Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-12-04
From the New Olleans Picayunc.
IMPORTANT FROM THE SQUADRON.
Second attempt upon Akrarado-Erped:tion
against Iabasco.

! -N~> - ~ -AAs = Az IVA AkC SNOAkJRONs
| Second attempt upon Alvaraao-Erped;tion
against Ia5asco
We were so fortunate as 10 receive yes
te'dav. by pilo. boat which touched at
the Balize, advices from the squadron in
the Gulf down TO the eth of October
The accounts are very interesting. but we
regret 10 say are no! un(agorable 10 the
/ success Of our arms.
On the 18th October, second attempt
was made by Com. Connor upon Alvara-
do. In consequence Of the grounding of
one OF the vessels which had three Others
+, III Row, the Commodore found himself
mos! reluctantly compelled TO abandon the
enterprise. We canno. give an adequate
representation of the disappointment, Of
men and officers engaged in the affair."
| They suffered no loss, but from unavoida-
bic accidents, from the force Of circum-
stances beyond their powc, TO control, they
could not get into action with their enemy
., close quarters, as they desired.
The gallant old Commodore was the
most chagtined of all. He took the com.
'nsnd Of the expedition in person, upon
The steamer Vixen His vessel cuccceded
| in ge,iirg across the bar and reaching the
desired position, where she stood the brun.
Of The FIRE Of the Mexican battery of IL
guns, ill he McLane got aground, and i.
would have been fool hardness 10 persis,
in the enterprise. Com. Conner stood all
the while upon the wheel-house Of the
| Vixen, calm and unrulied. while The sho.
flew around him. One ball. striking short
Of HE schooner, dashed the water over his
person, filing his face and eyes. Unmoy-
ed, he wiped the water from his face. and.
soiiciious only for Others, inquired if any
one was hurt. His bearing is described
TO us as everything tina, we could have
wished. Perfectly unruflled. he would
| no, expose to useless hazard his command,
after i! became evden..,hat from accident,
| the enterprise must fail. His officers and
men, were rendered half frantic by the or
der to withdraw. There was nothing so
rash and desperate tha! they would no.
have performed it, rather than have obey.
ed the summons to desis,.
given by our correspondent. The reader
will find perfectly clear, connected ac-
coun. OF the affair in the letters subjolned:
Orr ASToS I.1sAnDo Oct 18th 1916.
Gen!emen:-At O'Clock this after
noon Com. Conner issued orders for the
sailing of the squadron (friga,es Cumber-
| land and Rarian excep.ed) for the mouth
of shc Alvaraao river. The Commodore
takes command CT the expedition in per-
son, making use Of the steamer Vixen as
his flag ship for the occasion. One o.
| clock tomorrow morning Is the hour fixed
for getting under weigh, aud already the
steamers Mississippi. Vixen and McLane
are firing up. Besides these vessels The
force consists of the revenue cutter For
ward, schocncrs Refer, Petrol, and Bonl'
ia, and prize schooner Nonata. This lat
ter vessel was recently captured from the
| Mexicans. and was formerly the American
schooner Belle. GU! Of your port. She
now mounts four 42-pound carronades.-
Fer the pas, month we have been drilling
our men as infantry upon small island
here, and Jac!: is so anxious for fight
tina, he marks time with good grace, and
every one appears pleased that at last we
arc 10 have chance al the enemy.
A, the mouth OF the river the Mexicans
have ten gun battery. and we Know OF
BRIG of war and two gunooats being an.
chored inside. number Of their small
merchantmen have taken refuge in the
harbor, and there must be smart sprinK
ling of prize.money in store for us.
| October l6.-Our sailing orders for the
morning of the 14,l,, were countermanded
in consequence Of its blowing too fresh
for operations occasioning delay OF the
expedition for twen.y-four hours. We
sailed, however. at l O'Clock, A. NJ, yes
terday, but :egrei to say. that we are al
a, anchor again to-day aud AlvaTado is ye
in possession Of The Mexicans.
We were within ten miles of,he mou,l
of the river a. daylight, and stood slowly
. into shore, i. being dead calm-the Vixe'
| and McLane towing the schooners-,h
Mississippi anchored at long.shot distance
and commenced her fire. Up 10 this tim
everything appeared highly favorable 70
the success Of the expedition. There be
ing heavy swell on the bar. the pilot de
clined taking the vessels over. The Com
modore leading in the Vixen, with tn
res, of the force following, passed by til
:. fort. each vessel firing her broadsite as sh
RANGED ahead, with but little ef1e:s, how
/, ever, owing to The distance. A long eigl'
teen in the Forw ard sent a shot direc,I
e into the fort; this movement was repcate
q with better success. The distance bein
J. lessened, and again the Forward made
c mos, beautiful shot. In the meanwhil
> the Mississippi had closed up and was eS
O D.; .bo,, tho hea,s :