Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-28
First suecsssfni Naval Operation.

que.
OFFICE OF THE New ORLEANS PIcAyuNK,
November 10, ~ N.
We have been furnished by an officer of the ar.
my, who arrived here this morning in schr. Por-
Tia, Capt. Powers, six days from Port Lizardo,
who was engaged in the affair of Tobasco, with
the annexed summary and sketch Of the proceed.
ings OF Com. Perry, with the detachment Of YES.
sells sent under his command The expedition
was entirely successful. The object of the ex.
petition was TO cut out certain vessels anchored
IN the river there, which were all taken. When
the city was summoned to surrender the people
were all in favor Of yielding, but the Governor
and soldiers opposed it. Time vas given for all
peaceable persons, women and children, to get
ont of harms way. but the Governor would not
allow any one to leave. 60 that il is feared that
most OF their killed during the bombardment
were not soldiers. Some of the regulars were
killed, and had il no: been that the execution
was principally done upon nofensive persons,
the city would have been demolished, with the
exception OF the residences of foreign consuls
aud hospitals.
The Squadron. consisting of the steamship
Mississippi, Com. Perry; the Vixen, Com
Sands; the Bonita, Lieut. Coming Benham the
Refer. Lieut. Iiuzard; the revenue cutter Nc.
Lean, Capt Howard the revenue cutter For.
ward, Capt Nones, and two hundred seaman and
marines from the Rar,an and Cumberland, un.
der command Of Capts. French and Forrest,
Lieuts c. II L, Linslow, Walsh and Hunt
Capt. Edison and Lieut Adams, of the marines
left Antonio Lizardo, on the 9th inst and arriv.
ed at Frontena, on the 23d, having captured stea.
mer Petrta and Tabas Yeveno, and several small
vessels
On the 2lth, the expedition a,cended the river
twenty-five miles to Tobasco. The current be-
ing very rapid, the vessels were towed by the
Petrta and Vixen. Passed Devils Turn at 2,
p. NJ. landed aud spiked two twenty Founders
Arrived off Tobasco, at G, p. NJ, and anchored
in line ahead at distance of sixteen yards from
the shore. Summoned the city to surrender.
The Governor refused We fred three shots
from the Vixen one cut the flag staff, and as the
coiors fell We thought that they had surrendered
An officer then came off and requested that We
would spare :heir hospital, which was granted.
At five o'clock, landed two hundred seaman and
marines but as it was too late to attack the fort,
they were ordered OH board a. gain. Some skirm.
ishing ensued, but none Of us injured. This
was Sunday, and the Commodore was somewhat
reluctant to commence the attack on that day
We had captured three schooners and one large
brig; also one schooner before we arrived at
Frontena, and another on our passage up the RI
al, Ill Ii i
two steamers and many small craft and lighters
Monday S,pt. 90 daylight We sustained
sharp fire of musketry from the shore, which
was answered by our great guns, whenever We
heard a report. The firing continued for some
time at intervals, when white flag was display.
ed by some civilians on shore, mo doubt by con.
sent OF the Gov,rnor,) and a request was sent OF
to the Commodore, to spare the town, which he
granted, adding that be only desired to spare the
soldiers. We then got the prizes under way anil
made every preparation for returning Whilst
white flags were flying all the while, Lieut.. w.
r. Parker got on shore with his prize vessel, and
was attacked by about so soldiers, whom he beat
off with is men, having but one killed and two
wounded-this affair lasted thirty minutes Lieut.
C. NJ. Morris was despatched to him with orders
and in passing the heavy fire of the enemy was
wounded in the neck by musket ball. Lieut.
Morris stood up in his boat and cheered the men
most gallan,ly, until he fell into the arms OF
Midshipman Keever, who was with him. Tbs
| Commodore then commenced cannonading il
earnest from the Vixen Bonita, Monita and For
( ward, and in the space Of half or three quarter
OF an hour almost demolished the city, sparin
the houses of the foreign consuls, and such as ar
p-ared TO be inhabited BY peaceful citizens. A
abou; midday the fleet left Tobasco, and as
passed the different streets at angles with th
water, fred musketry and great guns, and swep
them completely of every living thing.
All the prizes were saved with the exceptio
of one. which was burnt by the Commodore
order. II having been found impossible to e.
her clear Of the DEVILS turn, rapid pass OH th
river. Arrived at Frontena on Sunday, at mi,
night, inhabitants all peaceful having been keI
in awe during the absence of the expedition b
Lient. Walsh and his command
The Revenue Cutter Mclean struck while
tempting TO pass the bar, and did not succeed
getting over until after the affair at Tobaseo, al
the return Of the vessels. Her marines, und
Lieut.. Brown, were on board the Bonita durii
the 25th and 26ih. All the prizes were du
despatched and arrived at Anton Lizardo.
The Petrita, on her return, under commaI
of Lieut.. Best, captured the American Or
Plymouth, Capt Parkerson, engaged in landn
Al l. L..