American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-16

yune tor an extra containing accounts OF ano-
Their Intellectual attack on Alvarado by our ma
val forces under Com. Conner. We deeply
regret this second failure, but at the same
time are not disposed tc censure our gallant
Navy, whose brave officers are no doubt deeply
chagrined on account of their want of success.
They have the spirit, skill and energy to gain
a victory, but the difficulties which they have
to contend against are apparently insurmoun-
table. The attack, however, will be renewed
again in few days, at all hazards, and we
trust will be triumphantIy successful. The
following is the account as furnished by the
correspondent ofthe Picayune:
OFF ANTON LIzARDo,
October 18th, 1916.
GsntIsmen:-We are on tho eve of another
attack on Alvarado. At o'clock this after
noon Com. Conner issued orders for the sailing
of the squadron (frigates Cumberland and Ra-
rtan excepted) for the mouth of Avarado RI
yer. The Commodore takes command of the
expedition in person, making use ofthe steamer
Vixen as his flag ship for the occasion. One
o'clock tomorrow morning is the hour fixed for
getting under weigh, and already the steamers
Vixen and McLane are firing up. Besides these
vessels the force consists of the revenue cutter
Forward, schooners Refer, Fetrel, and Boni-
to, and Prize schooner Nonata. This latter
vessel was recently captured from the Mexi-
cans, and was formerly the American schooner
Belle, out of your port. She now mounts four
42-pound carronades. For the past month we
have been drilling our men as infantry upon
small island here, and Jack is so anxious for
fight that he marks time with good grace,
and every one appears pleased that at last we
are to have a chance at the enemy.
At the mouth of the river the Mexcans have
a ten gun battery and we know of brig of
war and two gunboats being anchored inside
A number of their small merchantmen have
taken refuge in the harbor, and there must be
smart sprinkling of prize-meney in store
for US.
October l6.-Our sailing orders for the morn
ing of the l4th were countermanded in conse-
quence of its blowing too fresh for operations
occasiening delay of the expedition for %
hours. We sailed, however, at l o'clock, A.
NJ, yesterday, but regret to say that we are
all at anchor again to-day and .4luarado is still
in possession Of The MericanS.
You were pleased to call the former attack
on Alvarado an abortion, and | suppose you
will not be sparing of hard names for the pre-
sent failure; but trust that when you examine
the facts of the case, you will understand
that it is owing to the inefficiency of the means
at the disposal of Com. Conner, and to the ma
tural defences of the place itself, that we have
not been successful, rather to any want of
skill or courage on his part, or lack of spirit
and support by the officers and men under his
command.
We were within ten miles of the mouth of
the river Mt daylight and stood slowly into
shore, it being dead calm-the Vixen and Me-
Lane towing the schooners-the Mississippi
anchored at long shot distance and commenced
her fire. Up to this time everything appeared
highly favorable for the success of the exped-
ton. There being heavy swell OH the bar
the pilots declined taking the vessels over
The Commodore leading in the Vixen, with
the rest of the force following, passed by the
fort, each vessel firing at her broadsldes as she
ragged ahead, with but little effect, however,
owing to the distaace A long eighteen in the
Forward sent shot directly into the fort
this movement was repeated with better sue
cess, the distance being ossened and again the
Forward made most beautiful shot. In the
meanwhile the Mississippi had closed up and
was exploding her Paixhans about the heads OF
the Mexicans in a way that must have made
some of them see more stars than the Lord
ever made. One shot from her dismounted a
heavy gun of theirs from a stoCkade; this they
soon remeded, but thus far all their shots had
fallen short. During the morning several OF
our boats sounded within half mile of the
fort, receiving the fire of the enemy with as
much IMMUNITY as indifference. The swell on
the bar having somewhat subsidized at | ?. M 3.
the line was formed as follows: steamer Vixen,
| flag ship, towing gun-boats Refer and Bonita
steamer McLane, towing the Nonata; cutter
Forward and gunboat Petrol; then two laun-
ches, three cutters and barge, containing a
force destined for boarding the vessels of war,
brought up the rear. The Vixen, with her
tow passed the bar and took position within
| point blank range, but the McLane stuck fast
and the Commodore finding himself deprived
of the support of twothirds OF his force, and
| being unable to sustain the fire of a twelve-gun
battery with but four light pieces of his own
was obliged to retreat The force in the boats
was now exposed to a heavy fire, the shot fly.
ing thick and fast around US, and had the Mex
leans fired grape it would have knocked some
of us into fits We escaped, however, with a
good ducking from the spray of the balls.
1t being now too late in the day for any fur
ther operations, signal was made for return t.
anchorage, and thus ended this bloodess com
bat, bloodless not because each and every mar
of us would not have shed our hearts best t.
have gained the day, not because our plan o
attack was not good, or that we were not pro
perly led, but because Providence has provided
the enemy with such natural deences as can
not be overcome by naval attack with sucl
means as Com. Conner has at his disposal
The McLane is an abomnable abortion, Il,
make use of your own word;) drawing to,
much water to be servicable, and with not snf
fcient power to drive her over three and
half knots an honr-but it is due to Captain