The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-16
BY last Evenings Southern Mail.
FROM THE GULF SQUADRON.
We give the following particulars, in addition to
what VIC Published on Saturday evening"

what We published on Saturday evening;
From the N. o Picayune, Nov. g.
We so fortunate as 10 receive yesterday, by
pilot boat, which touched at the Balize, adyiees
from the squadron in the Gulf down to the 9Th OF
October. The accounts very interesting, bat we
regret TO say favorable 10 the success Of our
arms. On the 18Th October second attempt was
made by Com. Conner upon Alyarado. In con-
sequence OF the grounding Of one Of the vessels,
which had three others in tow, the commodore
found himself most reluctantly compelled to aban-
don the enterprise We cannot give an adequate
representation Of the disappointment of men and
officers engaged in the affair. They suffered no
loss, but from unavoidable accidents from the force
of circumstances beyond their power to control they
could not get into action with their enemy at close
quarters as they desired
The gallant old commodore was the most chagrin
cd OF all, lie took the command Of the expedition
IN person, upon the steamer Vixen. His vessel
succeeded Ia getting the bar and reaching the
desired position, where she stood the brunt of the
fire Of the Mexican battery Of twelve guns, ill the
MeLane got aground, and it would have been fool
hardness to persist in the enterprise. Com. Conner
stood all the while upon the wheel house of the
Vixen, calm and unrufied, while the shot flew
around him. One ball, striking short OF the schoon-
err dashed the water his person, filling his face
and eyes. Unmoyed, he wiped the water from his
face, and socitous only for others, inquired IL any
one was hurt His bearing is described TO Us AS
everything that we could have wished. Perfectly
unruled he would not expose to useless hazard his
oommand after became evident that from accident
the enterprise must fail His officers and men, how
ever, rendered half frantic by the order 10
Withdraw. There was nothing 80 rash and desper-
rate that they would not have performed IL, rather
than have obeyed the summons To desst.
The reader will find perfectly clear, connected
account OF the affair in the letters subjoined.
THE letters referred to were published in satur-
days "Union."l
We have some triAing incidents connected with
the subjects touched upon in the above letters
which were not written for publication, but may not
be without their interest. Don Thomas Marin, one
of the most accomplished officers 10 the Mexican
navy, commanded the Notifications Of Alyarado.
The paper containing his report OF the attack has
been accidentally misaid, or we would give the
whole Of az but tits In the usual style Of Mexican re-
ports. He declares that he is ready for us again
at any moment, and this probably 10 true. The
commodore, from his position In advance on the
Vixen, discovered another Mexican work half
mile further up the river, lagoon as il may more
property be called, where three guns were mounted
in battery, and supported by gun-brig and two
gun-boats, serving as water batteries. Perhaps il
was The discovery of these additional means Of de-
fence which influenced the commodore not to per
ssi IN his attack without the support OF more OF his
force. In the report nf Sehor Marin the loss Of the
Mexicans Is not mentioned, but he speaks Of the
los 0f one Mexican officer who was not on duty,
but 10 The streets Of the half mile back Of the
fort. He was captain in the army, and struck
by Shell from the Mississippi and we need not say
was almost annhiIated. Another shell from the
Mississippi set the Mexican coors fire in the fort
but they were speedily replaced. ..
In this attack the same pilot who was on board
the TIuxtun when abe got ashore plloted the Nc.
Lane. His name 10 Jim Mcneil and he is Scotch
man. He discharged his duty under the impressive
belief that upon the first accident he would be shot
We believer is not pretended that he played US
false The pilot gave warning of the danger in
season, and the vessel went ashore IN going about
That we should have escaped from this enterprise
without any loss appears almost miraculous, 30
thickly flew the shot, Ii struck all around the boats
ii ricocheIted them, and one shot struck an
oar blade. Had grape-shot been thrown, should
undoubtedly have had lsmentable loss of life to
record.
The attack was a subject Of remark among the of.
hcers Of the foreign vessels that station So far
as is known, they look upon the issue unfortu.
nate, but as IN no way disgraceful TO our arms.
They fully appreciated the difficulties which we
had to encounter, and were not surprised by the
suit. II is idle to deny, however that the result
will disaPpont the country, and we might be ready
to join in lamenu,' over it were we not assured
that the commodore by no means despars of succeed
ing IN his purpose, multfarous as are the difficulties
he will have to encounter Some of these difficulties
will have suggested themselves to the reader already
and others have, ere this, been obviaed over
come But It Is idle to conceal the fact that the nat
ural defences of Alvarado are Of character the
most formidable, and in every attempt which may
be made our vessels must incur great hazards quite
independent Of the artificial defences of the river
We have no design of interposing defence for
Commodore Conner The facts OF the case will be
his defence to those who are acquainted with
the difficulties Of his position; but we wish to call
attention very seriously to these facts detailed in
our correspondents letters, that none may form
rash conclusion in the premises. We have reason to
presume that Com. Conner would at once have pro. |
ceeded TO organize the plan Of another attack upon AL
varado had not he deemed tproper to despatch the
petition against Tabasco the day after his repulse
by which movement he has given another opportu-
nifty to his officers, chafed and mortified to wipe out
the remembrance of their recent misfortune at the
same time being generous enough to allow his sec
ond in command Com. Perry to achieve something
upon aheid where 1t was not point Of honor with
himself to take the command in person. Upon the /
Iabasco expedition, Com. Perry has taken with him /
about 40O officers and men from the Cumberland and
Raritan as auxliaries. With this expedition have |
gone, too, almost all the marines in the squadron
The commodore has done everything to insure its |
success. ." a '"" '... 49, II"
We are sorry for our friend Howard of the Nc
Lane. His vessel is quite too SLOW for him, and is /
not worth the powder it would take to blow her to
pieces. In going down to Tabasco the Mississippi
with three schooners in tow had lay to- to enable
the McLane to come up, and finally the Mississippi
took the McLane herself in tow. But despite his /
slow boat, Capt Howard had opportunity to show
his stomach for fight and retired with unspeakable
reluctance agreeably to orders.
We have some notices of the state of the defcnces
of San Juan de Ulloa There is nothing very new
about them but they confirm all that we have before
said Of the almost mpregnable strength of that sec.
ond Gibraltar. There are 204 guns mounted, of |
heavy calibre, and reinforcement of 800 artille-
rs,s, principally French has recently been added to
the garrison. Speaking Of the strength of the for
tress, the English commanding officer on that stn-
ton recently remarked that England and the United
States together had not ships enough aHoat to take IL
We have an anecdote IN regard to the barque
Coosa not without interest As the Coosa was
lying off Anton. Lzardo boat from her, manned
BY sailors from the squadron, was caught by sud-
den change Of wind and blown ashore. The sailors
succeeded in passing themselves off as the crew of
the barque, and they communicated with the con-
signce of the vessel. He proceeded in consequences
to write letter to be forwarded by them to the cap
tain of the barque, and in the Of delivering
II to them when some gave him hint that they
were men-of wars men. He sent Immediately off
for guard to apprehend them, threatening to have
their throas cut in sx hours. nt before the lopcera