Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-27
Capturc OF I'aba>cO!
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

"Niss,ssnp." tav,ng 6oard detachment OF
800 officers, seamen ami marines, under com
mand OF Captain Ffeoch Forrest, and IN aofo' the
seamer Vixen" aud - ho"ners 'Bonfa, nesi
er"ani ''Nonala" Respectively comma lle1 y
Commander Sands, and Lirupvnan's Iohhdhu
an, P.nh,m Sirrrctt and Hazard and ihe schoon-
or nPorw.rd." and steamer "McLane, com
1919 ~, can,aips Noucs an Howard, OF The
revenue marine. a.
TIL. next morning at daylight captured. OF
rho bar IF Alyarado, he American barque Goo
sa D e,und in reasonable communication win
The enemy; and The same day The Vixen" chased
and boarded The American schooner "Porlia. -
The "Coosa" was despatched TO ms pace ds
prize, and The "PoIlia" was permitted 10 proceed
,r 80 nsrs having been endorsed From The
dav OF our leaving Alvarado 1.-The lNhIu up 10 me
32j we had a succession OF very bad weather,
which gave me much trouble in keeping my little
command together. During the interval. how
. ever We ca ptured and sent in the Mexican schr
Photograph"
On The 23d all the vessels, with The exception
of The "Reeier," previously separated IN gale,)
reached The bar 0! Inc river Tabasco; ana nav
ing determined on attacking line commercial Town
Of Fronlera, al he mouth OF The river ana me
civ of Tabasco situated "a miles higher up,
placed myseli on board the Vixen" leaving
The "Missis,ippi" in command of Commander
Adams. a, anchor outside, and taking in tow the
"Bonita" and "Forwaid," with the barses con-
tainins The de,ac hment under command OF CaP
Forrest. crossed the bar, the "Nonata" following
under sail.
The "vixen" with this heavy drag steadily as
cended the stream against a lourknot current
and arriving near 10 Frontera, | discovered two
steamers (of which had received previous in
forma,ion) firing up, doubtless in the hope OF es-
cape, but we we're TOO close upon them. Casting
of her tow, the "Vxen" proceeded ahead, fol-
lowed by The other vessels and barges, and at
once the town. The teamers. and all the vessels
in port were in our possession, excepting o0ly me
schooner "Amado," which vessel. attempting 10
escape up he river, waspursned by Lieut.. Com
mandant Benhan IN the BONITA and captured.
DESTROYS OF reaching Tabasco before they
would have time Tor increasing their defences,
the detachment under Captain Forrest was placed
on board he largest OF the captured slea mers, the
"Petrita," and she, with The 'Nonata," the "For-
ward" and The barges in tow, and the "VxeD," "
with the "Bona," left Frontera al half.past 9
The next morning, Lieut.. Walsh being left in
command Of the place.
After SCANNING all night, and encounterng va
rious incidents arising from the rapidiiy Of The
current AMI the circuitous course OF the stream,
we arrived al 9 the next moroing in sight OF Fort
Aceachappa, intended 10 command most diff
cult pass OF the river. On our approach The
men employed in preparing The guns for service
fed, and We passed il unmolesied, but was care
full 10 cause The guns 10 be spiked
Anticipating serious resistance al this place,
arrangements had been made for landing Capt.
Forrest with his detachment mile below the
fort, 10 march up and carry il by storm.
AT noon, all the vessels anchored in line Of
battle in front of the CITY al half-muskel range,
when Immediately summoned it TO surrender,
The boats meanwhile being employed in securing
five merchant vessels found al anchor in The port.
To nv summons sent by a flag with Capt For
rest, refusal 10 captn!ae was returned, with an
invitation 10 me TO IRE soon as pleased. Sus-
pectins, as did, that this answer was given more
in bravaco than IN earnest, and being extremely
reluctant TO destroy the place, | entertained the
hope that a few shots fired over the buildings
would have caused a surrender Accordingly,
directed the guns of the "Vixen" alone TO be
fired, and al the flag staff sending an order 10 all
the vessels 10 avoid, so far possible, in case OF
general FIRE, injury To the houses distinguished
by consular flags.
