The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-09
BY THE MAILS.
AFFAIRS in WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, April 7, lS47.
The Siege of Vera Cruz.

The Siege OF Vera Cruz.
Gen. Scott is conducting the siege of Vera
Cruz BY the most regular and methodical APP
proaches, and while the public are on the stills
of the tallest expectation and lmpatience the
regular soldier at this distance, devoted to the
science of war, is delighted at the sklful ar
rangements of the General-in-chief, for that sort
of rethodical investment of the city and castle,
which, though slow and steady, is as certain OF
crushing the victim within its coils, az the cir
cumvolutions of boa constructor The Mexl-
cans appear to be well supplied with ammunition,
or else they are making most injudicious expen-
diture of powder and shells, in sustaining. as
they do, scattering fire at the American lines
beyond gun shot Their object, however, may
be to ascertain the range of their guns, and pos
sibly to keep up the courage of the garrisons Of
the city and castle by the courageous barking OF
their AZ FOUNDERS
From the last advlces, it would seem that Gen.
Scott had planted some of his batteries and had
commenced playing upon the town. In day or
two we may expect to hear of such cannona-
ding as has not been witnessed, or heard, or felt,
on the American continent since the creation OF
the world.
1t is to be regretted as one of the results of the
dangers of the Gulf, that the horses of Col. Har-
news dragons were drowned but If no severer
loss is sustained in the reduction of the city and
castle, it will be exceedingly fortunate. two
or three weeks siege with the army encamped
among the swaInps and sand nils surrounding
the port, and under temperature ranging from
ninety to one hundred degrees, with malaria
constantly exhaling from the stagnant water and
decaying vegetable matter OF the marshes, and
with an occasional breeze which fills the air with
clouds of the hot and binding dust, lsamost GER
tain to bring about a pestilence III the camp
When all is properly ready, therefore, Gen. Scott
will be compelled to strike hard and push the
siege with the greatest activity, and from his for
n .dable preparationsth ere cannot be doubt that
such is his design.
That the army, after the work is done, except
ing garrison for the city and castle, will i'm
mediately abandon the locality and the neigh
borhood of Vera Cruz, is equally matter of stern
necessity, or it will be speedily decimated by the
vomito, which, prevailing at that place all the
year round, is an epidemic, when the Norther s
cease to blow and it appears the term of their
expiration has already arrived.
No positive intlmation has been given of the
disposition of the forces after the reduction OF
the town and fortress but the plain acquisitions
of a vigorous prosecution of the war, should the
enemy remain intractable, suggest the necessity
of a forward movement toward Mexico, and a
halt without the boundary of the yellow fever,
until the receipt Of reinforcements for a march
direct upon the capital.
But let US abide with patience the result
Thus far the operations have been conducted
with good fortune only equalled by the skill
and discipline exhibited BY the general chief,
the army, and the navy in cooperation. w.