The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-19
FROM THE GULF SQUADRON.
Extract of a letter from Com. Conner, to III
Secretary of the Navy =
~. S. Ship Cumberland. }

~. s. Ship Cumberland. ,
of Tera Cruz. October I8. 1885,
at is with feelings of deep modification that |
apprIZe the department of the failure of another
attempt To enter the river of Alvarado.
On the morning of the 18th, a little after
sunrise, | reached the entrance of that river, with
the steamer Vixen, the three gunboats, and prize
schooner Nonala, mounting four guns, and the
revenue vessels, schooner Forward and steamer
McLane, accompanied by the Mississippi, Com
Perry. Ii was intended the latter should cannon
ade the battery, while the smaller vessels crossed
the bar. II was found. however, she could not
approach near enough to make any impression on
the work with her shells. This battery mounted
seven guns and Immediately behind il, on an
elevated knoll, was a platform, on which was a
mounted pivot gun. Knowing the small power
of the steamers on which | depended to tow the
small vessels over the bar. and up the river, |
was DESTROYS of having a favorable wind 10 assist
them. For this purpose | deli yed moving until
two O'Clock, but seeing no prospect Of the usual
sea breeze setting in. | determined To proceed
The first division, composed of the Refer and
Bonita. in tow Of The Vixen, got under way. and
was followed by the secOnd division. CONSISTING ,f
The Nonala. Forward, and Petrol, towed BY the
McLane. As they approached the bar the cur.
rent became stronger, causing the steamers to
steer badly, and lessening their progress to not
more than a mile, or a mile and a half to the
hour.
1.-The first division continued 10 advance stea-
Oily, and had been some time engaged with the
battery, when | had The modification to see the
mcLane aground on the bar, and the vessels she
had in tow foul Of each other, in the greatest dis
order.
$ II was evident no support could be exoec.
ted from the second division for some time. if al all.
and as the three vessels composing the first, were
wholly inadequate to prosecute the attack, even
If they could pass the battery. with which we
were engaged, ! was constrained To order the
vixen to be PIT about, and repass the bar.
"t may be we'll TO observe here, thai besides
The battery at the entrance VI the river, there is
another at The town, one and a half miles distant. Of.
three gnns. with two briggs, each mounting nine
guns, a schooner Of seven guns, and two g~unboats.
each carrying a long 24 pounder-aIl so disposed as
TO command The channel. BY the time the Vixen
joined her, The McLano was again s6uat. without
having sustained any material injury. 1t was oh.
viOus. however, her draft (ten feet two inches)
was too great to pass the bar in its present state
Generally, there are from thirteen to fifteen fec,
on il, and nv information led me to believe
sbor'I "..,cj tuat depth now but the late floods
have probably lessened it, as on sonndiny preyi.
onsly 10 entering, there were barely twelve feet.
The Vixen struck twice in going over. thoyoh
drawing only seven feet. The current was also
stronger in the river than I expected. aad If sbe
should pass the bar, | felt convinced that the |
power Of the McIane was inadeonate To make |
head against 1t with any vessel in tow. These
considerstIons-and the day being far spent