Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-16
FROM OUR SQUADRON OFF VERA CRUZ.
U. S. SHIP RARITAN.
OF Sacriicios, March 10, l847.


SIR: In my last despatch, dated on the 7Ih inst.
| informed the department. Of tho arrival Of Ma.
ior Gen. Scuu at Anton Lizardo. Most of The
transports with troops and the material of The
army, having arrived about the same time, a
speedy Decentralization was resolved upon, it
being quite important that we should effect a
landing before norher should come on, as this
would delay US two or three days. Alter joint
Reconnaissance, made by The General and myself,
in The steamer Pctrila, the beach due west from
Sacrfcios, one Of the points spoken of in my
previous lellers, was selected us the most suita.
bic for The purpose. The anchorage near this
place being extremeIy contracted. il becomes nc-
cessary, in order TO avoid crowding il with an
unIus number Of vlsisl,, transfer most of the
troops 10 tbs vess Is Of war Tor transportation 10
Sacrfcios. Accordingly, ON The morning Of the
OH, al daylight, all necessary Preparations
such a5 laun'hng and numbering The boalS, de-
iang officers, &c.-havIng been previously
made, this transfer was commenced. The fri.
gates received Oh boIrI between twenty-five and
twenty eight hundred men each, with their arms
and accoutreluentS, and the sloops and smaller
v-ss Is numbers in proportion. This part of The
NOV menI was Completed very successfully u
bout II o'clock A. NJ, aud lew minutes there
pan Cd by the commanding General, in III. steam.
snip MaSsachus ITS, aud such OF the transports as
had b1tn SelecIod for the purpose, got under
way. Tn1 a1hcr was very fine, indeed We
could MOI have been more favored in This parlicu-
lar than W. wers. We had fresh, and YET gen.
tic breezJ from tho southeast, and u perfectly
smooth sea. The passage to Sacrifcios occupied
Us between Two and three hours. Each ship
came in and anchored without the slightest dis.
order or confusion, in the small space allotted to
har-lhe harbor being sill very much crowded,
noiw.th' ianding the number o transports we had
Iei behind. Tbs Decentralization commenced
on the Instant. Whilst we were transferring the
troops from the ships 10 the serf boats, (sixIy-fve
in number,) directed tho steamers Splire aud
Vixen, and the five gun-boals, TO form in a lipe
parallel with and close into the beach, 10 cover
the landing.
This orI:r was promptly executed, and these
small vessels, from the ghlness of their draught,
was enabled 10 lake positions within good grape
range ofIhc shore. As the boats severally re.
ceived their compliments Of troops, they assem-
bcd, in u line abreast. between tho fleet and the
gun.boalS; and when al! were ready, they pulled
in, together, under the guidance OF a number OF
the officers The squadron, who had been detail
ed for this purpose. Gen. Worth commanded
this, the first line of,he army, and had The salis'
faction of forming his command on tho b ach
and neighborng heights just before sunset. -Four
thousand five hundred men were thus thrown on
shore almost simu taneouSly. No enemy appear
cd TO Offer the slightest opposition. The first
line ing landed the boas, in successive trips,
r>li, we'd The men Of war ard transports Of their
remaining troops, by 10 o'clock P. NJ. The
whole army, save few smuggling companies,
consisting Of upward Of ten thousand men, were
thus safely deposited on shore, without the slight.
est accident Of any kind. The officers and sea.
men under my command wed with each other
on this Occaslon in Jealous and energetic per.
formance ofther du,y. ! cannot bur express 10
the department The great satisfaction have de.
rived from Witnessing their efforts TO contribute
all in their power TO the success OF their more
fortunate brethren Of The army. The weather
still continuing fine, to-day we are engaged in
landing The artillery, horses, provisions and 9TH
er mal.YiaI. The steamer New Orleans, With
the LOUISIANA regiment ofvoluneers, 800 strong,
arrived most oppOrunely at Anton Lizarlo, just
us we had put ourselves in motion. She joined
US and her troops were landed with the rest--
Another transport arrived at the anchorage TO.
day. Her troops have also been landed. Gen.
Scott has now with him upwards Of eleven thou.
sand men. At his request. permitted the ma.
rines Of the squadron. under Capt. Edison. 10 Join
him, as a part of The 81 regiment Of artillery
The Generll-in.chiet landed this morning, and
the army put itself in motion at an early hour,
TO form lis lines around the city. There has
been some distant firing of shot aud shells from
the town aud castle upon The troops, as they nd.
vanced, tut wi,hou. result. ! am sill oil the
opinion expressed in my previous eommunica-
lions, as 10 the ina biity Of the enemy 10 bold out