The Columbian fountain., 1846-07-07
IMPORTANT FROM TAMPICO.
Battle betaceen y. S. sloop of aoar, 81.
Mmy's and Merican Gun Boats.
The Mcrican Fort Silenced.
u. S. SHIP, ST.. MARY's,
1


The war grows apace. On the 9Th instant,
we discovered the enemy erecting another folt
on the north side Of the entrance to the river,
aud at | o'clock P. NJ we got the ship under
weigh under topsails, stood in, and when with
IN mile Of the fort and gunboats, the latter
three in number, and tonning about one hun
dred, opened fire upon the boats.
We pulled into the shore with muffied oars,
literally feeling our way, for at one time we
would be quite in the breakers, and then too
far sea ward, with strong tide beneath and
bright moon above US, every thing seeming to
conspire against our daring expedition.
At this time we had not passed the point,
and after getting inside we should have been
obliged TO pull at least 300 yards before reach
ing the object Of the expedition. The enemy
being already on the alert, and with superior
force, il would have been almost madness to
proceed, and the object would not have com
pensated for tho sacrifice we should have made.
Besides, the passage through which we had TO
pass was not wide enough TO admit the boats
except IN single file, so that the gun boats
would have raked us fore and alt before we
could have reached them. Ii we had passed
The Fort believe we should have carried the
boats TO a certainty. We had with us S5 men
aud marines; The first and second Lieutenants,
Master and all the Mds, except two. We re-
turned TO the ship a, 2 A. M, much fatigued
and disappointed. will write - by this
conveyance, and tell him of the next days
fight Yours, &c.
Extract Of a letter from the sloop Of war St.
Mary's. dated,
Orr TAsrIco. June l6, 1916.
As circumstances, beyond our control, pre-
vented us from reaching the three gum boats
(spoken of in my letter of the 9Th instantly
noored IN Tampico river, and which we had
desired TO cut out, our Captain determined 10
greet the enemy AT long shot from the ship,
and accordingly al a. NJ. we ran out
ke'lge on the quarter, and brought our guns TO
bear on the gun boats, and fort under which
they were anchored The boats anchored in
line abreast across the river, with springs on
their cables anticipating an attack from U.S.
AS soon a. we opened our broadside upon
them they returned the fire brskly; but Two
OF our Paixhan shells, which exploded over
the fort, sienced IL. the boats still maintaining
the action they fired suppose about 4 shot,
all Of which proved harmless. Three passed
over our hammock Doiiings, falling a half ca
ble's length beyond US 1.-Two others fell with
IN lew yards Of the side presented 10 the en-.
sWb-ohf feli near a thuff ntobftu
and bsrtlsed her crew with ~ spray the rest
all fell short or wide OF their marx.
In return for these cIvill,Ies we presented
thcin with nineteen Psirhan shells and ! ! sol
ID shot The bar intervening between Us and
the fort aud the gun boats. rendered ), impos'
sibIe for us 10 choose our distance; we were
therefore reluctantly compelled 10 engage them
at long shot. Discovering that We did not do
the execution which we desired. the captain
thought tins child's play causedsa useless
waste ol powder and ball. aud therefore gave
orders AT s, A. NJ, 10 cease hrIng. WHEN we
weighed the stream and kedgc and stood out 10
our old anchorage.
We were not satisfied. however. with ihIs
engagement. for yesterday we projected plan
for cutting out the gunboats. and accordingly
al dusk hoisIed ou all our boats, arrived there.
the launch bearing nine FOUNDER IN the bows.
and al l0i o'clock. r. NJ. got under weigh
and brought the ship nearer the shore. about
one and y half miles Of. II takes a longer
time to describe the minuiia Of this affair than
can devote 10 ], now. We had desired to