Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-11-26
Late from the Gulf Squadron.


The New Orleans papers contain letters from The
Squadron giving account of second abortive attack
Alvarado, and an expedition against Tobasco. The
failure of the Commodore in his attempt upon Alvar-
ado, is owing to want of galantry skill his
part or that Of his officers The difficulties he has
had to surmount have been insuperable far; but
he will yet prevail. He will, in few weeks, renew
his attempt at all hazards
OCTOBER ID, off Antonio Lizardo.-At o'clock.
p M, Commodore Conner issued orders for the sail
ing OF the squadron, (frgates Cumberland and Rari-
tan excepted) for the mouth of the Alyaado river.
The Commodore takes command of the expedition in
person, making use of the Vixen his flag
ship for the occasion. One o'clock tomorrow MORN
ing is the hour fixed for getting under way, and al
ready the steamers Mississippi, Vixen, and McLane
are firing up. Besides these vessels, the furce con-
sss of the cutter Forward schooners Refer
Petrol, and Bonita, and prize schooner Nonata. This
latter vessel was recently captured from the Next
cans, and was formerly the American schooner Belle,
out OF your port. She mounts four 42-pOund
carronades. For the past month we have been drill
ing our men as infantry upon small island here,
and Jack is anxious for fight, that he marks time
with good grace and every one appears pleased
that at last we to have 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 CUR boats being anchored inside.
the 18th were countermanded, In consequence of its
blowing too fresh for operations, occasioning delay
of the expedition for tweny-four hours. We sailed,
however, at o'clock, a. m yesterday; but regret
to say that we all at anchor again to-day, and
Alvarado is yet in possession of the Mexicans.
We were within ten miles of the mouth of the river
at daylight, and stood slowly IN to shore, it being dead
calm-the Vixen and McLane towing the schooners.
The Mississippi anchored at long-shot distance, and
commenced her fire. Up to this time, everything op-
peared highly favorable for the of the exped-
ton. There being heavy swell on the bar, the p-
lots declined taking the vessels over The CommU-
dore leading in the Vixen with the rest of the force
following, passed by the fort, each vessel firing her
broadside she ranged ahead, with but little effect,
however, owing to the distance long eighteen in
the Forward, sent shot directly into the fort-his
movement repeated with better success, tie DIS
lance being lessened and again the Forward made a
most beautiful shot. In the meantime the Mlssissip-
pi had closed up aud was exploding her Paxhans
about the heads of the Mexicans In a way that must
have made some of them more stars than the
Lord made. One shot from her dismounted q
heavy gun of theirs from a soekade, this they soon
remeded but thus far all their shot had fallen short
During the morning several of our boats sounded
within half mile of the fort receiving the fire of the
enemy with much IMMUNITY as Indifference. The
swell on the bar having somewhat subsidized p.
M, the line was formed as follows: steamer Vixen,
flagship, towing gun-boats Refer and Bonita (;
ward and gun-boat Petrol then two launches, three
cutters, and barge, containing force destined for
boarding the vessels of brought up the 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 twothrds Of his force, and being unable
TO sustain the FIRE of tweye-gun battery with but
four light pieces of his own, obliged to retreat
The force in the boats now exposed TO a heavy
fire, the shot flying thick and fast around u.s. and had
the Mexicans fired grape, it would have knocked some
of us into fits. We escaped, however, with a good
ducking from the spray OF the balls
Ii being late In the day for any further
operations signal was made for return to anchorage,
and thus ended this boodless combat-boodless not
because each and every of would not have
shed our hearts best blood to have gained the day
not because our plan of attack not good, that
not properly led, but because Providence has
provided the enemy with such natural defence
not be overcome by naval attack with such means
Commodore Conner has at his disposal. The
McLane is an. abomnable abortion, Ito make use of
your own word,) drawing too much water to be
servceable and with not sufficient power to drive her
over three and half knots hour; but it is due
to Captain Howard to say, that soon as he got his
vessel aoat again, he proered to make another at
tempt to pass the bar, but the commodore declined,
as it was now too late in the afternoon.
There remains one way to take this Alvarado, and
mark my words, it will be done before many weeks
meanwhile must expect to be severely handled by
the newspapers at home, and by people who expect
accomplish impossibilities and gain glory field
where is to be won-although no man, with two
ideas in his head who witnessed our recent defeat,
can attribute blame to any one.
October 25-On the night of the 18th instant, the
three steamers, cutter Forward, schooners Bonita,
Refer and Nonata, under command of Com. Perry,
left Antonio Lzardo for attack on TUbasco. On
the morning of the 18th, the Mississippi made
prize Of the American barque Coosa, Capt. Hlck-
ling off Alvarado river, and sent her into this place,
upon suspicion of her being about to land her cargo
on the Mexican coast This vessel cleared from
New Orleans the Sd instant for Havana. by
Messrs. Wylic & Egana, with 1900 bales Of cot
ton, put up in 200 pound bales, and there appears
good reason to suppose that it was intended for Mex
leo. She will sail for your port on the 9th, in
charge of Passed Midshipman Barrett, of one of
your former collectors.
To-day another prize, the Yucstan schooner GEL
Teegrafo," arrived from the Tobasco expedition on
the 3d. and reports the feet standing off the land
awaiting for weather to 60 into the river.
OF We observe by the last State Sentinel, that
Mr.. j. S. SPANN, formerly junior proprietor of the
Indiana Democrat has united himself with the Messrs