Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-02
Highly Important.
A NAVAL VICTORY!

A NAVAL VICTORY!
TOBASCO TAKEN BY THE FLEET.
A slip from the New Orleans Pieayu,se,
dated Nov. ls inst. brings us the following
really gratifying Naval Intelligence:
We have been furnished by an officer of
the army who arrived here this morning in
the schooner Portia, six days from St. Lii
zardo, who was engaged in the affair of
Tobasco, with the annexed summary and
sketch Of the proceedings Of Com. Perry,
with the detachment Of vessels under his
command. The object of the expedition
was to cut out certain vessels anchored in
the river there, which were all taken.
When the city was summoned to surrender,
the people were all in favor of yielding, but
the Governor and soldiers opposed it.
Time was given for all peaceable persons
to get out Of harms way, but the Governor
would not allow any one to leave, so it is
feared that most of their killed during the
bombardment were not soldiers. Some Of
the regulars were killed, and had it not
been that execution was principally done
upon inoffensive persons, the city would
have been demolished, with the exception
of the residences of foreign consuls and
hospitals.
The Squadron, consisting of the steam
ship Mississippi, Com. Perry; the Vixen,
Com. Sands, the Bonita, Lieut.. Comm'g.
Benham; the Refer, Lieut.. Sterrett; the
Nonita, Lieut.. Hazard; the revenue cutter
Mclean, Capt. Howard; the revenue cutter
Forward, Capt. Nones, and two hundred
seamen and marines from the Raritan and
Cumberland, under the command of Capts.
French and Forrest, Lieuts, C. H. F. Lins-
low, Walsh and Hunt.
Capt. Edison and Lieut.. Adams, of the
marines, left Antonio Lizardo, on the 9th
inst, and arrived at Fronteua, on the 23d,
having captured steamers Petrita and TOBIAS
Yevano, and several small vessels.
On the Gath and 25th the expedition as
cended the river, twenty-five miles to To-
basco. The current being very rapid, the
vessels were towed by the Petrito and Vix-
en-. Passed DEVILS Turn at 2 P. M land
ed and spiked twenty-four Founders. Ar
rived off Tobasco at 6 P. M. and anchored
in line ahead at distance of sixteen yards
from the shore. Summoned the city to
surrender. The Governor refused. We
fired three shots from the Vixen; and cut
the flag staff and as the colors fell we thought
they had surrendered. An officer then
came off and requested we would spare
their hospital, which was granted. AT five
O'Clock, landed two hundred seamen and
marines, but as it was too late to attack
the fort, they were ordered on board again.
Some skirmishing ensued but none Of us
were injured. 1 his was Sunday, and the
Commodore was somewhat reluctant to
commence the attack on that day; we had
captured three schooners and one large
brig; also one schooner before we arrived
at Frontena, and another on our passage
up the river; making in all, one bri e, five
schooners, two steamers, and many small
crafts and lighters. ..
Monday, Sept. 26.-At daylight we sus-
tained sharp fire of musketry from the
shore, which was answered by our great
guns, whenever we heard a report. The
firing continued for some time OF intervals,
when white flag was displayed by some
civilians on shore, (no doubt by consent of
the Governor,) and o request was sent off
to the Commodore, to spare the town, which
he granted, adding that he only desired to
spare the soldiers. We then got the prizes
under way and made every preparation for
returning. Whilst white flags were flying
all the while, Lieut.. w. R. Parker got on
shore with his prize vessel, ana was attack.
ed by about 90 soldiers, who beat off with
l8 men, having but one killed and two
wounded-this affair lasted thirty minutes.
Lieut.. c. M. Morris was despatched to him
with orders, and in passing the heavy fire
of the enemy, was wounded in the neck by
a musket ball. Lieut.. Morris stood up in
his boat and cheered the men most gallant.
ly, until he fell into the arms of midship.
man Keever who was with him. Tht
| Commodore then commenced cannonadins
in earnest from the Vixen, Bonita, Nonitt
} and Forward, and in the space of half Of
/. three-quarters ofan hour almost demolished
the city, sparing the houses of the foriegl
Consuls, and such as appeared to be inhab
!. tied by peaceful citizens. At about midda,
D the fleet left Tobasco, and as itpassed tn
/. different streets ut angles with the water
fired musketry and great guns, and swep
them completely..of every living thing.
. All the prizes were saved with the el
ception of one, which was burnt by tn
Commodore's order-it having been foun
+ impossible to get her clear of she Devil
n turn, rapid pass in the river. Arrived.t
Frontena on Sunday, at midnight; inhab
tants oil peaceful, having been kept in aw
= during the absence Of the expedition b
20 Lieut.. Walsh and his command
ltl The Revenue cutter Mclean stlc
/ while attempting to pass the bar, and d
not succeed in getting over until after Il
affair at Tobasco, and the return Of Il
. vessels. Her marines, under Lieut. Brow
y were on board the Bonita during the 25
le and 0f;th All the nrizaa were duly iii