The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-14
French and capture OF San Juan de Ulloa
Vera Cruz.

and Vera Cruz.
From the journal du Havre, April 49,
'Thc next arrival will in all probability bring the
news of the attack OF the Castle of San Juan de Uoa, by
the naval forces OF the United States. The American gov
eminent has finally determined 10 make the attempt alter
having, for long time, hesitaed to intrust this enterprise
(he importance of which makes evident that II ought 10
have been one of It's first eorts) to the squadron In the Gull
of Mexico the previous efforts OF which have been attended
stroke eclipse the insignificant aggressions against the
various small ports the Mexican coast which they
have hitherto confined themselves. Grand preparations
have been made for this operation which, however, was
but an oihand affair navy; and there is no doubt
but that the fear of failing in an enterprise which The
French navy demonstrated be one, has caused
The United States government TO hesitate considerably from
the first and TO take the great precauon ht mas III order
III will not, perhaps, be uninterestiug this moment
institute comparison between the French forces which
caused capimatIon OF San Juan de Uoa and those
the United States, which have assembled before Vera
Cruz attack this fortress which they still persist in call
inc the Gibraltar of the New World.
''he squadron commanded by Admiral Baudn, consist
ed Of four rgaies, three corveties five twenty gun bngs,
Two bomb keches, and two s,eamern ALL twenty vessels,
the two bomb keches the only that took part in
the action which commenced al O'Clock in the afternoon
and terminated by the surrender OF the place. the
principal batteries Of which had been slenced, and its
rhefworks destroyed.
largest force which the United States have yet
ed before single place, aud consists in all of thirty
raj Payhans Ii consists of the following, viz II
gun ship, the Ohio; frigatos-he Potomac, So guns,
st Mays, Germantown, Albany Decatur, and Saratoga
Two lo.n brgs-the Porpoise and Penyj Twelve steamers
of which the Mississippi and Princeton carry Paixhan
guns five bomb ketches and ten schooners or sioops car
wing from 2 to guns.
en has taken into its service considerable number of
merchant vessels both and sailing for the anspo
on of the troops, which make of the expedition
General Scott who to attack the town Of Vera Cruz
by land, under he orders of the squadron This branch
consists OF seventy ships, fifty six briggs and eleven
ers which makes aggregate Of l75 sail of all kinds
which have all directly or indirectly the object in
Niy fha ION ni Irra nd
As matter of course, the American government found
great hopes the of such an imposing array, the
eqga which they have had previously the naval
history of the nation We doubt however, whether the
suit viii repay the enormous expenses which these prepn
raons must have Not that for moment doubt
that the American navy will fail in enterprise in which
navy, with such limited means succeeded so brilliantly
because there is reason to believe that all this
costly preparation will be rendered useless by the neicen
cy the resistance they win meet with Already the
untion of Vera Cruz has given this city without blow
General Scott who will only have collected large force
great expense, from distance of two hundred leagues
the NORTH take possession of an abandoned town. 1t
is highly probable that, being cut of from its communca
with the interior, the castle OF San Juan de uua will
surrender the first summons and by such VIC
Tory the American flag will be deprived OF the glory OF
leaf OF arms for which the French navy is justly enved."
We copy the above nvidous article from the Journal
du Havre ana as the difference in the condition and
mament of the castle of San Juan at the time of its
ducon by the French, and at the period of its recent
capituaton forces, to be not well under
STOOD we consider ii to be due TO national repua-
on TO our gallant navy, and to the cause of TRUTH to
offer brief review of the operations OF the French ex-
petition at Vera Cruz with condensed statement of
the present condition of the castle.
powerful squadron under the command of the
veteran Admiral Bauln, appeared before Vera Cruz on
the 26th of October 1885, for the avowed purpose of de-
handing from the Mexican government an apology Tor
agross insult offered to the French flag, and an indemnity
for spoatons committed by the same power the prop
erty of French citizens Having failed in attaining these
objects by peaceabe negotiations, the admiral attacked
the castle of San Juan Qhe key to Vera CRUZ the 27h
OF November and succeeded in reducing it after terrific
Commandment of three hours and haf-taking posses
sion of the next day
The attack was made by the three frigates La Nerede
and La Goire of So guns each, EIphgene, of 60 guns
and two bomb keches, carrying four l3-inch mortars
making in all 1914 heary guns, and mortars OF the
largest class in ordinary servceexclusive of the Creole
commanded by the Prince de Joinville whose armament
not given She threw, however, 800 shots, and Mon
seur Mengin the chief engineer, says "As she he Gre
ole) was manned with picked men, and was well com
manded, her cooperation very effective"
The armament of the castle consisted of l6-poun-
ders. l2-pounders 1s-pounder carronades, / 81
FOUNDER, l s-pounder, and S 12-pounder howitzers
mounted On ue CuNeHer-lndklnR IN all Il guns, not
quite equivalent in weght of metal to 10 24-pounders
but although arithmetic be true science, and three
times eight make twenty four, three spounders by
means equal in effect to 2i-pounder; and it may be
safely aveTed that the l2's and SIS really of
vice. and that for all practicable purposes the Mexcans
Nigh well have fired the shipping with their
petes or fowling pieces loaded with rdshot.
As the wind was unfavorable, the hostile feet
lowed into position by steam vessels; and the Mexican
commandment acting under instructions from his superb
os permitted il TO approach within the reefs, and at dis
lance from the castle of not more than 200 yards
The French memoir, "SW Ia prise de Sdint-Jean
DUtua," by G. Mengin chief engineer, says "lt was
very remarkable and most fortunate circumstance for
u.s. that the Mexcans quietly allowed our three frigaes
to anchor before their foan operation which consumed
nearly two hours and that they also permitted open
ire fire."
During the attack, which lasted about three hours and
half tie French threw 3o2 bombs l72 Pairhan shells
and 77 70 ind shot-making in all S,2l5 projectles of
different kinds The number of shots fred By the Mexi-
is not known but they must have been very few
Their powder was so defective that most of the balls
which struck the ships Md not penetrate the sides The
loss of the French was ouy killed and 90 wounded
Soon after the attack comm enced, powder magazine
exploded, which destroyed the cuyelie casteated
part of the fort and dsmounted the l2pounders so
that for the greater portion of the fight the castle manned
only guns Il is also proper to remark, that all the
L. o - IL 4,