Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-05-12
THINGS AT VERA CRUZ.

We are kindly permitted to copy the follow
ing from the private letters of a, gallant young
officer in an enviable and honorable position
in the army, to his friends in this city. The flrst
extracts relate TO occurrences during the DOM
bardment.-Dt. advertiser.
"Yesterda,, March 24) an additional battery
having reported to the General as being ready
to open, was despatched to direct the fire
of the same to begin. My servant finding me
absent from my tent and being moreover of a
chlvalrous turn, mounted my remaining charger.
"Arab," and sailed out to see what was gong
ON, and what his master might be doing. But
coming suddenly within range of the enemys
batteries, shell exploded, tumbled my knight
out of the saddle, and knocked out ARABS" left
eye. The man, though struck, being more stun
ned than hurt, picked himself up, remounted his
i war-scarred steed, and retraced his steps with
all due haste.
i can speak from observation of the great ac-
curacy of the Mexican artillerists. saw three
poor fellows heads taken off with round shot
) in the short space of three hours, who were &C
ting as gunners at their respective gnns. Tnese
: shot came through our embrasures, raking the
guns, as the sailors say, fore and aft.
f In the time above mentioned, four men were
: thus killed. one man desperately wounded, and
t one officer slightly. Some queer incidents oc-
curred-I saw gunners head taken off his hat
falling at the foot of the battery. and an instant
S after, shell from the enemy fell into The poor
r fellows hat, Another man whose leg the
= SURGEONS were preparing to take Of, was struck
n by second cannon shot on the same leg,aoove
the first fracture, whilst in their hands. This
was the coup de grace-the poor fellow expired.
S Really, man must be an eyewitness to re-
r alize what are calledh horrors of war. You may
ID write and talk, but there's nothing like the con
NJ viction of having before your eyes, as headless
l. trunks. what an instant before, were like your
self, living, thinking, acting men; to see these
ID bodies, as they are picked up by surviving com
rs rades. drop their shattered heads upon the SAM
brains falling out, and their gore pouring Il
1 thick stream But, to all this unpalatabe re
e. atty, the poet says:
The soldier braves death for the fancful wreath
s. l am just going to the battery. Adieu.
ed The same officer, under date of March 6tf
e writes:
"Our army is in fine spirits, and anxious 7
I'M he off for the capital city. We have been de
m tanned here since the surrender (28th ult.) 70
fst want of wagons, packs, and teams for the tran
nortation of our subsistence. We are, OF cours
exceedingly impatient under the detention.
hone that il cannot last over four or tive day
rot longer.
no The town of Alverado surrendered witho1
m resistance, ON Friday last, to JOINT expedite
of our people and the navy. Antigua, hit
leu town seven miles or SO from this, on the Ant
ing qua River, has also surrendered. These cola
eral expeditions are not intended to act on !, Il
eln, final result-itis not supposed they can. b
rea they were gotten up to open market ior nc
SEES. mules and beef cattle.
The movement toward the capital will CO.
ing nence on the 9Th inst.