The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-21

teers, under Coils. Campbell and Haskell,
had sharp engagement with strong
force OF the enemy at a fortified bridge
a short distance this side of Medelin. The
barricade at the bridge was carried by as
sault, and the Mexicans were afterwards
entirely cut to pieces and dispersed by the
mounted Dragons. They lost 40 or SO
men in killed, besides many wounded; on
our side the loss was killed and or s
wounded-Among the latter Lieut. Neill,
OF the dragons, severely but not dangerous
ly injured by lance.
Yesterday morning, the Goth, before
daylight, a severe norther sprang up. At
sunrise white flag came in from the Mexi-
cans, and under cover of truce for the
benefit of foreign families were overtures for
surrender. The batteries of the enemy
had been mostly silent the night previous.
Gen Scott appointed a commission, consis-
ting of Gems. Worth, Pillow and Col.
Totten, to confer with the officers selected
by the Mexican Gen. Landero, it being sta
ted that Gen. Morales was sick The men,
bers of our commission, if I am rightly in
formed, were instructed to insist upon the
unconditional surrender of Vera Cruz and
the castle of San Juan de Ulua General
Morales having desi gnated himself as COM
mandero of both, with arms and ammunitions
The prisoners to be sent to the u. States
if General Scott deemed itexpedient. Gen.
Worth and other commissioners went out
IN the afternoon, when the Mexican officers
requested until 9 or 10 o'clock this morning
to give their answer.
Yesterday afternoon deputation of the
citizens of Medelin came up and requested
General Scott to send down regular armed
force to occupy that town and protect their
property.
Some twenty ODD sail of vessels, mostly
schooners and hermaphrodite briggs. have
been driven ashore by the violence of the
norlher, and several square.rigged vessels
have been dismasted under Sacrifcios.-
The gale has been one of uncommon fury.
1t has abated this morning, and see several
small boats filled with French and probably
other families, between the castle and Sacri-
fcios. They have been stopped by Com.
Perry, and not allowed to proceed towards
the feet With the timely warning they
all had, they should have left the city be-
fore they did. General Scott told them
plainly what he intended to do, and it is
their own fault if they did not believe him.
IL O'CLOCK P. M.--The thing is all settled.
The commission has returned, the capitula-
ton has been signed by all parties, and
day after tomorrow, at 10 O'clock, the Mex
leans are to march out of their heroicn city,
which they were to defend until not man
was left, stack their arms in presence of
our whole army and then set out on their
parole as the cheapest way of getting rid
of them.
Twill endeavor to write description of
the evacuation tomorrow. The number
of Mexican officers captured is nearly as
follows; S Generals, l8 Colonels, 81 Lieu
tenant Colonels, Majors, 90 Captains,
and $50 Lieulenants There are those al
ready who think that full and most un-
conditional surrender should have been in
sisted upon-that we had every means to
enforce it-but shall say nothing until 1
have read all the articles.
CAMP BEFORE VERA CRUZ, March 20.
Since writing yesterday have been able
to gather the full sum and substance of the
terms of surrender, and under the circum-
stances do not see how it can be complain
ed of by the most exacting. The Mexican
members of the commission were Coils.
Gutierrez de Villanaeva, Lieut.. Col. Manu-
ell Roblcs and Col. Pedro NJ. Herrera
courteous men, all of them, as I learn by
those who were present. have been un-
able to procure copy of the terms of ca
Pituiation, but it amounts to the following
The garrisons in the castle and different
forts are to march out and lay down their
arms at o'clock on the 29th of March, to-
day,( the officers to preserve their side arms,
horses, saddles and brides. At the time
the arms are given over, the Mexican flags
are to be saluted by their own batteries and
Immediately struck, after which the city,the
Castle of San Juan de Ulua, and the Forts
Conception and Santiago, are to be occu-
pied by the division of Gen. Worth. The
Mexican officers are to give parole that
their men do not again take up arms until
exchanged In the mean time, all the arms,
munitions of war and public stores the
castle and in the different forts and 1a ansriesY
are to be turned over ID thesA