The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-07-25
to capture the Mexican vessels of war

speaks in the very highest terms Of the
sailing qualities Of the Princeton, and
says her crew, and that of the Raritan,
are eager for active service. He saw
a Mexican paper, dated June 14th,
which stated that Paredes was march
ing at the head of 5000 men to meet
General Taylor, and that Arista was
under arrest, charged with ssdisgracs.
ful conduct" Great excitement ex-
listed at Vera Cruz. Troops were
being brought in constantly from the
country to man the castle, and they
were fast falling prey to the yellow
fever.
On the 10th the Flirt left Vera Cruz
with dispatches, and arrived off Tam
pico on the 18th, where she found the
sloop Of war st. Mary's, and learned
that an unsuccessful attempt had been
made by some boats from that vessel
to cut out number Of Mexican gun
boats lying at the mouth Of the Panuco,
opposite Tampico. Our correspondent
says the boats stan ted to make the at
tack on the night Of the 18th; but were
separated before crossing the bar. The
launch and one ofthe cutters succeeded
in getting inside, when the fort opened
a fire upon them, which was briskly re-
turned from a -pounder OIL board
the launch. The Mexican gun-boats,
after the lapse Of some time, entered
into the action, and as their guns were
eighteen Founders, the launch and cut
ter were forced to get beyond their
fire. In doing so, however, they took
position where they had command
of the fort, and soon silenced it. The
gun-boats perceived the fort was silenc-
ed, supposed it was taken, and COM
menced q fire upon it, and the fort, find
ing from whence the fire came, return
ed it. Thus they kept battering each
other for about half an hour, the launch,
as opportunity offered, also putting in
shot. The remainder of the party,
however, moi having joined the launch
and the cutter, they were compelled to
retire without efacting their Object
They sustained no injury Of conse-
quence in the affair. We infer from
the remarks Of our correspondent that
another attempt would be made, and
has probably succeeded. The officers
and crew Of the Flirt were all well.
In addition to the above we gather
some interesting paragraphs from the
New Orleans papers:
The steamship Massachusetts, from
Alexandria, ID. c., had arrived and
disembarked the detachments OF Bal
timore and Washington troops which
she carried out.
Reports from Montsry state that
that town and the approaches to it are
being in complete state of defence,
and that a considerable body OF the
Mexican army is stationed there.
1t is understood that Gen. Taylor
will advance at the earliest moment
that he can establish depot at Cham
argo, which he designs to make the
base OF operations towards Monterey.
| A part of the Mexican tactics is to
prevent the supplies Of the country, as
far as possible, from reaching the Amer.
lean army. Fol- this purpose it is stated
that Canaes and his band of partisans
have been engaged in driving off the
cattle from all the surrounding country.
OF course, therefore, it will not answer
tor any forward movement to be made,
except with abundant provision trans
ports. To the proposed depot at Ca
margo it is designed to use steamboats,
for transportation. Thence, however,
an immense number Of wagons will be
required.
! The Mexican army at Monterey is
reported 10 be in deplorable condi-
ton, suffering from disease and hunger,
and desertions are daily becoming more
prevalent.
There are constant arrivals Of Mex
leans at Matamoras from the interior.
The population in the city of Mexico
are in great disaffection; they imagine
the Americans are IN full march for
the metropolis. At Monterey, where
General Meiia commands, the palace
of the bishop had been turned into a
fort; it is so situated as to command the
town and its approaches.
A correspondent writes as follows:
"a letter has been received here, (at
Matamoras,) stating that wealthy
proprietor Of Mexico had placed in the
hands of the government two millions
of dollars and twelve thousand horses,
and that the clergy had pledged them
selves to sustain the country in driving
the invaders from the soil, Paredes
having given publicity to the contemp-
tible falsehood that we were the ene-
mics and sworn destroyers OF their
religion"