after a short conflict, making U
prisoners 1T his success IS such a, Il Us re-
ptsen'ed hv may, by waiting a lew days
obtain large reinforcenents; but a moSe-
ment in advance NIGH, hazard all he has
gained. Gen Gau ialoupe Victoria. men
toned in a former part OF this letter, has
joined him.
have already transcribed my limits;
but the foregoing brief remarks will, |
I, hope, prove ct some interest, although no
doubt many OF the circumstances are al-
ready publicly known with you-bu' no
idea can be formed of the state OF affairs
here without taking a tull view OF all the
acts OF Iturbide since he was placed at the
head of the government. and weigh well
their relative bearing with each orber. |
shall continue to advise you OF any thing Of
interest that may occur. remain, @c.