True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-08-12
FROM THE GULF SQUADRON,
CORRESPONDENCE of the Baltimore Sun.

Y. ). SHIP PoToMAC, July 13, 1916.
The Princeton sails tomorrow for Pen
sacola, and hasten TO give you a sketch
ofthe first skirmiSh | have ever witnessed
Last Monday the Princeton started, will
the commander on board, on cruise. as
was supposed Of observation, for she ran in
along the reef and was several times with
in gunShot of the caslle-at least it appear
ed so from our anchouge-bnts she contin-
ued her course up the coast about twelve
miles, running within a mile of the shore
until they found the mouth of small river
which was the commanders object in 60
ing.
The Princeton sent her boats OH shore.
well manned and armed They found
the water excellent; and meeting several
bnllockS, shot one and brought it off, They
offered to pay the peasantry for it, but they
refused, as they did not own them. The
! Princeton returned the same evening and
created quite an excitement, for it was
soon aScertainSd the commodore intended
watering the squadron at the river.
On the afternoon ofthe 9TH the Princeton
starleI, and was soon followed by the
Cumberland and this ship; and about D.
m. we came abreast of the mouth of the
river, about twelve miles north of Vera
Cruz, which, believe, is called the Anti.
qua. On the morning of the 9Th the
launches of the two frlgates Zone cutter
and two boats from the Princelon) started
for water, under the command of Lieut.
Boggs, and bearing a white flag, to endeav-
or, If possible, TO open trade with the pea
f,or natiIo and 1yonotokl,o
would not come near Them The boats
returned about 8 a. m, bringing about 3,
900 gallons of water. They started again
about 10 m, and lad got some distance
up the river when the MexicanS opened a
fire OF muSketry upon them from behind |
the hills and bushes on the bank of the /
river AT this critical moment a marine |
that had been sent to reconnoitre returned !
at full speed down the hill and reported |
there wer from five hundred to two thou.
sand men behind the hill. The frigate'S
launches also Dissolved they had no ammu-
milton, and gave way like fine fellows The
Princeton'S boats followed, firing a few
random shots into the bushes Oar men
We're entirely exposed, and could form no
idea of the number ofrhe enemy, vet there
was but one injured, Kerr, of the Prince.
ton. IL was quite an Interesting sight from
the lrlgate, for we could see everything
distinctly with the glass; both fight and
boat race. But tho whlzzing Of the bullets
around the boats destroyed the interest 10
those engaged in them. They brought
no water TINS time; buf, receiving n full
supply of ammunition fIom the Princeton
her captain took the command, and off they
started again for the river. The steamer
trained her long tom, and sent several
shells among the bushes which kept them
luiet, and they brought off another load
On the morning of the 9th
he boats went on shore the launches for
vater and'th Princeton's boats as a guard;
he whole party under the command of
captain Engle. They landed on long
andy point between the river (which runs
or some distance along the COAST aud the
ea, and with the aid of coal bags filled
With sand, soon erected small breastwork.
The launch came Off with a full load, and
eff the Princeton'S boats on the beach, but
eparacd from the chapporels by the river,
i this place about forty yards wide About
o'clock a. m the Mexicans commenced
ring from their hiding places, but the
leamer trained her long gun and fired
everal shell with so much precision, that
hey dared not show themselves. The
moke from their muSkeis was frequently
mixed with that of an exploded she'll and
have no doubt several Of them were kill
d We succeeded in getting about 5000 =
aIlonS Of water, which fills up for the
resent, and, on the morning Of the 10Th
e got underway, and returned TO our
anchorage off Green islond.