The native American., 1839-01-26
THE FRENCH AND MEXICANs.

At length we have, from an impartial source,
and in an authentic shape, an account of the lest
affair between the Mexcuns and the French, on
shore. III and near Vera Cruz. 1t will be found
in The following interesting letter from Captain
Farrasut of the United States Navy. which we
received yesterday from one Of our New Orleans
correspondents by the Exp'es Mail:
d. AR SIR: | herewith send you an account Of
the attack on tie town Of Vera Cruz. by the
Freneh. on the morning Of the 5lh ul.. The
statement, such as il is, was collected from the
foreigners who remained on shore, and lie French
officers themselves; the latter, ho"ever, do not
give Santa Anna SO much credit for his conduct
as the former.
On the morning Of the 4lh ul,mo, it was an
nou,ced lha, General Lopez de Santa Anna had
been ordered to succeed General R'ncon, and
llat war was abou, to be declared. I.euts Comst.
Gardner. Farragut. and Mr.. Hargous (the consnl)
Immediately waited on the new commander-in-
chief To asc t,an the foo.iag on which the Ame-
rican citizens would be placed. lie received
them with marked respect, and replied 10 their
that ''epery respect would be paid
TO Americans; hut'that the Mexican Government
had lisapproved Of the capi,ula,ion Of the town,
made by Gen. Rincon, and had directed his (Rin-
cons) recall to Mexico. ior trial, and placed him
Santa Anna in command, with directions to no
tify the French admiral that it was the determina-
ton of the Mexican Government to sacrifice the
republic rather than yield any one point for which
they had conended; which communication, he
said, had been sent to Admiral Baudin." He
also stated that, ''as the result was uncertain, il
would probably be well to embark the Ame-
rIcans till things were more settled"
So soon the despatch was received by Ad-
miral Baudin, three hours were asked for the en-
barkation of the French subjects, which were
sraned and during the afternoon, all the foreign
ers, as well as French. were embarked or sent to
the castle--the Americans, and several others. on
hoard the "Consnrl'' and Erie At4 A. NJ,
The boats Of the French squadron. containing be-
tween twelve and fifteen hundred men, attacked
he town under cover Of very dense fog, so that
they were not perceived till on the mole, and in
The fort.
They landed in three dvisions--at the North
and South forts, and the centre at the Mole, com-
manded by Admiral Baudin in person. Their
approach was first announced by the blowing up
of the gate. In few moments they had posses
sion Of the town. The troops in town did not
exceed four hundred; and so scattered, that they
made no stand brforc the French, hut retreated to
the barracks on the south of the city, where they
were soon joined by Santa Anna. who narrowly
escaped from his bed by the roof Of the adjoining
house, while the guard at his door were disputing
most gallanty the entrance Of the French; nor did
they succeed, until they were about to blow up
the door, when the Mexicans fled to save the pro-
perly Of their Generals friend. So soon as the
Prince de Joinville, who led this party succeeded
in securing General Arlsta, who was III bed at the
time Of the attack, in the next room to Santa An
ma and perceived he had just missed the latter, as
his bed was warm. he rushed to the attack of the
barracks. whore he learned the Mexcans had
made stand. lie was, however. warmly re-
ce,ved, and repulsed; and after a long conflict,
driven from before them; and General Santa Anna
continued to harass them from the houses, &C.,
till they reached the Mole where he assembled
about two hundred and fifty Of his men, and made
a rush to secure the Prince or the Admiral; but,
fortunately for the latter. they had small field
piece on the end ofthe Mole, charged to the muz-
zle with grape and canister, and, as the Mexicans
approached, led on by Santa Anna in most gallant
style, they discharged the fatal piece. and no doubt
saved their Admiral, at whom the Mexican fire
was principally levelled.
By this discharge, Gen. Santa Anna lost his
left leg, and received wound in his right arm; it
killed three officers and three men, and wounded
six seven others. 1t checked their progress
Tor the moment, and the French succeeded in
completing their embarka,ion. Thc Admira's
'oxswain had SIX shot in various parts Of his body.
midshipman and boy were killed beside him.
he loss Of the French is estimated at about fifteen
'r eighteen killed, and fifty wounded the proper
ion of officers is very great The loss of the
Mexicans, so far as have been able 10 ascertain,
vas not third, which is readily accounted for,
IS they fought under cover, except at the Mole,
where, the foreigners who we're present. gave
hem great credit for their gallaniry; and the
, 4 &c de JoinvilIe said, .'they defended their
'arracks most galantly."
The last. and perhaps most gallant act of Gen.
Santa Annals llr has done much to re-establish
lin in the good opinion Of the soldiery. Since
he ampuation Of his leg, which is below the
NEE. he is doing well, and still retains the COM
nand. The French say their object III this attack
vas simply to destroy the forts to prevent their
nnoying them in another, and to take Santa An
Ia and Arsta; and had they not attacked the bar
acks they would have accomplished their object
ith comparatively no loss; but as il is, they
he best Judges whether or not the object was
worthy the sacrifice. 1t has given the Mexicans
'reat confidence, and they will find them more
ea'y and willing for the conflict when they next
ssa'i them. 1t is said, and believe truly, that
heir surprise on the morning Of the 9Th ultmo
" In AJn;.,j D,,Iir, soyiu1 in hS