The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-10

coast and territory when, in violation OF their PAROLE
the Mexican leaders California, on the 23d OF Septem,
ber renewed hostes, and in consequence OF the small
number which could be detailed TO garrison the places
occupied BY our forces gained some partial advantages
But on the goth OF December, the commodore with
about six hundred officers and men from the ships Con-
gress Savannah Portsmouth, and Cyane, in operation
with Brgadler General kearny, with about sixty men
of the LIST Dragons and about fifty mounted niiemen'
marched from San Diego for the capital OF the CALIFORNIA;
After march OF hundred and forty miles, they met
the enemy the Rio San Gabriel the sth OF January,
and drove him in most gallant manner from srohs
and advantageous positions and after another enc9.se.
the 9TH with similar result, the enemy was driven
from the field and forces entered me oludau ue os
Angeles without further resistance; by these eheIgelc
measures the Instruction was quelled ana, py suDsa-
quent capituation, all hostites IN Calorhia ceaseu
and have not been since renewed In this unprecedented
march of the sailors, OF more than one hundred anu my
miles inland and in their severe encounters WIN Inc enc
nv they are reported have We'd with their brethren oil
the army in steady discipline and daring courage ihey
have in the emergencies in which the country was placed
before the arrival of troops, served In the most credabe
manner as infantry, artillery, and dragons
From the latest dispatches received from the squadron
am happy state that everything was tranquil IN Upper
and Lower California the military possession complete
and undisturbed trade carried without errupton and
the civil government in successful operation. feel au
thorzed to express the confident belief that MaZaan San
Bias, and Acapulco have before this time been captured
by Commodore Shubrick, and held by the squadron
under his command open to the trade OF neutras under
the same conditions as other Mexican ports in the mill
ary occupation Of the United States These measures,
from the west coast of Mexico all contraband trade
| With view to mask the contemplated combined at
tack Vera Cruz and the castle, orders were gwen IN
October 1896 to Commodore Conner, commanding our
naval forces in the Gulf of Mexico, to capture and oc-
cupy Iampico These orders gallanty executed in
November following and preparations were MADE ss wl.
part in this interesting military operation omb-ketches
and steamers purchased armed and sent forward
the shipof heln Ohio, destined Tor the raclhc was
ordered to the Gulf the sloops Germantown Saratoga and
Decatur fitted and sent downs and all the necessary
means at the command OF the department were put IN
requison to make the cooperation OF the naval forces
as efficient as possible. cannot eXaSgerate my admra-
ton of the conduct of the officers OF every grade who
waving all priyegeso rank and considerations OF per-
comfo eagerly sought service IN Inc
by those who fortunate to receive orders lot me
service The combined operations were conducted win
the highest skill and courage. and the city OF Vera CRUZ
with lis formidable defences garrisoned with more than
five thousand men and armed with more than tour nun
bred cannon after resistance OF barely hve days. capt.
ulaed with total loss the asslants OF twelve Killed
of whom six belonged to the navy and SIX to the army
The entire operations from the landing OF the troops,
which was effected from the ships of war; to the surren
der of the place, brought the army and navy INTO Inc
closest contact and the courage and skill displayed were
not more honorable to both than the perfect harmony
which prevailed The conduct OF the ot1ceIs ana men
OF the squadron whether shpboard, or IN the battery
on Shore received from the army the highest commenda-
ion while the former enthusiastically apPauded the gal
anry and skill OF their more fortunate brethren OF the
army On the day of March Commodore Conner who
had been in command of the home more than
three years. and whose health had greatly suffered from
the long and honorable service which he had performed
in an unfavoable climate after the landing OF the troops,
and pending the attack Vera Cruz transferred the COM
mand to Com Perry This gallant officer has conducted
the operations OF this command win dsngalsEnea Iaag
the mouth of the Coatzacoacos and the city OF abasco
eighty miles the Interior the capital of one OF the rich
est and fertile of the Mexican States were success
svey captured and occupied by naval forces. Ia
many OF the operations which led to these results the
service was arduous the exposure to unhealthy ntlu,
ences great and the localities gave to the enemy decided
advantages Of successful resislance yet with an indom
liable courage and forude the officers and men met and
lqyercame a aud still bold these lmparant
evacuated because OF its extreme insalubrty. Blessed
with vigorous health and robust constitution, the Com
modoe has person encountered the hardshps and ex
posture to which those under his command have been sub
BY the squadrons both in the Pacific and in the Gulf
which give that the navy would have covered
itself with the aurels with which grateful coah-
try will armies, II the same opportunity OF DIS
tinguished service had been afforded.
i Of the events which occurred in the Gulf OF
Mexico during the past year. none have excited nigh
| er degree of sympathy and admiration than the loss
| of the brave officers and men who penshed with
the brig Somers-the heroic and romantic generosity
evinced by many OF them when IN the most % ,hn
by the officers and of the British, French, and
Spanish shps.of- war anchored in view OF the wreck 1t
has afforded me the highest satisfaction to take, under
your direction the necessary measures to carry INTO effect
the Joint resolution of Congress OF the I'D OF March last
which made it the duty of the President to cause suitable
gold ana silver medals 10 DC PcPd'eu anu " S
officers and attached to the foreign shps-ol- war
"who SO gallaitly and at the imminent peril of their
lives aided in rescung from waery grave many OF the
officers and crew OF the United States brig Somers"
| have instructed Commodore Perry to procure the
names of the brave and generous who entitled to
this distinguished mark OF nations gratitude. lie has
promptly undertaken the grateful duty and so soon as
he shall have obtained and communicated the necessary
information, the medals will be prepared and presented
prevailed with much vrulence in the Gulf squadron and
the places occupied by naval forces along the coast
Many valuable officers and men have fallen under the
ravages of fever. But it OF great satisfaction
that the number of deaths has been very small in proper
ton the number of of yellow fever and OF fever
of other malignant type No class OF officers has suffer-
ed greater poporonae loss than the medical corps OF the
has received, deserved the and grateful com
mendation of their commanding officer and, while their
skill and attention rescued from death unprecedented
ly large proportion OF their patients, their anxiety and
exposure incident to their arduous duties left them with
ou the strength resist the disease when themselves at
tackled Some of the most accomplished OF their highly
meritoous corps have fallen victims to the disease of
the season respectfully urge that the increase OF the
number of surgeons and Of assistant surgeons, recon-
mended in the accompanying report OF the Chief OF the
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, be authorized BY law
The unusually large number OF vessels IN commission
makes this increase matter of urgent necessity.
Immediately after the capture and occupation OF Tam
pco and Vera Cruz the Gulf, and OF Monterey, San
Francisco, and San Diego the Pacific. the command
ing officers of the army and navy, respectively establish
ed and collected duties commerce Under your direc
ton the instructions from this department have enjoned
on the commanders of squadrons the most consider
ate regard tor the Of American citizens and OF
neutras and the smallest possible interference with law
full trade compatible with the successful maintenance of