The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-26

FROM THE GRAPHIC PEN OF AN "orFrcER OF THE NAVY


Long ere this YOU have no doubt received my let
ter giving account OF the Tuzpan ALTAR Since then,
this ship has been constantly on the moves IN ac nearly
the whole snaappn mas ee t Se hs Is nye
en certainly The man for the nary In many respects ne
is astonishing manthe most industrious hard work
ing energetic jealous perseveng officer, OF his rank IN
navy; he does not spare himself or any one under
him. THIS like His great powers OF endurance aston
sh every one. All know he is by no means brilliant
man but his good common-sense and judgment, his so
cabe manner to his ofcers-uo hunbuggery no mystic
ry--make him respected and esteemed
When here few weeks since with his squadron, Tor
the purpose of filling up our water he understood the
MeXcans were making great preparations 70 feee,pe nm
abasco, should he visit them he could not then do
so, know he obliged TO be at Vera Cruz with his
squadron at certain time on important business. lie
sent them word however, that he would return in few
days and visit them; that his delay would give them
time to prepare for him. This notice they took ad-
vantage Of TO sink distinctions in the river about five
miles from the city, opposite which (the obstruchons)
they threw up strong breastwork, concealed by the
bushes and chappara Their fort near the city was also
much improved, and mounted three 32pounders and four
fed-peces; it was built on high hill, commanding
completely the channel TO the city far as the guns
could range On the 10Th and 18th inst by magic,
nearly all the squadron assembled here from various
points on the coast Where dull sailing vessels were
stationed, and had bars to on coming out of the
rivers, steamers sent to tow them. In this way the
Commodore concentrated his squadron with astonishing
rapdity
The Commodore arrived in the ''Missssippi" on the
18TH having stopped at the river Guasacuacos TO despatch
i
tails, by way Of showing the apdity of his movements
The day he arrived were ordered by telegraphic
signal to report the number OF officers seamen, and
marines prepared to land Tomorrow" You must know
that every ship had brass field piece board, with
portion OF the regularly trained to them, and the rest
of the crew drilled infantry always ready for service,
boats prepared and hdUefSackS Tor each mans PROVISIONS
&c, &c Orders were given to prepare weeks pro-
visions The next morning all were on the alert, and
breaktasted as as the hammocks were sowednot
knowing at what moment the signal would be made to
dlsembark the troops" AS expected, the steamers
were soon ordered 10 tow the bar the bombvesses
Somboli and Vesuvius, the brig Washington, gun boat
Bonea, and the schooner Sptfre with Taylors appa-
raus Tor lifting vessels over shoals, &c. When the
steamers returned from this duty the signal was made
"dlsembark the troops" In few minutes nearly one
thousand officers, seamen, and marines were in their
boats astern of the different seamersthe Scorpion, Vx
en-, and Spitre-the Commodore leading in the Scorpion.
| more animated lively scene, you cannot well ina
CINE Each ship had, in addition to her boats large
surf boat, borrowed from the army at Vera Cruz, in
which we built platforms and placed on them our field
pieces All the boats were provided with awnings; and
officers and men, except the Marines lived in them The
marines on board the steamers After all had crossed
the bar, each seune the Scourge included, (she was y
ing IN the river not good Tor much took certain vessels
and boats in tow and the expedition moved up the river
against strong current OF four or five knots 1t took us
until the afternoon of the 18th TO reach point near
which were the obstruction In the river.
AT two points on our passage up, the enemy opened
with muskety on the leading steamer (the Scorpion with
vessels and the edpeces were trained the shores
as we advanced, and ready for service at moments
warning; AT these two points the Commodore was In
formed the enemy would give him voley; and at their
flash our "great guns, with canister and grape poured
into them, which silenced them effecually. None on
our side were hurt Several Of the enemy killed and
wounded, as were told in Tabasco The expedition
arrived at the "Palms about o'clock in the afternoon.
This point about five miles below Tabascoa short
distance from the distinctions in the river and near
which was the concealed breastwork. As If was too
late to land arrangements made 10 land the army at
daylight the next morning About dark voley of mus.
kerry was fired into one of the vessels and mans leg
hrn. fha dam
fenced them also. AT this time the vessels were lying
within ten and twenty yards OF high bank covered with
chappara bushes &c and the river at this point not
than 70 so yards wide So you may judge of our
situation the enemy had thought proper to annoy but
the grape and from the bg guns they could not
stand. Several killed by our shot at this point,
although they could not be seen al the time The next
morning at early daylight the was again an ANNA
ting never to be forgotten by those who wit
messed and participated in it. About or O'Clock the
Commodore had two boats sounding for the distractions,
in charge OF Lieutenant Alden and May Just at this
time steamer had in tow the 'Bonita, towing her TO
position above the Pdtmsa point upon which there
seven beautiful palm trees-to assist in covering
landing as it was supposed we would meet with resist
there. The steamer grounded and the fact was
ported to the Commodore, who Immediately remarked,
that gun boat must be placed off the Palms. The Ger
manowns boats were ordered to perform this duty, and
best point for disembarkng The boats towing the gun
boat had proceeded very little above the Palms when
they joined by the boats sounding for the obsruc
TONS as well one two other boats, when voley
of musketry was poured into them, wounding Lieut..
May very seriously in the right breaking it below
the elbow, and wounding also two of the Ger
manowns slightly The fire instantly returned by
the moriars, Rolandos howtzer the launch, and from
the Bonita and Scourge. We heard of them,
they put off horses with DESPATCH, having several
wounded All the officers in the boats say it mira
Gle that not of hurt, the balls flew
very thick May, in a whale-boat, was nearest them,
and thought there about hundred muskets fired
About this time gallant leader gave the order prepare
and" and the and all hands being ready he led
the way in his barge with his broad pennant flying All
eyes watched his he pulled up the river.
When opposite the Palms. he steered for the Shore and in
his loud clear voice, which heard fore and aft the
whole line gave the order, Gland three cheersw and
three such cheers before were heard each boat sv
ing be first obey the order Such spirit such enthu
modorcs boat the first to strike the beach, and be-
leve, he the first to land. The shore was bold
closeo--and the bank from ten TO twenty feet high
Imagine the apparent confusion OF upwards OF nifty boats
of all sizes containing thousand men, and ten pieces OF
arlery-all exerting themselves TO be first on shore
and in less than ten minutes from the moment the order
was given, oil shore and drawn up in order OF
battle None who did not witness the eXertlons OF the
officers and men that day, in dragging those eldpieces
of the boats and up perpendicular banks ten or twenty
feet high can credit it. The banks giving way under
them large logs their way chapparal bushes &c were
trfes to contend against where such spirit OF perse
vegance prevailed. And now came "the tug OF war.
Here we were, nearly eighty miles in the interior OF an
enemys country, way to capture aclty containing
from eight to ten thousand inhabitants and report IN
formed us, from two thousand to two thousand five
hundred under arms to oppose us, with strong en-
trenchments pass and strong fort TO take before we
could reach the city the country unknown to us
through which we had to cut road with our
poneers-no guide could be found to direct