The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-15

We have been favored by the Navy Department with
the following correspondence, relative TO the capture OF
military stores, eighty miles in the interior OF Mexico
Commander Tatna has won that success which worthy
OF his bold and chiyalrous character:
SPTFRE, (before Tampco,) Nov. %, 1876,
SIR: Herewith is transmitted copy OF the report OF
Commander Tatmall, accompanied by communication
addressed by hun TO the alcalde OF Panuco detailing his
proceedings IN command OF detachment OF seamen and
marines, in the Spte and Pere, for the destruction OF
some cannon and other military lstoresl that had been
transported by the enemy from this place and deposited al
Panuco, a town on a river OF the same NAME about
eighty miles IN the interior This object has been judi
ciously and ably accomplished by Commander Tattnall
The steamer Neptune has just arrived from Brazos
with detachment of five hundred n, under COM
mand OF Col. Gates The steamer Sea may be expected
tomorrow with troops and artillery; and, am in
formel, others will follow without delay.
The place may now be considered as perfectly safe
against any attack that can be made by the enemy
am very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
d. CONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon joins Y. Mason,
Secretary OF the Navy.
UNITED STATES STEAMER SPIrFmE,
OFF Tampico, Nov. 22d, 1916.
SIR; have the honor to report the return OF the Spit.
fire and Petrol, Lieutenant Commanding Shaw, to this
anchorage, having performed the duty assigned me By
your order OF the 9TH instant
In company with the Perel-the crew OF this vessel
having been strengthened by twenty marines under Cap
tain Edison, and twelve seamen of the Cumberland un-
der Acting Master Mathew C. Peny-l weighed anchor
at daylight the morning Of the 18TH and ascended the
Panuco to within six miles of the town OF Panuco, where
night obliged me 10 anchor At a. m. on the morning
OF the 10th anchored abreast OF the town; which, on
being summoned, surrendered without resistance.
Having found that the authorities had, IN expectation
OF arrival concealed the public property, landed the
marines and thirty seamen and required that they should
point out the public property and furnish the means oil
transporting il to the bank OF the nver for which offer
ed to pay the usual charges OF the country.
They complied with the first; but showing DISPOSE
ton 10 eyade the latter, addressed communication to
the acade, of which the accompanying document is a
TO re-embark our men by shutdown on the 20th after
having destroyed all the public property which we could
not take on board
The property destroyed consisted of nine ll-feei
eighteens with their carriages, good guns which were
spiked and their trunions knocked off large quantity
OF eghteen-pound shot thrown into the ryer and
quantity of camp equipage burnt We brought of a
-pounder gun, formerly belonging to OF the cap
tured boats with its bed and slide, large quantity
of copper grape and canister and forty large bales OF
ceent imported tent pins which thought might be use
tul 10 the army.
The enemy showed no disposition to resist u.s. although
expected and although the river banks afforded
many points from which our decks might have been
swept BY artillery and musketry, when could not have
brought gun to bear.
No opportunity has been afforded OF distinction; but
my thanks are due TO Lieutenant Commanding Shaw and
Captain Edison, of the marines, and to the officers and
generally, for the zeal they displayed must parti-
culay observe praise of the latter that although for
two days captured town, irreguarlty was commit
ted by them All disposed 10 obey orders, and to
work with will.
am, sir with great respect, your obedient servant,
JOSIAH TAfTNALL, Commander.
Commodore D. CONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.