The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-11-06
SAN JUAN DE uLUA.


loss OF life; nor 10 We suppose that our Gov.
eminent designs 10 make an attempt which
il successful, would not Compensate for the
inevitable cost, and If unfortunate, would
reflect disgrace upon our arms. The de.
scriplion given in the News is none the less
Interesting on THIS account:
san Jsan de Uiaa.-On the iermina.
ton Of the war with Spain, after the mis-.
cradle remains oi their garrison had been
Seut cii to Havana, | went with two com
panics over tie castle OF Saa Juan de Ulua
1t is i tremendous place If nte!l well man.
ned. No wonder II held out so long. Had
Il not been for the raging Of the yellow
fever within It's walls and the want OF pro-
visions, the MeNcans would never have
taken II without naval force very supe.
nor to the one they then possessed though
they have never since had any force com
parable 10 that one.
The ou,cr walls Of this fortress are Of
immeuse taicaness-upward Of twelve feet;
and in the positions most exposed, the
walls are seventeen or eighteen feet ia
depth Of solid white stone. Ii is a very
porous aud rather soft stone, so tha, balls
do not split or crack il SO much as they
quietly Imbed themselves. These outer
walls have batteries oil round the guns
were vel planted, with here aud there
neat corner Tor u mortar. The inner walls
are socousuucted that il the outer walls are
gained It Mould sl,I be at siaugh,erous
expense to the besicgers, if the garrison
were at all competent to avail themselves
O! ten position.
We entered the fortress from below al
the principal gate, which was Of great
strength aud very skillully contflyed !; aud
lhen went along stone passage, which
had several gaeways aud cunnlngly de.
,sed narrow passes, with high stone
walls on each side. This was terminated
by canal on mpat, wiIh draw brdge 0.
yer H. We next arrived at flights Of
stairs, anl passing up several vaultIihe as.
cents We gained the top Of the grand bat.
tcries. Their genera characteristic is
that Of great strength aud plenty Of room
10 work 70. They mounted one hundred
anl twenty long ~ Founders, all 81 brass.
They we're for The most part 10 excellent
condition. Tue mortars were Of large
calibfe, though mol IN such good order as
The guns. The powder magazines were
each literally dry stone well, plugged a;
the top with blankets, nd having a round
metal lld over lhe mouth that opened upon
the batteries.
We nex, descended to tic inner works.
and gained the secondary walls by a CIR.
cuilous route. Besides the recessl,y to
the JeselgeIs Of having guides VINO well
know every turn Of the works, the excite.
ment and smoke are almost certain to
produce confusion, ia which the voice or
presence Of The guides would be lost, and
the party dashing onward might ony ar
rive q, dead val, a Lap looking gu, Or.
On The sea Of the mouth Of - FOUNDER
The clrcutUus tuu'c Of our descent from
the upper 70 the iuaeg range of walls vas
entirely exposed 10 their batteries, he guns
grnnng at Us all the way Ike 81 many
black tusks as ne tIaycrscd stone cause.
ways and mario" passes. Whole req.
nents might here be rakej down after
they had conquered The outer wall. Bot
the chances ol var arc numerous and
one lmperiecllon N the CREATES, power OF
Otherwise pedecl may render Il inapnh.
cable, MD perhaps ridiculous. Ga amy.
lng at their amer batteries We found the
guns N a wtctchcd condition. They acfu
30 better than Chinese effect "calcula.
ted 10 strike terror Iuio the mnd. Boz
one may imagine kow very angry the sub
tie nIchliect Ut tHIs formidable castle would
have been, could be have seen lis excel.
!-nt arrangements for the safe aud nearly
certain destruction II the assailant. thus
aboulyr.
We now descended very wide and steep
night Ut stone stars, which led duwa INTO
The grand castle squlfc, or lnrle town, as
'ne NIGH! almost call II. We entered at
he bottom through stone gatcways-the
architect had never missed an opportunity
Tor gIN'ng The besle-ed protection 10 re.
treating and time to raliy--and then found
ourselves IA a large open square, enclosed
ON all sides by very lofty walls, the lower
part o. which displayed doors and cntran.
ces, INTO barracks, guard. houses and shop,
OF various kinds for the sale of such ar.
hcies as garrison would need. The
Governor : house Is al the further end. /,
was genuine soldiers Iofgment, and very
bare OF all ornament, except those Of war,
tor II was rlddied all over with lie marks
OF shot aud shell. Its strong covered bal.
cony, intended 10 serve rs protection
both from tie bfolIIng sun aud from the
IAN oil missiles, was IN many places torn III
long gaps. All the towers and bulldino,
OF any elevation had also been knocked a.
bout and defaced by the sho, and shells
lIom Vera Cruz, previous to The sarren.
der OF the castle. But the mutlIstious and
destruction did not materially affect the
strength OF the place. Very, few Of tho
guns had been dIslodged; even the outer
batteries were not injured so as 10 render
'hem ineffective, with the exception of =
gap "i runs IN one or two places. There
IS about miles breadth OF sea runn,no
between San Juan de ulua and the town
Of Vera Cruz.