Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-20
From The NeV Orleaa, D,bo
Taking Of Tuspan.

/
val enterprise will be found in the follo,,;r. '' I'd
munication. I, is from the pen Of our ss. CON,
correspondent "Niarnus, who himself bo,s n"
in the exciting scenes Of the day. pa"
TvsvaN, Mexico, Dist Aoti ts,,
Eos. DELrA--very little time have We r., -,
bling howa-days assure you, but as tho
s,opped just Of present, will drop you lew H..
10 keep you acquainted with the latest opera,s ""'S
The squadron On Saturday, 18th inst. the hlo''
ing vessels anchored three miles dstsn, from H.
at the entrance Of the Tuspan Riyer-ihs NV. .u
frigaie Mississippi, Com. Perrys flagship Inc Gu
ate Raritan; The coveites Germantowp. Alh."sS
John Adams, and Decatur the steamer, s. n,sl!
and Scoorge; the gunbosis Refer, Bonita ,nS
Petfel-and every preparation was made for co~
mencing aud finishing a successful attack upon n.
forts and city on the following morning. The sm,I
steamers were ghiened. so as 10 enable tbsr. ~
cross the bar, BY removing part Of their ro,I
masts spars, rigging, etc, and on the 18Th ip,, -
daybreak. We ran IN towards The mouth of ,bs :,
er, with the steam frigate aud all the light dr,o.1
vessels, each one having In tow train of bds'
from the larger vessels Of the squadron. The M,
sissppi anchored ia five lathons water. within
mile Of the breakers, and, Is al things wsro =
Readiness boalload after boai-load debsrked Go..
the vessels, stood in for the shore dashed ,b,on.a
the breakers into the smooth water Of tho 49,.
and then landed their men in safety on Inc .,,s
beach,
; The small steamers, with the gun-boals in IN,
likewise ploughed their way through the (oam;n,
surge, safely crossed The bar, and anchored wbs,s
there was scarcely ripple on the surface Of a,
water. Com. Perry came on board the slean.,
Spithre. Commander Tainal, and hoisied n. b,o,i
. pennani. Just about tina, time Mexican roon,
were discovered some distance above. on The hat
Of the river, apparently engaged in throwing %,
breastwork; and Instantly the order was given. Nm
hands up anchor" and in The shories, possible time
the almighty steam was driving US head on to The
, enemy. but we neared them we were convinced
that they were only accommodating party, and the,
He'd with the utmost precipitation. The s,eane,
was then put about, and again took up her posiop
preparatory 10 forming line, in order, 10 ascend The
! river to the city, some FIVE miles distant. Tn
. SPahre, flagship led the way then followed lbs
. Vixen, Commander Sands the Scourse, Lieu,
d, Commanding Benbam Petrol, Lieut. Commsnd.
: ing Shaw and Refer, Lieut. Commanding Tor.
neri and all the cutters OF the squadron, under II.
command Of Captains Breese and Forest, and Con.
. msnder Buchanan-and it was one Of the most
beautiful professions that have ever witnessed
aud well planned that the expedition could no,
have failed. The smooth surface Of the WATER Gur
: over hundred yards, was dotted with boats with
The river toe, winding along through verdsu
country, is picturesque and beautiful in the e1
IRENE; aud thus We ran along with easy steam snd
sail, until we arrived within sight OF the frs, fort
situated in bend Of the river, about mile from
the city.
Here from the fort curling smoke and boom.
b ing sound passed the intimation round that we
should not take the place without struggle, but
their shot fell short, aud the commodore, apparent.
y regretsing the circumstance, sung out go ahead
J fast" aud the good old steamer commenced pad.
. ding her wheels in double quick time. And then
the enemy opened upon US in earnest: shot after
shut flew over our vessel, and struck the water
distance astern. The Tort was located high above
u.s. on steep bank OF the river, and therefore they
! could only bring plugging fire to bear upon
Z approaching squadron. This proved Of great ad.
vantage 10 Us, for as we rapidly towards them
they must alter the train Of their guns every time
, they delivered their ERE. Aud now the scene be.
came admirably exciting. The whole Of our small
squadron bad closed up so that we formed perfect
phalanx OF steamers, gunboais and cutters
{ The marines Of the Mississippi were drawn Up
on the wheel houses, and from my position, on Ihs
starboard wi eel-house. had fair view Of the tat
ensemble. From the fash Of their guns could
Judge that the shot not going TO strike US, and
then watched them in their course until the!
plunged into the water asiern many fell right amid
group Of cutters, aud what astonshed and delight
ed most, was 10 see that not singh boat was 10.
jured in any wise. And now we were running up
to within hundred yards Of the fort, and the cue
my commenced firing with muskelry aud escoPeia'
The marines returned the fire with muskelry, when
Lieut.. Parker, from the hurricane deck called out,
Don't ere yet" but The marine officer answered
I'VE are within musket range" and scarcely were
| la, ia .lan tlr
GERS were simultaneously wounded by the enenT'
ere, which fssEngiy demonstrated the TACT lhai
some were inclined to doubt. Comm Tatnall,
/ Lieuts Parker aud Haristein, aud Passed MldshP'
man Lowry, and several Of The crew, were wounded,
but not so as TO endanger their lives, very lou-
na,ely and therefore their friends at home have no
cause for disqueling themselves ihereupon.
A few discharges from the pivot guns OF The SPIT
fire. Vixen, and other vessels served to silence TIE
batteries Of this fort the peculiar tune hnmmed y
our Paixhan shells had such startling effect upon
the elongated nerves and sinews Of our enemies
that beyond doubt they are running yet W
passing BY the fort we observed that party Of sea-
Inen and marines, commanded by Captain b'eese,
aud led by Lieuts May, DeCamp, and others naa
taken possession Of the fort, and holsied I've sOu
inspiring stripes and stars, shieh brought iO'In
peals OF loud huzzas, which far Ger hills anu var
legs ring, and check the vuture on The wing WV
poised ia air, hung lowering, to watch lae sIe us
low. The river, at this pass, was so narrow lus'
we could have jerked a stone on shore at enuI
side and the second fort, half mile above l.u
opened a raking FIRE upon us-bui the shot enu''
fell short or few over ship, and only one sgusa
The Vixen, aud that was full in her bow, bul du w.
pass through her, but penetrated the plank "o W.
ed IN the iimbers, doing but liltle damage. uu%
s,arboard hand, all along, the enemy BIO u Wv
chaparral, KEEP, up steady fire Of muske'Iy WV
US bat an occasional volley from the marines UNIV
them from their places of concealmeni.