Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-18
From the New Orleans Bee.
FROM VERA CRUZ.

dilinn and the attack upon the fortress u
San Juan de Uiloa.
After the arrival Of Admiral Baudin oil
the coast of Mexico, MIR; Leroy, one of ne
commanders, was despatched 10 the ci'ym
Mexico, to make known TO the government
the ultimaium ofFrance. A few days ahaf
be returned, without bringing any sauste-
tory reply. The next morning letter
was received, in which Mr. BaudIn wastfS
quested to repair 10 Jalapa, order TO irfa'
with the ENJOYS OF The government, and 70
send away part Of his forces, that MeZ@o
might not appear 10 be compelled to >ieo
To violence. The admna' consented 10 Ve
first conditions, but refused positively o
listen to the second. He Therefore toN
his departure, and was saluted with saho
of nineteen guns On ms entrance into ga
Cruz.
On his return, he stated that tie enrois
had accepte,. all the conditions imposed "
France. with single exception, w: tn
by virtue of which Mexico was to au;b,>
RE sales by retail to heuade b. the FteacG
and that the ENJOYS had wished to consal
the government respecting tbs point ht
Baudin added, that he had granted them
few DAYS more, bat as at the expiration G
this period, the replies still continued nm
satisfactory, hostilities would Immediately
commence.
On the morning Of the 9Th, the bomb
vessels Cyclops and Vulcan, were tnwe5
By the Steamboats, as far as the middle Of
the shoals which bound the eastern side
where they anchored The Netcide. com,
manded by the admiral, the Gloire, and
Iphigonie, took their places after, ards Oh
The line. In the mean while. some Of the
Mexican ENJOYS went on board Of the adj.
miraE's vessel and sought to obtain a respite
At twenty-five minutes past two. they left
the frigate. The signal to prepare for
action was given al 90 minutes past two;
the fire commenced, and continued nearly
four hours without intennission. The
Prince de Joinville, unwilling to remain an
idle spectator, asked permission Of Admira,
Baudin 10 take part IN the action, and
without waiting for his renly, raised The
ir.colored flag on board the Cfcole, dis
charged broadside at the fortress, and
kept up for some time a heavy Ere. The
Creole was struck by several bullets The
bomb shells effected most dreadful haynC
within the fortress. The situation Of III,
powder magazine being known, shells uegc
thrown direcilyup0nthe spot. Three O
them exploded with 20 much violence tha
the decks of several of the French vessels
at the distance Of more than mile wel
strewed with their fragments The Car.
0Hero, one of the strongest towers Gf tho
fort exploded about O'Clock, p. VI. The
portions Of the font demolished by the fri
gates we're in most deplorshle condition.
the embrasures helrg entirely dismoun'eC
and battered TO pieces. At 5 o'clock. tht
guns Of The Mexicans were nearly siIenced
The frigp'e La GIoire was then removed
by lie steamboat MeteOre The fi'e of th'
two others continued until nioh.llll. !
was then kept up solely BY the bomb YES
sells. just as the frigate Admiral va
about to set sail, a canoe approached from
the fortress, and demanded truce. hal tn
dead and the wounded who were buried IN
der the Ruins might be withdrawn. TIL
admiral replied that he could not grant
truce, but that he would send Il summon
to capitulate, and that if it were not signe,
by six o'clock, A. Nj of the 29th, he woul,
recommence his attack on he fort and CITY
The Terms ofsurrender we've accepted, ant
at break of day all the boats Of the squad
ron were sent TO carry off the res of th
garrison. The surgeons of the difltren
vessels were likewise sent 10 attend III
wounded of the enemy, who were subse
quently removed 10 Vera Cruz
In this action which was continued twc
hours and half by two of the frgates. an
four by The third, eight thousand balls an,
three hundred and twenty bom s. wer
thrown into the fortress. On the FrencI
side men were killed, one Of whom WAS
mldshipman, and ihirfy~three wounded,
of whom were officers
The Mexlcans lost from five to six hun
dred men, killed and wounded
In case this attack had proved unsuccess
fnl, force compt sed Of 500 MARINES am,
500 cam ineeIs was ready TO assault TN
fort, and the steamboats, being furnished
with bridges 10 be cast upon the walls, IT.,
castle would have been carried by assault
The Mexicans have suffered immensely
the captain Of the Mett ore, with whom "
conversed, gave us touching description
of the carnage. The shore was covere,
with the dead and dying, and The pifeou
cries of The latter were heard amid all III,
din and tumult ofihe battle.
We must not omit adding that through
out this affair the conduct of admiral Bau
din was marked by generosity. He refrain
ed from firing upon the city, snd though h
was strongly advised to attack the for
during the night, which wor Id have givel
him an immense advantage, he replied tina
he would only fight the enemy in the day