Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-27
Secretary Of the Navy. washington.

.
Secretary Of the Navy Washington.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
OF THE EXPEDITION UNDER MY DOMINANT
e ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF MEXICO.
loit the anchorage 81 John Lzardo on the evening
OF the 10Th OF October with the steamer "Mississpp
having on board detachment Of 900 officers seamen ans
marines under command OF Captain French Forrest, anS
ln tow, the steamer "Vixcn" and schoonors BONITA
Reeier and "Nonata, espeetyely comman ded by Com
mander sands, and Lenienanls commandant Benham
s'etEet and Hazard, and the schooner Forward ant
steamer "McLanc' commanded by CAPTAINS Nones apt
Howard Of the revenue marine.
Ins next morning at Daylight captured, oil the bar OF
HNaoo the American batquo "Coosa." found in treason
hole communication with the enemy and the same Law the
vixen chased and boarded the Amcrcsn schooner Por
tia The "Coosa despatched to this place os pr;ze
and the "Poa" was permitted TO proceed her
lag been endorsed. From ,he day of our leaving Alvsr,
10 he lhhl Up 10 2sd We had OF very bad
weather, which much trouble keeping my lin
command together during the interval. however, We eapu
red and sent IA the Mexican schooner Telegraph"
ne 49, all the vessels, with the exception of the
Reeer previously rcparated in gae) reached the ba,
OF he river Iobasco; and having determined on att,ckn
The commercial town OF Frontera mouth of the ver
ana inc city OF Tabasco, situated "a miles higher up
placed myself board the Vixen leaving the Aissis
Sppi IN command OF Commander Adams NJ anchor ont,
SIDE anu taking in tow the bonita" and Forward with
The oages containing the detachment under command Of
under sail. "s
The Vixen" with this heavy drag steadily ascending
me stream against iouTknot current and arriving near
TO Froniera discovered two steamers (of which had rc
served previous iniermaon) firing up, doubtless hope
OF escape, but close upon Them Cns.,g ar
her tow, the "VXcn" proceeded ahead followed nv the
other vessels and barges, and tho town. the steam
o's ana al the vessels IA port in possession ex
Gaping only the schooner "Amado which vessel asmpt-
ng escape up river was pursued by Leut Commap5
ant Benham IN the Bonita and captured.
Desrous OF reaching Tabasco before they would have
ue Tor increasing their deiences detachment under
Captain Forrest placed board the largest of the
nEed steamers the Perta, and She with the "Nonatar
the "torwa'd," aud the barges tow. and the .Vxenr
win me bonita" FrOntcra ri
morning L'eu'anant Walsh being left in Of the
| place.
After sieaming all night and eneount.rnr various Incl
dents arising from the rapidly Of the current and the cir
curious course OF the stream, arrived at the next
morning 10 gh' OF Fort Aceachappa intended command
most dneulI pass OF the river. On our approach the
men employed IN preparing the guns for service aed and
we passed unmoesei but careful to cause the guns
| to be spiked.
Anticipating serious resistance NJ this place ,,-,r,
menis had been made os landing Capt Forest with his de-
aehment mile below the fort march up and carry II BY
storm ''
AT all the vessels anchored in line Of battle in front
Of tue city at hall musket range when immeda civ sum.
moed It TO surrender the boats meanwhile being employ
"a IN securing i've merchant vessels found at anchor in
! the port
To my summons sent by flag with Captain Forres,
refusal Clpu.ac was returned with an ny,top q, me
10 he as soon as pleased Suspectng did that this
answer was given IA braNado hln In earnest and be-
nag e1 remedy reluctant TO destroy the place entertained
the hope that few shots fred over the buildings would
have caused surrender Accordingly drectsd the guns
o. the Vixen" clone be fred and a. the flagstaff send
ing an order TO all the vessels avoid far as possible
IN case Of general hrc, injury the houses distinguished
| by consular flags.
At tre third discharge from the Vixen" the f,g dsap
Pea'sd from the satt Ga seeing down. ordered the
hrng 10 cease and Captain Forrest again ashore 20
learn watcher II he'd been down by shot, or pur
pcsciy struck the reply was that IT mad been shot away
aud the cary would not be surrendered.
lnow directed Capt. Forrest; with the force under his
command, land and lake position in the city com
manded by our guns. THIS movement brought scat
eiins ire OF muskey from various paris Of the city, which
was returned by the houlla.
