Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-12-04
DESPATCH.

The following official Report of Commodore
PERRY furnishes an authentic account of the
first of our naval victories in the Mexican War
We find it in the Union, which heads its account
"CAPTURE OF ToBAsCo." though for the life OF us
we don't see that Tobasco is any more ''caltur-
cd than it was before the attack. However the
Union has monopoly of all the 9GiciM biunder-
ing in small way The communications mark
ed b. and c. referred to in Com. PERRy's Des-
PATCH are simply request on the part of the
foreign Merchants in Tobasco that he would
spare further destruction of the town, and Com.
PERRY : reply that he should do so unless hostl-
tiles should be Recommended by the Mexican
authorities:
a DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEED
INGS OF THE EXPEDITION UNDER MY
COMMAND ALONG THE EASTERN COAST
OF MEXlCO.
left the anchorage at St John I.izarlo on the eve
ming OF the 10th OF October with the steamer ISIS
issppi, having on board detachment of 200 officers
seanicn, and marines under command of Captain
French Forrest and in tar, the steamer Vixen and
s.hoonrrs "Bonita" Reeier,, and Nonata, respect
ivey commanded by Commander Sands and Lieutcn-
ants Colnlnaniant Bcnham, Scrrct and Hazard, and
the schooner Forward" and steamer" Ne Lane" COM
manied by Captains Nones and Howard OF the rev
enur marine.
The next morning at daylight | captured. Off the
bar OF Avarado, the American barque "Coost, found
IN treasnnablc COMMUNICATION with the enemy and
| the same day the Vixen chused and boarded the
American schooner "Poria" The "Coosa' was dcs-
patched to tins place as prize, and the Porta was
permitted To proceed her papers having been endorsed
From the day OF our leaving Avarado' (the l1thl NJ
TO the =? We had succession of very bad weather
which gave me much trouble i'll keeping INV command
together. During the interval however we capture,
and sent III the Mexican schooner "Tcrgraph"
On the 23i, all the vessels, with the exception of tn,
"Rcccr, previously separated in gale reached tn,
bar OF the river Tobasco and having determined ol
attacking the commercial town Of Fron,cra at TN
mouth OF the river, and the city OF Iabasco situated
miles higher up placed myself on board the vixen,
leaving the IN ississippi' in command Of Commodor
Adams, at anchor outside, and taking in tow the Bon
tia and Forward" with the barncs containing tn
detachment under command OF Captain Forrest,
crossed the bar, the "Nonata" following under sail.
The Vixen with this heavy drag steadily asccnde
the stream against our-knot current, and, arryin
, near TO trontera discovered two steamers (of whc
had received previous niormation) firing up, doubt
les IN the hope of escape, hut we too closc upo
them; tISiIng oil her tow, the Vixen procccdc
anead followed toy the other vessels and bargcs and
once the town. the steamers and all the vessels in poi
were m our possession, excepting only the schoonc
y Anado, which vessel, attempting to escape up III
rlvcr, was pursued by Lieut. Comnandant Bcnham
: the "Bonltn," and captured
DESTROYS OF reaching obasco before they would hay
time Tor increasing their dcienccs, the detachment ui
! Z
the captured steamers, the "Pttrita aud she with III
Il "Nonat1, the Forward and the barnes IN tow an
= tn" Vixen" with the Bonita left Frontera at ha
= past The next morning, Lieut.. Walsh being let,
! command OF the place.
Aiter scamng all night, and cncountcrng varo,
incidents arising from the rapidy OF the
the crcuitos course OF the strean arrived at I'll
G next morning IN sight OF Fort Accachappa intended
. command most difficult pass of the river On o,
approach the men employed in preparing the guns [,
service He'd and we past 1t unmolested but was
ful To cause the guns 10 be spiked
Anticipating, serious resistance AT this place arrang,
mcnis had been made tor landing Capt Forrest vii
his detachment mile below the fort, TO march up an
IS carry by Storm
J. front OF the city at halimuskct range, when imm,
It da'ty summoned II 10 surrender, the boats mcanwhi
- beng employed IN securing five merchant vessels four
d al anchor III the port
{ To my summons sent by n flag with Captain Fo
y rest refusal To captuate was returned, with inv
u iaion to me 10 tire as soon as pleased. Suspectn
IL as did that tins answer given more in bravat
than IN earnest and being extremely reluctant To de
troy the place, entertained the hope tina, few sfo
10 fired over the buildings would have caused surrcndc
Accordingly, directed the guns of the "NiXen" aloI
to be fired and the flag staff sending an order To
NJ the vessels To avoid So tar spo-sibc OF gc
" era ire, INJURY to the houses distinguished by consul
flags.
At the third discharge from the "yixenn the Il,
disappeared from the staff. On seeing it down. O
dercd the ilnng to cease, and sent Captain Forr,
he again ashore to learn whether had been down
our shot or purposcy struck the reply was, that it HI
IL been shot away and the city would not be surrende
IN ed
-, now directed Capt. Forrest, with the force und
to his command, to land and take position in the eli
so commanded by our guns. This movement brought
a scattering fire oi muskctry from various parts of I
city, which was returned by the ilotla
M fcrccNlng towards evening that the enemy did
" but little injury, though openly exposed ON the dee
ne OF the small vessels and their balls passing through
,lc slight buwarks, and experimenting from the provcr
hccdIcsslcss OF sailors that should they and the n
rncS be attacked in the streets after dark MI
w would be cut off by sharp shooters from the house,
- ordered the detachment 10 be re-embarked
Tor In this position the vessels remained all nrht
us crews lying at their quarters ready to return the fir,
the artillery OF the enemy, which it was supposed II
would have had the courage to have brought down
der cover OF the night 10 the openings of the streets
er- pose to vessels, but they lcil undsturied
Learning that the merchants and other citizens of
at- city were DESTROYS that a capuatiun should be ma
zen but oyerruled by the governor who regardless
-, consequences, and secure himself against attack
u content that the city should be DESTROYED rather /,
of surrendered, determined from motives of huunI
49, not to fire again, but to pass down To Frontcm
'hc my prizes.
*" In the morning, however, the fire was re-commcn
go from the shore, and was necessarily returned bui \
- renewed orders 10 regard the consular houses SO IA,
they could be distinguished. In the midst OF the