Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-07-15
The Mexican Fort silenced.
U. S. SHIP ST.. MARY's
Off Tampico, June Is, l646.

] fort on the north side Of the entrance to the
river, and at one o'clock, P. M, we got
the ship under weigh under topsail, stood
! in, and when withina mile of the fort and
gunboats, (the latter three in number, and
tonning about one hundred opened fire
OH the boat. Being on lee shore, and in
/ shoal water, we were not able to fire more
than eight shot, before it became necessary
to claw of, which we did; but at three o.
clock, returned and continued the firing un-
til we had fired 10 shells and 20 solid shot.
In the last recontre, the enemy returned
our fire, with about ten shots from l8 pound
guns, four of which passed near us, two
| fell directly under our fore foot, and pass
! ing between the fore and main topmast, and
Zone over the fore foot, the other fell at a
distance.
The first shell which burst over the fort
elected every soldier from the neighborhood,
the whole of them taking Immediately to
the wood. One Of our shells passed between
one of the schooners' masts, and exploded
beyond her, fragment having struck the
bowsprit and bulwarks, tearing both con-
siderably, as we have learned since the
fight. One corner of the custom house was
knocked down, house on the north side ol
the river was fired by the explosion Of q
shell; and soldier at the fort on guard, by
the bursting of another she'll, exchanged
his musket for uacaney, it having been
shattered without, | believe, injuring his
valuable person. Having driven the party
from their embryo fort, we returned to oul
ancorage at half past three.
II We were not satisfied, however, with thi
engagement, for yesterday we projected I
plan for cutting out the gun boats, and &C
cordingly at dusk, hoisted out all boats, ar
rived there, the launch bearing nine poun
der in the bows, and at 10a o'clock P. M.
got under weigh, and brought the ship near
er thr shore, about one and half miles off
1t takes longer time to describe the mi
: nutia of this affair than can devote to j
now. We had desired to make the attack
before the moon rose, but could not. At 9
leven o'clock she was lifting her head a
bove the horizon when our five boats left tn.
ship, everything having been previously ar
ranged by our gallant Captain. Mind you,
we not only had the difficulty of capturing
three heavy gun boats with thirty or more
men in each, and to quell Fort, of which
we have to pass within fifty yards, but there
was dangerous bar to be crossed, but frsi
to be- found. Wepulled into the shore with
mufled oars, literally feeling our way, for
at one time we would be quite in the break
ers, and then too far seaward, with strong
tide beneath and bright moon above US,
everything seeming to conspire against our
daring expedition.
In seeking our way to the mouth Of the
river, we were obliged to pass near the
shore for distance of 200 yards, and the
noise consequent upon the difficulty Of find
ing our way throuh passage Of which we
knew nothing, betrayed us to the sentinels
along the shore, who rapidly communicat.
ed with the encampment and it conveyed
intelligence to the gun boats, so that un
known to US, our foe was watching our eve
ry movement. However, at about A. N ;.
we had discovered the narrow entrance tc
the mouth Of the river, and were pulling
in, when, within two hundred yards of thu
Fort, near where we had pass, much tt
our surprise, as you may imagine, bans
went dozen muskets, and the balls whiz
zed about our ears. We laid on our oars
and in five minutes after the firing Of mus
kets commenced, the guns in the launcl
were trained and slet live' A gun rathe
heavier from one Of the gun boats succeed
ed TO this; the shot passed clear Of us, ant
the gun in the launch was loaded and fire.
again, when the firing ashore ceased. Their
+. were also fired from the launch few car
F. bines.
At this time we had not passed tho point
and after Citing inside we should have beel
obliged to pull at least 800 yards befor
reaching the object Of the expedition Th
=; enemy being already on the alert, and witt
superior force, it would have been almos
t madness to proceed, and the object woul'
Q not have compensated for the sacrifice w
should have made. Besides, the passag'
! through which we had to pass was not wild
enough to admit the boats except in singh
file, SO that the gun boats would have rake
t us fore and aftbefore we could have com
!. along side Of them. If we had passed tn
Fort | believe we should have carried tn
!. boats to certainty. We had with us 81
\ men and marines; the LIST and ed Lieuten
ants, Master and oil the Mids,> except two
! We returned to the ship at2 A. M, mucI
fatigued and disappointed will writ
= by this conveyance, and tell him Q
: the next days fight. Yours, &c.
al Extract Of a letter from the sloop of wa
. St. Mary's, dated.
!. Orr TAMplco, June 10, ls46.
d GAS circumstances, beyond our control
y prevented us from reaching the three gu
9 boats spoken Of in my letter of the I3t
q inst. moored in Tampico river, and whic
i we had desired to cut out, our Captain de
Il ltermined to greet the enemy at long she
81 from the ship, and accordingly at 7 A.. M
2 we ran out kedge on the quarter, an
i brought our guns to bear on the gun-boat
i land fort under which they were anchore,
AZ The boats anchored in line abreast aero.