Pereei'ing towards evening that tho enemy did US but
Little hllTy though openly exposed the decks Of the
smell vessels and their balls passing through our slight
buwars and experimenting, from the pTovcrb.l needless
ues OF sailors, that should they aud the marines be asc
ed IN the narrow streets after dark ey would cut of
by sharPshooters from the houses ordered the detach
| mCnt To be Tc-emolrked.
ln this position the vessels remained al night the crews
lying their quarters ready TO return the fire of tho ,le
| ~ II the enemy which It supposed they would have
had the courage have brought under cover OF the
night to ie oPenngso the streets opposite to vessels
| but they Ten us undisturbed.
Leaning that the merchants and other citizens OF the
city, were DESTROYS that population should be made but
were oveued by the governor who, regardless conse
quences and secure himself against attack, was content
that the CITY should be destroyed rather than sur endced
determined from motives Of humanity not ire again,
| but 10 pass down o. FTOn,era with my prizes.
ln The morning, however, the fise was recommended
from The shore, and was sary returned but with re-
ncwed orders TO regard the consular houses Tor they
could bs Distinguished. Ia tue midst OF the fire. lig Of
truce was displayed on shore' perceying which, caused
the hiog again To and Captain Forrest sent 10
| mc9i IL bs.rcr who submitted written communication
addressed me; copy which, with copy Of my reply
marked and {, wi. bo found enclosed.
As an o.rur"ncs OF my sincerity. now hosicd white
hag, aud directed no prizes to drop d1 tho stream in
tending 10 follow wIth tho h1us; bot in violation II the
uudoa-r ding Implied IN the before mentioned correspond
encr, tr enemy boo discovering iat o. tao przc had
nrlcI asho. Do trout Of tue CITY, collected large force
within aud behind the houses 900 ilo vicinity, AID com
nenced furious hre upon her Lieut. Parker Of t shin
l command o the przc defended her in the moot gallant
manner, md unmat ly succeeded In qetung her ao,,
I IIlI al ferf t fal
IL was IN carrying order Lieut Parker tnat Lieut.
Morris wounded H. bad been Ut Infinite seryce Ia
fnc from the to W. I, bzlrdo. and, conducting him
ae duu'g hc Damh1rdmcni with remarkable deiberaon
and c"or"ss hc apron hed the prE3 line o. cover his
g' and though apparently regaifu of the safety Of The
officer sud OF the boat who were seated lac afood
ofccl himself, md the ball struck him in the h,oat No
one cen drpofc the fate Of hs very ysu1be young officer
more Dan mys.I lie los is froparabe the service
/ aud 90 his l1miy.
ltmay well be suppo.ed that on perccyinp the attack
upon e prize, rr-ppoucd upon The city which again H
fenced their ire. now proceeded with The nlua aud
p'1ef Gown tho river Ono Ui Doe prizes, small scr If
little value having grounded boo dangerous pa - and know
ing that t would Boo diicut 10 oxfcao her yIth,,t eau
! sing nconvonisnt delay, ordered her. {, DO burned
! We arrived safely az Fr0ntera th1 evening Of tho
70 Do, me NXe"' having ioTcd down the ryoT five vessels
| end ssyrr1l barrss
d.'tfoyng a the vosis and 7 ue liver or m ,,l
te o. ho rfnnc proceeded ou the aift 70 DIN Won a,yy
f1u. RENTAL rrf .,spfs ts 49,. - .h,''f
u.ytc I.r unprotected ~ y '"'''
On 1.f m fh pace the przl steamer r,frs i'm ,,
and .cl NJ ths ye sa e1Itl tlr American lfy ,a
''uni c'siseii n aniins cargo ugoa easr8ys e8l
". g. PERHY
" ~ omitted 10 mention, tat While yna or tho ,, ~.
ha'1. tH .hp tolflci fhc Cam1u iy se-ooer 1
ff'nch huf jcrr h.nsfor ifc tlIr. OF b, f ,st
au1fh-auon Of blockade was cndofed. ''"
'H regard 10 The 'MoLane" popos 70 maize special ,,,,,
List % vessels captured nnd DESTROYED 5,,,i,r
tho i"tOcKpcditiou 10 Tabasco, under ,or,,,,-
, dorc u. G.. Pcrry.
MANNED AND FENr fv
| CIV .i. pa ii'
','-' lN'f Tc. grrh
tfIrm.r
. | trru1f DR. fre bug 49,
iauu Nrg.ma
r.h.an.f 49,.
q AmerrlnLra 81 -,
BURNED
h.ri,arIi1.p c,,.....,