Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-19
From the Gulf Squadron.

Second Abortive Attack on AlvaradO---
| Vessels Grounded on tina Har--EXpedI-
| ton against Tobasco-.Capture of seve-
raj Prizes.
| The New Orleans Picayune (extra) of the
9TH inst contains the following important let
| ter from their correspondent IN the Gull Squad
/ ron -
| BY the arrival of the pilot boat at the Baze
we are in the possession OF late advices from
the squadron. We have only time TO give the
annexed letters and save the mail If the Com
modore has failed in his attempt upon Alvara-
do, it it is owing to no want of gallantry or skill
on his part or that of his officers. The dllh-
cultes he has had to surmount have been in
superable so far; but he will yet prevail. He
will, in few weeks, renew his attempt at all
hazards -
| Orr ANTON LIzARDo, Oct 10, 1876.
Gentlemen: We are on the eve of another
attack on Alvarado At S O'Clock this after
noon, Com CONNER issued orders for the sail
ing Of the squadron, frigates Cumberland and
Raritan excepted for the mouth Of the Alvara
do river
| The Com. takes command of the expedition
in person, making use of the steamer Vixen as
| his flag ship for the occasion. One O'Clock to-
morrow morning is the hour fixed, and alrea-
dy the steamers Mississippi. Vixen and Me
Lame, are firing up. Besides these vessels
the force consists of the Revenue Cutter For
ward, schooners Refer, Petrol, and Bonita,
and prize schooner Monata. This latter YES
sci was recently captured from the Mexicans.
and was formerly the American schooner Belle,
out OF your port. She now mounts four forty
two pound cannonades.
| For the last month we have been drilling
our men as Infantry, upon small island, and
Jack is so anxious for fight, that he marks
time with good grace, and every one appears
pleased that at least we are TO have chance
at the enemy.
At the mouth of the river the Mexcans have
a ten gun battery, and we know of brig of
war and two gun boats being anchored inside.
A number of their small merchantmen have
taken refuge in the harbor, and there must be
small sprinkling of prize money in store for
us.
Oct. l6th-Our sailing orders for the morn
ing of the l4th were countermanded IN conse-
quence of its blowing too fresh for operation
occasioning a delay Of the expedition for "a
hours. We sailed, however, at A. M, yes
terday, but regret TO state that we are all at
anchor again to-day and .4lrarado We, in pos
session Of the .Mericms.
You were pleased to call the former attack
on Alvarado an abortion, and | suppose you
will not be sparing Of hard names for the pre-
sent failure, but | trust when you examine the
facts of the case YOU will understand that it is
owing 10 the inefficiency of the means at the
disposal of Com. CONNER, and 10 the natural
deiences Of the place itself, that we have not
been successful, rather than TO any want of skill
or courage on his part, or lack of spirit and
support by the officers and men under his
command. We were within ten miles of the
mouth of the river at daylight, and stood slow
ly into shore, it being dead calm. the Vixen
and McLane towing the schooners.
The Mississippi anchored at long shot dis
lance and commenced her fire. Up to this
time every thing appeared highly favorable for
the success of the expedition. There being a
heavy swell on the bar, the pilots declined
taking the vessels over. The Commodore
leading in the Vixen with the rest Of the force
following, passed by the Font, each vessel fir
ing her broadside as she ranged ahead, with
but little effect, however, owing TO the dis
lance. A long Is in the Forward sent shot
directly into the Fort
This movement was repeated with better
success; the distance being lessened. The
Forward made most beautiful shot IN the
meanwhile, the Mississippi had closed up and
exploded her Paixhan about the heads Of the
Mexicans, in the way that must have made
some of them see more stars than the Lord
ever made. One shot from her dismounted
heavy gun of theirs from stockade This
1 they soon remedied, but thus far their shot had
| fallen short.
! During the morning several Of our boats
sounded within half a mile of the Fort. receiv-
| ing the hire of the enemy with as much impu-
nifty as indifference. The swell over the bar
having somewhat subsidized at p. NJ, the line
was formed as follows STEAMER Vixen, flag
ship, towing gun-boals Reeler and Bonita
steamer Macl .ane towing the Bonita, cutter
Forward, andgun- boat Petrel; then launches,
) cutters, and barge containing force des-
tined for boarding The vessels Of war brought
up the rear