Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-11-30

Hon JogS y. MASON.
Secretary 81 the Navy, Washington.
A detailed account Of the proceedings Of he
Efpedif'on NHder my eomm0Rd oiOHg the
Eastsra Coast Of MGrioo.
lcit the snchorsgc at ST. John Lixsrtlo nn
the evening oi the 10th Of October, with the
steamer Mississippi. having on board de-.
,achment OF 200 officers, scsmen and marines
under the command OF Capt French Forrest.
end. in tow, the steamer Vixen. and sChooncr n
Bonita, Refer and Nonsta, respectively
commanded by Commander Sands. and Lieu.
tenants Commandsnt, Benham, Stercit, and
Hazard. and the schooner Forward, aud stea-
iner McL1ne commanded by Captains Nones
aud Howard OF the revsnue marine.
The next morning al daylight captured,
OIL the hsr oi Alvarado, the American barque
''Coosa. found in reasonable commune
ton with the enemy; and the same day the
/" Vixen chased aud boarded the American
schooner " Poriis." The Coos" was DIES.
patched TO this place prize, and the Porlia |
WAS permitted To proceed, her papers having |,
been endorsed. From the dsy of our leaving |
/" Alvarddo" 1.-THE l7th) up TO The 22d we had |
succession of VERY bid weat hrr. which |
gave me much trouble in keeping INV liule
command together. During the interval.
however, we captured and sent in the Mex.
can schooner 4" Telegrs ph"
On the 23d. all the vessels, with the eIcep.
ton OF the ' Reeter," previously separated
10 gale) reached the bar of the river Tahas-
CO; aud having determined on attacking tn,
COMMERCIAL town OF FronieTs. OF the mouth
oi the nver, aud the city OF Tabasco, sitaa-
ted "a miles higher mp. placed n,s.li on
bosi the Vixen" having the " Mis.issir.
~ ia commend oi CoinmandeT Adams. at
anchor outside, aud taking in tow the b.
nita aud " Forward" with the bsrrcs CON
tanning the detachment uudcr command OF
Captain Forrest. crossed the bar, the :. No
nsIa' following under ssil.
The Vixen, with this heavy drag. s,cadi.
y assembled the stream against q iour.knot
and arriving near To Frontiers. dis ,
covered two stes meIs, (of which had rrcci-
we'd previous informstion) firing up, doubt.
rss Ia the hope OF escape, bnI we were too
;lose upon them. Casting of her tow. tn,
vixen proceeded ahead. followed by the
oihef Nesselssnd baTges, and al once the town
Tue steamers, and all the vessels in por, were
In OuI possessl pn, excepting only the schoon-
~ Amado- which vessel. attempting io es l
cape up the uVeT, was pursued by Lieut..
Commandant Bcnham in the " Bonita. aud
captured.
Desirous OF reaching Tabasco before they
would have time tor increasing their a, fences |
the deischmcnt under Captain Forrest WAS
placed on board the largest ol the captured
steamers, the " Petriia." sud she. with ,he
e Nonata,' the " Forward" aud the bsrgcs in
IN tow, aud the 4" Vixen with the bonita"
lcit frontea at bali past the next morning.
w alSh lett ~ Command oi the placr
Alter Streaming all night. aud eacountering
VARIOUS incidents arising from the rapi,li,y oi /
the current and the circuitou, course at the |
.ff A "a a
Eight OF Fort Acescllappa. intended la com 4
maud most difficult pas, oi the liver. On I
our approach, the men employed IN prspar. |
ing the guns Tor service fed and We ps s,.i n \
unmolrs'ed. bat Was Carciul To cause the
guns to b. spiked.
Anticipating serious resistance az thi I, |
place, arrangements had bren made ior land. I,
ing Capt Forrest, with his d tachment a mill, /
below the tort, 10 march up snd cary il by
storm.
Atnoou, oil the vessels anchored ia line o(
battle ia trout OF the city at halt mu,ktt
range when immediately summoned IL to
surrender, the boats meanwhile lpring cmploy-
ed ~ securing 1--we merchant vess,'ls found at
anchor in the port.
To my summons, sent by flag with Can't.
Forrest, refusal to- cspiiulate was returned
with an invitation Ia me to fire as soon A.
pleased. Suspecting ~ dbl that this answer
was gwen more 10 brav5do than in earnest
aud being extremely reluctant TO destroy the
place entertained the hope that few shots
hired over the buildings would have caused a
surrender. Accordingly. directed the guns
Oi the = vixen alone to be- fired. aud at tie
h'g stan. sendiag az order 60 oil thc vessels
To ayold, - far - possible. ~ case Of gen.
ersl hse, INJURY To tlIc houses distinguished by
consulsr flags
I AZ the third discharge from the "Viscn"
/ the hagdisappeaud from the staff. On see.
ing u down, ordered the firing to cease. and
sent Capt. Forrest again sshoTc to learn
whether II bad been cut down by our shot. ar
pnrPosely struck; the reply was. that Il had
bccn shot away, and the city would not b,
/ surrendered.
nov directed Capt Forrest. with the force
under ms command. To land aud take posi-
lion ~ ihe cay, commanded by ouf guns 49,
Tbs movement brought on a scattering mr..
OF muskriTy from various parts at the ,it,
which was returned by the houlh
! Percciying towards evening that the enc.
my dad us bat LILLE injury. though otenl, ?,
! Poset on The decks OF the small vessels ant
/ Their balls passing through our slipht hul.
wafks, and experimenting. from the pgoyerb
81 heediessness at sailors that should they and
/ 30 marines b. attacked in the narrow streets
after DIRK they would be- cut on by shsrp
-hno''is tom doe houses. ordered tl,, del,fb
m'ui to ~ re-rmiafkcd