The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-10
The War.
NEWS FROM VERA CRIZ.


favorable to-day the different departments have
been laborng with extraordinary excrton to get on
shore the Ordnance Quartermastcrs and Commssarys
stores the former under charge of Capt Huger, the
second under Major McRae and the latter under Capt
Grayson. The duties Of these different departments
have been 80 divided and arranged as to move with
regularity and DESPATCH afford every facility to the
operations OF the army and conduce TO the health ana
comfort Of the troops is said that no person entitled
to credit for doing his duty but in times like these
think the army Is very fortunate in having officers who
can and will discharge their duties
The Engineer department have been going night and
day in examining the city and its cnvirons They have
been close under the walls and. doubt by this time,
havo such knowledge Of the location and exterior de-
fences will enable them to direct the approach of the
army with Judgment and prudence and take position
with the batteries bear most eectually the
strongholds of the enemy
Col Harvey and staff with Capt Kerrs company of
Dragons arrived safely shore to-day, from the ship
Yazoo. which wrecked on the outer reef day or
two ago One man attached to the Quartermaster's
Department drowned There on board at the
time Of the wreck no men and lao horses-but two or
three Of the latter saved This was truly serious
loss the Dragons needed much ut the present
time to prevent the struggling parties of Mexicans, who
are lowering rear from annoying the line. did
creating alarm in the minds of their friends
at the time it was generally supposed all on board were
lost.
The schr Refer Is on shore about two miles belowt
| Is doubtful whether she will be got off.
Great fears entertained for the fate Of the schr
Ella, which has been out 20 days from Tampico. She
had board your correspondent Chaparral,' large
amount of property belonging to the officers of the army
Gen. Twiggs servant and the horses belonging to tho
| officers Of his staff
Headquarters or THE U. 8. ARMY,
| VERoARA March Is, ls47. !
| GENERAL ORDERS No. 54-Tho General-in-chief of
the army has received authentic information OF great
and glorious victory obtained by the Of country
near satTlo Mexico, on the I'D and I'D ultimo The
general results were, 1000 of the enemy killed and
wounded against our loss of 700 gallant men General
Santa Anna, sustaining overwhelming defeat, is
known to have retreated upon San Luis de Poos and
probably will not stop short of tho capital The General
nchef imparts this glorious news to the army that all
with him may participate in the joy that is spread
ing throughout the breadth of our land
By order Of Major General W Scott
battery of Light Artillery moved UP to Gen Patter-
sons division this evening" and took position but US yet
| we have not heard anything from 1t.
depot provisions is to established the beach
above Che Cattle. steamer starts up in the morning
| with u supply,
MAKcn Is, II oclock-To-night the Engineers will
commence planting their mortar batteries. Nothing
new OF Importance up to time OF closing.
| THE MODE OF TAKING VERA CRUZ.
Many of those who read Of the investment Of Vera
Cruz unless they have military knowledge, may
any very definite idea of tho mode of operations
against fortified city The investment the line Of cir
cuvallaon the trenches and erection parapets bas
tons &c. all works of the incest scientific skill and
require to be all conducted by engineers Of the first
character II is in fact, part Of military operations
which embraces the science of war in greater degree
than any other The corps Of engineers lay out the pre-
paratory work. and the sappers and miners perform it.
opening way the city for the soldiers which will be
tacks upon the town. correspondent ofthe Baltimore
american briefly gives description of the mode Of opc
rations which the city Will be lie
AT Vera Cruz have had, will have, a regular
invcstmcnt-a proceeding Of which, perhaps, descrp-
ton may be necessary to the unearned in these mat
tiers 1t Is usually commenced dropping scientific terms
by digging ditch Mt safe distance, say fifteen hun
drcds yards around the place to be taken From points
this ditch zig gag lines Of bitches then started in
the direction of the townthe earth being thrown out
ON the side next the enemy If straight ditch was dug
latter This avoided by the zigzaging which is sort
| of lacking on dry land not against head wind but
stnnc thova rep xte uIpdtO
left parallel to the first ditch opened until the extern
rons unite, and If this second long ditch, parallel
it is termed is enough to the bcsicged city bate
res planted it, and all the efforts thereafter d.
rcctcd to battcrig place in the enemys walls large
enough for the bcscgers to enter at-which Is called
making practicable breach This system of ditching
it will be protects the men and makes the approach
comparatively safe IL Is slow work however; D"t ex
that General Scott will capture Vera Cruz in the mos
scientific way lie is just the man to do it,
THE VALLEY OF THE RIO DEL NoRTE.
| From the New Orleans DeIta April LIST
As this portion Of the North American continent is al
present attracting attention, and is an object
interest to the people OF the United States few
marks with regard to ts resources may not come amss
One fact Of vital Importance should be kept in mind
leading from the Gulf of Mexico far up into the interior
Of the northern provinces of Mexico From its mouth
to CamWrgo, distance by water Of 400 miles 1t now
ut its lowest stage navigabe for boats drawing three feet
from Camargo To Preside de Rio Grande, win very lit
tie improvement Of the bars rs they called boats
drawing two to two and and half feet run at all
of the year thereby giving water communica
ton of nearly 1000 miles Merchandise has heretofore
found it's way into the rich mining districts Of Chhua
Durango and Zacatecas by the route of St Louis
and Santa Feby land transportation Of 1900 to 1000
miles. Now, by opening this communication they are
brought within short distancche arthest of not
500 miles
Another important feature Of this valley is that it's so
II peculiarly adapted to the culture of cotton and
Cotton grows and without cultiva-
ton and the far-famed Valley of the Wabash can
barbaroas Mescans whose onIy plough Is crooked
stick and who scarcely ii ever the hoe Now, what
let ask would IL be in the hands of industrious
and enlightened people IL would become paradise
compared to its situation under the Mexican govern
ment
But the important features of the country
the Sierra Madre its rich silver copper lead iron coal
and other minerals II the present should cost tn,
United States hundred millions predict from what
knowledge | have of the country that she would b,
amply and fully repaid by the possession of the district
of country living between the rio ranc and the Sierra
Marc, which heretofore has been of little value
to Mexico being continually subjected to thu
irruptions Of the Camanchcs and other RUTHLESS
tribes, who have In great depopulated thu
country carrying their dcpredatons to the immediate
vicinity Of their large ccs-of Zacatccas Durango &c
without mOestation.
One word the subject Of the boundary that Is to be
II the Rio del Norte is taken the line II will require
army Of 10000 to hold IL invoatc from the in
cursions Of tho different bands Of robbers who hav
continued to this country But II line com
mences Tampico and follows the range of mountain
passing south Of Monterey and Saltlo to the Scrrr
Madre, the country be held by small force and
quarter Of the EXPENSE for all that will be necessary
is to station small force ut Tampico and at the differ
passes Of the mountains and they under
IL will DO argued that this Is warning conquest
that you have not the right to take the property Of your
neighbor because you arc tho stronger party. II th
the whole statement should say Amen But
the fact w. Mexico debt Of long standing and
no money to pay; also an indemnity for this and
for future good behaviour II she has not money pay
her debt, she has land, which will take In lieu Of
money IL certainly cannot be objected to- this is
procedure Of daily occurrence in private life and con
slider u proper and just.
Again II will be said you hold California and New
Mexico hc first Wilderness the second nearly SOY and
they should DO sufficient say--"No California IL
mortgaged 10 England for thrice her value, and u
we take TIE country must assume the debt. But
farther contend and consider IL the strongest point u
", that suffering humanity demands that We should