The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-01
AMERIcANo-MExIcAN WAR.
Further Of the Capture of Tampico.
MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS.
&c. Sc. sc.
HERALD NAVAL CORRESPONDENTS.

write this, hoping that some lucky chance may offer
by which you will timely receive my communication
My conveniences for correspondence smell, mas
much the vessel rolling and the rain dropping
the paper write For three days the little Vixen has
been in norther and for that time have been continu
ally wet to the skin.
Before you receive this. you will doubt have learn.
cd Of the battle Of AvArado the 18th, but briefly
possible will relate what occurred that day Pre-
parstons had been made for time previous in the
squadron for the attack and Alvaado supposed by
all be the scene action On the night of the l3th
at midnight ordered to fire up, but norther
commencing to blow, the order annulled by the
commodore. That night, and the next day, 1t blew
gsle but at IL NJ of the l4th. engines put in
notion the commodore board, and taking in
the chooners Refer and Bonita started, follow ed
by the McLane, towing the schooners Forward Nonata
and Petrol, the Mississippi preceding At daylight
were of the harbor of Alvarado. As soon
perceived, signal gun fired by the fort at the
trance to give notice of approach This fort built
of sand and commanded the point from which vessels
on q previous occasion had fred upon the old fort
II also commanded the whole entrance, which is very
narrow, and at all times dangerous, the channel
the bar, at its deepest is not Ia feet The Mis-
sissppi Perry being board, stood close to the bar
anchored with springs and commenced firing round shot
struction suffered but little The Commodore stood in
with his two lines OF small craft until close to the bar
fred the forts as the guns came to bear and then
round and stood of. This was repeated two three
times exchanging shots with the fort each time All
the shots from the latter directed at the Vixen
she led the and had the blue pennant flying at the
MAN, As it noon stood close to the bar
anchored. All the captains came on board vessel
than he had thought for wished obtain the opinion of
his juniors. IL was unanimously decided to 60
so Hs s % We
gums in tie fort slenced, not having heard from
them in some time but were gloriously mistaken As
soon as they saw that our first lire, consisting Of the
Vixen Bonita and Refer, had crossed the bar,
they opened lively fire on us from their eighteen
Founders. Every shot was fred at vessel in order
probably to disable the engine. How the balls did whs
tle Being the first time that had smet enemies pow.
der the excitement was new. Captain Sands is a brave
man. standing the starboard wheeLhouse and guiding
the vessel throughout was on the hurricane deck be-
tween the wheehouses looking out for signals for the
Commodore. We kept on, firing away fast posi-.
could be brought bear the Bonita and Refer keeping
directed though ae too high, the shot falling right
ahead of our next ssern, the Refer Our Long Toms
crew began TO get excited and the shot went
their heads they would jump up with yell of derision
and at again For time shot struck though
starboard guards Our gave that
did them credit, az to their lungs, and out went old
Long Tom again 20 minutes had now elapsed the cur
rent running and tow astern causing very
slowly over the land. We now looked to the second
line, and to my surprise saw that the McLane had
ashore, and the schooners Forward and Nonata
running foul of each other the Petrol clear
covered with canvass and standing calamity but still
prsdesmsnt fsssn minutes more would carry US clear
OF the hrst fort but single shot might disable
CINE Besides, when out OF the way OF the first, we
heavier fort as well as Of the Mexican men OF
chored right the harbor consisting Of eight
own. We had altogether but three guns and though
had successfully stood attack to have gone
thought this for he from aft and hailed Capt Sands
who said, Commodore you cannot expect any assist
ance IRON nose ,e,o~s ss, .aa as .ne McLane
Sends what he would advise. His answer was go
ahead. sir and fight like HI But says the commodore
shot fred little lower than the rest passed over our
ssrboard bow, under my feet in good line for my body
hurricane deck Gled with water scattering over the
commodore and then just missing the MASTER passed out
through the iasooard quarter Inc commodore was as
lived and that he thought not Of himself but Of the
lives Of those for whom he accountable Five minutes
canister; this could not have escaped decks
would have been swept fore and aft 1t could be that
,caicourage Of captain Atlengh proving himself the
man he is Pilot" he says, have you room to wear
says the Commodore Hard sun9 out a and Rs
round and stood Off the fort firing shot TOR us,
which struck the REFER in the stern and landed
anything, more briskly than before now that
running OF, we sending back ore shot farewell
coubt ever Alvsrsdo will be again attacked by 1t
is too strongly fortified to be attacked with much hope
success by the shells of vessels necessary for us to buy
New fcenes have taken place sincs the above
was written, and ! must give. you the facts with
out time for comment. Alter leaving Alvarsdo. we
half; then the Mississippi, Vixen, McLane, Bonita,
Refer Iand Nonata got under way and stood to
modore Pery's red nag flying board the Missis-
sppi having the schooners in tow II blew gale for
The Commodore at last made signal for ali captains and
We knew that Tabssco to be attacked The little
Refer had got adr in the gale, and not in the
tow OF the Mississippi and stood for Tabasco but owing
TO mistake did not arrive in sight of the river till
broad daylight strong Northwestern at the same time
blowing rendering the entrance the harbor indis
tnct that we could not in safety the bar On the
McLane following with the Nonata We crossed safely
but NE latter steamer ssain grounded The Marta
canvass Entering the river, we saw as yet no signs
oil an enemy OF expected prizes the steamboats,
of point the other side OF the river We loose
the tow and made signal TO chase, and fred couple Of
chase low ered and was ordered to take one boat and
board vessel and another officer the other We took
possession without resistance, and he American flag
was soon waving over our prizes The other vessels ana
boats soon came up and we all anchored near small
town called LIE Frobtero de Tsbasco, where landed
marines and marched through the place. The
day We started for Tabssco, prize nasters having been
appointed for the captured steamers The current
at the OF four miles an hour and We found
them, the Petrita very useful in towing She was an
American boat, once the Champion. We took iew
more prizes, and soon came near what is called
the Devils turn in the river, the width being
in that place about $50 yards, and the pass
manded BY three guns rskng the appaoach to it for half
a mile Had this battery been commanded by Ameri
can no force like could have passed it, The
Missssippis LIST cutter in tow and In her
When abreast of the fort showed ashore spiked the
guns and broke the carriages. This was Sunday, the
10th. That afternoon anchored in limo of 1obasco
and sent flag of truce ashore with demand for the u
conditional surrender Of the town. The of the
Mexican General was "nnnca" (never) and we com
menced firing from vessel alone. Our two deck
guns were on one side, OF which commanded one
We first fired round over, then low and then the order
to fire at the flag. When Mdshipman Simpsons turn
came finding that he had long BARRIERS pole in line
with the flag staff he got the proper elevation let drive
and had the pleasure seeing the pole fall and the flag
staff cut away justst truck The Commodore believing
that the shot could have carried awsy the staff sent
shore flag Of truce to know If they had hauled down
their coors The reply that their coers had been
shot away, but that they would never surrender On