At the third discharge from The "Vixen," the
nag disappeared from The staff. On seeing i,
down, ordered he firing 10 cease, and sen, Cap
tain Forrest again ashore 10 learn whether il had
the reply was, that il had been shot away. and the
city would no. be surrendered.
/ now directed Capt. Forrest, with he force IN
der his command, 10 land and take a position in
The CITY, commanded by our guns. This move
ment brought on scattering fire Of muskerry
from various parts Of the city, which was returned
by the f1oiilia.
Perceiving towards evening that the enemy oil
US but little injury, though openly exposed on the
decks Of the small vessels, and their balls passing
through our slight bulwarks, and experimenting
from the pIovcIhia beediessEess oil sailors, that
should they and the marines be attacked in the
narrow streets alter dark, they would be cut Oh
by sharp-shooters from the houses, ordered the
detachment 10 be IeembaTGed.
In this position The vessels remained all night,
the crews lying at their quarters ready 10 return
The fire OF the artillery OF the enemy, which VI
was supposed thew would have had The courage 10
have brought down under cover of The nigh! 10
the openings o. the streets opposite I, our yes
sells, but they left Us undis'urted.
Learning that line merchants, and other Gill;
Gems of the citr were DESTROYS that capituiaiion
should be made, bot were overru!ed by the Go
vernon, who, regardless al co sequences, and Sc
cure himself against attack, was content that Inc
city should be destroyed rather than surrendered
! determined from motives Of humanity no, u
fire again, bul TO pass down 10 Frontora with my
prizes.
In the morning, however, the fire was recon.
menced from The shore, and was necessarily re-
turned hui with renewed orders 10 regard the Con-
suar houses, so far as they could be distinguished
In the midst OF The FIRE, a flag Of truce was dis
played on shore on perceiving which, caused
The firing again 10 cease, and Captain Forrest
was semitic meet lis bearer, who submitted writ
ten communication addressed 10 me; copy Of
which, with copy Of my reply, marked and
c. will be found enclosed.
As an assurance oil my sincerity, now hois,ed
white flag, ana directed The prizes TO drop Gown
the stream, intending 10 follow with the fo,ila;
bu, in violation OF Ire understanding implied in
the before mentioned correspondence, The enemy,
10 discovering that one vi The prizes had driitcd
ashore in front OF the city. collected large force
within and behind The houses 10 The vicinity, and
commenced iu,iors fire upon her. Lieut.. Par
ker, OF This ship, in command OF The prize, &C.
Tended ner IN the mos, gallant manner and III
Iina,ey succeeded in getting her again atloat,
having one oi her men killed and two wounded
Ii vas in carving an order 10 Lieut.. Parker
that Lieut.. .,iorrIs was wounded. tie had been
OF infinite service to me from the time we left
Lizardo, aud, conducting himseliduring the OJm-
bardment with remarkable dellberation and cool
ness, he approached the prize IN line 10 cover
mis- boat, aud, though appa emily regardtul OF The
safety OF The officer and men OF the boat, who
were seated, he stood erect himself, and the ball
struck him in The throat. No one can depoIe the
tale of this very valuable young officer more than
myself. His loss is irreparabe 10 the service and
TO his family.
1t may well be supposed tina, on perceivng the
au4ck upon the prize, | rcopenci upon The city
which again silenced their fire. now proceed
ed with the flltiila and prizes down The river
One of the prizes, snail schoonerot little value,
having grounded in dangerous pass, and know
ing that il would be difficult 10 exlrcale her
without causing nconvenient delay, / ordered
her TO be burned.
We arrived safely al Fronlera on The evening
of the Goth, The "Vixen" having towed down the
river FIVE vessels and several barges.
From Frontera despatched my prizes 10 This
place; and after destroying all The vessels and
craft found in the river OF too Iitle value to be
manned, | proceeded on The 3ls TO relon you
leaving the "McLane"" and Forward" at anchor
opposite Fronera to continue the blockade OF The
river, and 10 afford protection and shelter 10 The
neutral merchants, residents Of the place, who
prolessed themselves in apprehension OF violence
from the Mexican soliery should they be left I'M
protected.
On our way 10 this place The prize steamer Pc
tr;,, in .omnany ami in sight OF this vessel can