Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-04-22
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, }
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, {

SIR: Yesterday, seven oil our ten io-ihch
mortars, being in batterey, and the iapors iof
planting the remainder OF our heavy melai pc
ing in progress, addressed, at two O'CLOCK
p M n summons 70 the Governor OF vera
C,,z and within the two hours limited by
tho bearer OF the flag. received the governors
answer. Copies oil the TWO papers, Qhafked
respectively, A. and b. are herewith encios
!, will be perceived that the governor, who
:, ,,,rns ont is the commander OF both places,
chose. against the plain terms Of the summons
m ennnose me to have demanded the surrender
of ,hs ras,le and Of the cIty-when IN lact
from, the non.arrival OF our heavy metal
principally mortars-l was IN 40 condition 10
threaten the former
On the return OF the flag, with that reply,
NJ once ordered the seven moriars, III battery
10 open upon the city. In snort unie the
smaller vessels Of Commdore PerfyS squad
ron--two steamers and hive schoohefs--ac
cordino TO previous arrangement WIN MIN,
approached the city within about inile ana
an eighth, whence, seing partially coFSfeu
from the castIe--an essential cohulaoh " 'iieii
safety-lhev also opened a DISK hte upon me
CITY This has been continued, uiilh'eii"P
". by the mortars, and only WIN &c" N
termissions by the vessels, UP 10 hlne cloch
his morning, when the commodore, very
nronerIy. called them off from a position too
danngIy assumed. no
Our three remaining moriars are no" w
o,cl,ck m \ in batlerey; and the whole ten IN
,ctivitv Tomorrow, early, If the city should
CONTINUE obstinate, batteries Nos. a and3 VIII
he ready TO add their fire: Ne. a, consisting
offour 91-poupders and two inch Paixhan
Guns. and No. (naval battery) OF three ~
Founders and three 8 inch paixhans-the guns,
plIicers and sailors landed from the squadron
our friends Of the navy being unremlthng
in their jealous cooperation, III every inoae
and form.
So far. we know that our6re upon the city
ba, been highly eAecuye-parueulariy from
the batteries OF 10 inch motlars, planteu at
about 500 yards from the city lnciuding
The nrepagailnn and defence Of the batteries,
from the beginning-now many days--and
Notwithstanding the heavy hreoi the enemy,
from the civ and castle--we have only mad
four or five men wounded, and one officer and
one man killed, in or near the trenches, mat
officer was Cant. JoHN Il. NIsToN, OF the
United States Sd artillery, one OF the most
talented, accomplished, and effective men oil
If the Army, and who was highly disun-
guished in the brilliant operations at Monte
rev. He fell, last evening in the trenches,
where he was on duty as field and command
ing officer. universally regretted, | have Just
attended his honored remains 10 a solder $
crsve-in full view OF the enemy and with
IN reach Of his guns.
Thirteen of the long needed moFars, leav,
inr twenty seven. besides heavy guns behind
have arrived and two OF them landed. A
heavy norher then set in Cat merldlan) that
stopped that operation, and also the landing Of
shells Hence the fire ofour mortar batteries
has been slackened. since two O'Clock, to-day
and canaot be reinyigorated until we shall
again have a smooth sea. In meantime
shall leave this report open for journallzing
events that may occur up to the departure Of
the steam ship Of war, the Princeton, with
Commodore Conner, who | learn, expects TO
leave the anchorage oil Sacrticios, Tor the
United States the 18th inst
.Warch 24-The storm having subsidized IN
the night we commenced this forenoon, as
soon as the sea became a lllle smooth, to
land shot, shells and mortars.
The naval battery, No 5, was opened with
great activity, under Capt. AulIck, the second
in rank Of the squadron, at about 10 a. NJ
His fire was continued 70 , O'Clock, p m,
little before was relieved by Capt Mayo
who landed with fresh supply Of aumun-
ton-Captain A. having exhausted the sup
ply he had brought with him. He lost four
sailors, killed, and had one officer, Lieut.. Bald
win, slightly hurt
The mortar batteries, Nos. J., 2 and g. have
fired but anguidly during the day for the want
of shells, which are now going cut from the
beach.
The two reports Of Col Bankhead, chief
orartillery, both of this date, copies Of which
enclose, give the incidents Of those three
batteries.
Batlerey No. a. which will noun, four 81
FOUNDERS, and two S.inch Paxhan guns, has
been much delayed in the hands Of the inde~
fatigable engineers by the norther that filled up
the work with sand nearly as fas, as it could
be opened bv the half blinded laborers. 1t
will however. doubtless, be in fall activity
early tomorrow morning.
March 25-The Princeton being about to
start for Philadelphia, have but moment 10
continue this report.
An the batteries, Nos /, 2. 3. a, and 5, are
IN awful ACTIVITY this morning. The effect
is, no doubt, yeiy great, and think the city
cannot mold out beyond to-day Tomorrow
morning many OF The moJ,ars viii be in po-
silon 10 add tbeir hts, when, or after the de-
lay ofsome twelve hoeFs, If no proposition
to surrender should be received, shall organ
izepauics for carrying the cfy by assault. So
Tar the defence has been splHteeand obstinate.
enclose a copy of a memorial received
last nlgat signed by the Consuls a Great
britain. France, Spain and Prussia, within
Vera Cruz, asking me to grant trace
10 enable the neutrals, together with Mexican
women and children 10 withdraw fren, lhe
scene Of havoc about them. shall reDlv he
moment that an opportunity may he taken.
10 say--l. Thata truce can only be granted
on the application OF Governor Morales. win
view 10 surrender; 9. That ia sendinc.
safeguards to the different conSuls, heeinnino
as far back as the 18th inst, distinctly al
monished particularly the French and
Spanish consuls-of the dangers that have
followed; g. That although. at thai date,
adnlready refused to allow any person what
,soever TO pass tho line Of investment either
way, yet the blockade had been left open 10
the consuls and other neuuas to pass out to
their respective ships Of war up 10 the I'D
Instant; and 4th. shall inclose 10 the memo
,.allsts copy Of my summons 10 the govern
Or, TO show that had fully considered tue
Impending hardshps and disresses Of the,
place, including those ofwonnen and chldrn,