Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-21
FROM THE GULF SQUADRON.
FROM rar NEW ORLEANS rrcArusr, EXTRA, OF no,

FROM THE NEW ORLEANS pIcAruSE, EXTRA, or nov. 7.
i BY the arrival Of a pilot boat at the Balize we
in the possession Of late advces from The squad
4 ron. We have only time to give the annexed let
| Ter and save the mail If the Commodore has fail
ed in his attempt upon Alvarado, il is owing to no
want Of gaanfry or skill on his part or that Of his
officers. The difficulties he has had to surmount
have been nsuperable so far; but he will yet pre-
vail. He will in few weeks renew his attempt at
all hazards:
| Xxi Orr Anton LizARDo, OcToBER 10, 1916.
GxsrLEaES We the Of another attack Al
varado. At o'clock this afternoon Com. Conner issued
ders for the smiling Of the squadron gaies Cumberland and
Raan excepted) for the mouth Of the Avarado river. The
Commodore takes command of the expedition in person.
making the Vixen his flag ship for the
cason One o'clock morning is the hour fixed for
getting under weigh, and already the Mississippi
Vixen and Mcane firing up Besides these vessels the
force consists of the cutter Forward schoones Refer
Pere and Bonita, and prize schooner Nonaa This latter
vessel recently captured from the Mexcans and for
mey the American schooner Belle, out of port She
now mounts four AZ pound carronades For the past month
we have been drilling infantry upon small island
here and Jack is anxious for fight that he marks time
with good grace and every appears pleased that at last
we are to have chance at the enemy.
AT the mouth of the river the Mexcans have 10 gun bat
and Know OF OIL war
anchored inside number of their small merchantmen have
taken refuge in the harbor and there must be smart sprnk
| ling of prize-money in store for
OcroBEn l6-Our sailing orders for the morning Of the
18th counermanded in consequence OF its blowing too
fresh for operations, occasonng delay OF the expedition for
twenty four hours We sailed however, at o'clock A.
M yesterday but regret say that all anchor
again to-day, and Ararado rs get an possession 81 the
| Mericaas.
You were pleased to call the former attack Ayaado
abortion, and suppose you will be sparng OF hard names
for the present failure but trust that when you examine the
facts of case you will understand that owing the
necency of the the disposal of Com Conner and
to the natural defences of the place ITSELF that have not
been successful rather than any of skill courage
his part, lack Of spirit and support by the officers and
men under his command
We within ten miles of the mouth Of the river at day
light and stood slowly into shore il being dead calm, the
Vixen and McI.ane lowed the schooners, the Mississippi
anchored distance and commenced her fire. Up
this time every thing appeared highly favorable for the
cess of the expedition. There being heavy swell the
bar the pilots declined taking the vessels The Commo
dore leading in the Vixen, with the rest of the force follow
ing passed by the fort each vessel firing her broade she
ranged ahead, with but little effect however, owing the dis
long eighteen in the Forward sent shot directly
into the fort this movement repeated with better
the distance being essened and again the Forward made
beautiful shot In the while the Mississippi had
closed up and exploding her Paxhans about the heads Of
the Mexcans in way that must have made some of them
than the Lord made One shot from her dis
mounted heavy gun of theirs from sockade this they
remedied but thus far all their shot had fallen short During
the morning several of boats sounded within half mile Of
the fort receiving the fire OF the enemy with much mpu
nifty as indifference The swell the bar having somewhat
subsidized at p M, the line formed follows steamer
Vixen, flag ship towing gunboas Refer and Bonita steam
er McLane towing the Nonaa, Forward and gunboat
Petrol then launches three cutters and barge
tanning force destined for boarding the vessels of war; brought
up the The Vixen, with her passed the bar and
took position within point blank range, but the Mcane stuck
fast and the Commodore, finding himself deprived Of the sup
of two
fire of welvegun battery with but four light pieces of his
own obliged to retreat The force in the boats
exposed heavy fire. the shot flying thick and fast around
and had the Mexcans fred grape would have knocked
Of into Ats We escaped, however, with good
docking from the spray Of the balls.
Il being late in the day for any further operations
signal made for anchorage and thus ended this
boodess combat boodess because each and every
of would not have shed hearts best to have gained the
day because plan attack good that
properly led but because Providence has provided the
enemy with such natural defence cannot be by
naval attack with Com Conner has his dis
4 posal Tue Mclane is abomnable abortion Ito make
useof your word drawing much be service
able and with sufficient power to drive her three and
half knots hour but il is due To Capt Howard say
that he got his vessel saoat again he proered TO
make another attempt pass the bar but the Commodore de-
clned, as il too late in the afternoon.
There remains take this Alvarado, and, mark
my words will be done before many weeks meanwhile we
must expect 10 be severely handled by the newspapers
home and by people who expect to accomplish impossible
ties and gain glory field where none is TO be wonal-
though man, with two IDEAS in his head, who witnessed
| our recent defeat can attribute blame any one.
0croBER 25On the night Of the 10th instant the three
steamers cutter Forward schooners Bonita, Refer and No
naa under commend OF Com Perry left Anton Lizado for
an attack fabasco. On the morning Of the 18th the
Mississippi made prize Of the American barque Coosa, Capt
ickng off Alvarado river, and sent her in TO this place
upon suspicion Of her being about TO land her cargo the
Mexican coast This vessel cleared from New Orleans
The Sd instant, for Havana by Messrs wyle & Egana,
with GOO bales of cotton put up 2O0pound bales, and
there appears good suppose that intended Tor
Mexico She will sail for your port the 27,h in charge
Of Passed Midshipman Barrett, Of one Of your former
i collectors.
To-day another prize the Yucatan schooner Fl Tele-
grao arrived from the Tahasco expedition the 23d, and
reports the fleet standing off the land waiting for weather
go into the river. II. A.
On the 9Th instant the Poughkeepse Hotel in the village
Of Poughkeepse robbed of large quantity OF silver
spoons &c Information received in this city which led
u Of Anthnnt aulN nscs Qr,aanl