Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-07
Prom the Norfolk Herald, July Z.
Late from Tampico.

Extract OF letter from the sloop OF ST. Mays d.
"d Orr TANrIco, June L. 1896
As circumstances. beyond CONTROL prevented US from
reaching the three gun-boas (spoken OF my letter OF
the 18th inst moored in Tampico riyer and which we
had desired TO cut out Captain determined greet The
enemy at long shot fIom the ship. and accordingly ut
W. We ran out Hedge on the quarter and brought
To bear on the gun boats and fort under which they
anchored. The boats anchored in lac across the
ri'er with springs their cables anticipating an attack
from u.s. As soon a. opened broadside upon them
they returned the e brsky; but OF shells
which exploded the fort silenced it, the boats still
MAINTAINING the acon-they fred suppose about Is shot
all OF which proved harmless. Three passed over our la IN
mock nettngs falling half cables length beyond us;-
two others fell within yards OF the side presented
the enemy-one fell near cutter moored m, and
oaPzed her crew with Its sprayi the all fell short or
wide Of their mark.
In return for these eives presented them with 10
PaShan shells and III solid shot The bar intervening be-
tween us and the tort and tho boats rendered 1t i'm.
possible tor us TO choose distance were
reluctantly compelled engage them at long shot Dis
covering aat we did not do the execution which de-
sred the Captain thought this chd play caused useless
waste OF powder and ball. and therefore gave orders at
A. NJ to cease hiring, when weighed the stream and
kedgs and stood out old anchorage.
IL was source Of deep regret that the shallow
ness OF the bar would not admit Of crossing and thus
engaging the enemy ut close quarters You have
At Tampico you know how tar the shoals make out and
that they ship of this class
we desired 10 do, within point blank range. To add 10
our modification, prudent enemy had taken the pre-
caution TO anchor his boats more than quarter a mile
within the bar thus placing impossible barrier between
US and himself.
To one Ignorant of gunnery might be matter Of sur
that the SHOT from these boats reached US while our
guns, OF heavier cabre, did carry much farther but
you know, that well served Is FOUNDER is
customer and will carry quite TAR medium 80 II
Is said that these gun boat have received orders TO sink
al their moorngs rather than surrender and that
their officers have been threatened with death should they
dsobey Doubtless the penalty will be inflicted for Mex
leo sanctions this humane method Of dealing with her van
quished sons. Their commander is TesOute Scotchman
the former captain Of Afrein savers. He is a veiant
fellow, and will probably be caught mapping Could
we have succeeded in entering the river believe that
even with small force would have captured the gun
boats and seneed the fort by turning their guns upon H.
Our order OF battle follows tho launch and % cut
ter 10 board the Southern vessel the s 81 and 4
cutters carry the middle one and then 10 take the
third Northern boat. For sencing the artillery at the
Fo had filed and slowed CATERS cylinders 10
suit the cabe OF the of the gun boats with which
intended TO play the Fort. believe that all our
measures very udicousy lken the obseurity OF
night the Of the rver and our IL.
noranee OF it, precise position rendered them
We OF course, deeply regret the failure OF this expedition
but as II arose from combination OF accidents not always
avoidabe IN warfare, and particularly liable TO occur in
night attacks IL behoyes snLmi, To il with a good
grace and TO hope for successful Issue TO our
expedition. We may yet have a ehance to 'shsw them
the ropes and be assured shall be slow to embrace