The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-04
Exsrsei from another !saisr
"War has now regularly commenosd. God only
knows hoo and phsn it viii end" s.t
Extract Of letter from officer u H. ,. ~ ws-
sisam1 FasSrand, 10 friend ID INs.sss'dss.
"PARAsA RNEs,
Corr OnLIaApo. Nov. - la45

"PAKASA RyEa,
"0FF oBLIGADo, Nov. -, l545.
"psAH YmEspr On the 2O,h We commenced our
fire. o. the forts and schooner al about a. IN, and
d. esdfal battle has been, and lasted nine hours.
For scvsn hours the fire ineessans with rockets
csnnsicr graps, shells, and shoe and ia about an
hour after we commenced the schooner was on kss,
and after burning about an hour she blew up with
tremendous explosion. sabout this time Mr. Mere
dh (engineer) went with the captain and two boats
10 cut three chains which crossed the river These
chains passed twenty three vessels large and small
and secured to them, and while cutting the chains,
which was soon executed, n tremendous fire from
the batteries was playing upon them; the chains
being severed, the vessels separated, leaving the
channel cearj the boats returned safe. The three
steamers "Firebrsnd," 'Gorgoo," and Fulton"
the latter French, passed through, and took posi-
ton near the upper part Of the forts, and opened
fire which caused dreadful carnage. About O'Clock
D. the fire from the forts began TO slacken; at p.
m VIC landed, and after skirmish of fifteen minutes,
we took possession Of the three batteries, spiked he
guns, and returned TO our ships. The French landed
soon after our people. When our boats were going
OF shore the enemy retired from the batteries when
the cavalry tried to force them in again TO the guns
without effect, and skirmish took place amongst
themselves. None of them have come near us
since; and yesterday got of all the brass guns,
and destroyed the iron Ones and blew the batteries
to fragments, and in fact destroyed everything that
might harm US. To-day we have been repairing
damages of our vessels, and preparing TO burn the
vessels which blocked up the channel. We have al
ready burned several, and will soon finish the bal
ance OF them.
81 must now give you an account Of the loss and
damages sustained. The San Martin, French, }
twenty killed and eighteen wounded; her chain
cables shot away, her mssts and sails completely
riddled; in her hull not two feet Of solid timber
she Ia like sieve The steamer "Fulton, French,
pretty much in the same state; one lieutenant, and
| several men on deck the first engineer, and three
| hremen below, all killed, and a number wounded;
one wheel almost TO pieces, the other very bad three
shot entered the cngine-room, but none Of the ma
chinery injured; 1--WE shot in her funnel, and two in
| her steam-ppe; she Is IN a dreadful state. All the
rest OF the French ships have some few killed and
wounded their bulls rigging, masts, and sails are
much cut up. or our ships, the Dolphin, one lieu.
tenant and six men killed; hull masis, and rigging
much shattered this vessel received LOT round shot
IN her hull. The "Philomel )" one lieutenant NOR
tally wounded and seven men killed; spars and rig
ging much injured. "Comas, one lieutenant and one
boy killed; fifteen shot in her hull "Fanny." tender
rigging cut away; killed or wounded. "Gorgon,
two shot in her hull some in her spars; none killed
on board; two killed on landing and three wounded
$50 far as our men have been allowed to 60, they
have seen above five hundred men lying dead, many
81 them cut In two by our shells II 10 rep~red by
| some who have come to US for protection, tina,
there are over one thousand slain. The enemy's
carts were employed all the day carrying off the
| killed and wounded There were four batteries,
AID several EngIishmen iou sht the guns was al
the battle Of Acre some years ago. but thi, far sur
passes IT, taking our small force into consideration
We shall ascend the river in few days, and take
possession Of some other forts.
| Yours, &c. &c. &c.
"Oficsrs killed are Lieut. Bricl1dalc Mr.. Andrews
secretary-Dophin; Lieut.. Doyle, Of Phiomel
morally wounded.