Democratic banner., 1847-04-12

siege. On the evening Of the 22d, what is
termed the Mosquito fleet, consisting ofthe
steamers Spit6re, Capt. Tstnall, and Vixen,
Capt: Sands, and. schoo6ers Petrol, Lieut..
Shaw, Bonita, Lieut.. Benham; Refer,
Lieut.. Sterrett; Tampico, Lieut.. w. p.
Griffin; and Falcon, Lieut.. GLEASON, each
from the squadron, and it is admitted that
no guns in our whole lie were worked with
better effect. This, however, is not the on
ly participation of our gallant Navy in the
vessel having one heavy gun and command
ed by Capt. Tatnall, moved up from the
anchorage at SACRIFICES, on the afternoon
Of the 22d, and took position on the extreme
right Of orr line, close in shore, and COM
menced firing shot and shell into the city.
They retained this position until the morn
ing Of the 23d, when they got under way
and stood within about one quarter Of a
mile Of the Castle, at a point to the north Of
the Washerwoman shoal, so that both Castle
and City were within reach Of their guns.
They remained in this position during Two
or three hours, firing alternately into the
City and Castle, and notwithstanding its
close proximity to the Castle, and the coll
tinued fire Of she'll and shot from that point
of the enemy's defences, and from Fort
Santiago, at the southern extremity Of the
city, not a life was lost, . wound received,
or ore Of the vessels injured.
At the expiration of two or three hours,
the feet vas recalled, but duringthe period
it was engaged, It did much destruction to
the city, and annoyed the castle consideYa-
bly, by throwing shell into it.
During the 26th, an extremely violent
'norther blew, and the fire on both sides was
suspended during the whole day, and from
our batteries on the 25th, being so destruc-
tive to the city, the people clamoured for a
surrender. Morales the Governor, having
declared his intention never to surrender
while it was possible to fire a gun, was de-
posed, and Landero elected in his stead;
and OH the morning Of the 9th, . flag of
truce was sent with an offer to surrender
the city by itself, to which Gen. Scott re-
piled that he could take both city and castle,
and that he would accept only the surren-
der Of both The flag Of truce returned,
but during the day negotiations were again
opened by the enemy, which uItimated in
the surrender Of BOTH THE CITY AND
THE CASTLEn
Without entering into the details Of the
terms, it will for the p~resentbe sufficient to
state that the garrisons, numbering in all
about one thousand men, surrendered pris-
of war, and the city and castle were
delivered to US oil condition that they shSuld
be protected in their condition until the
difficulties between the two nations are set
tied by atreaty Of peace. The troops de-
up their arms, and were permitted
to retire into the interior on condition of
10, serving against us again during the war.
The 29th was fixed upon as the day upon
our army should take possession,
and on the morning of that day Gen. Scott,
with Gen. Worth and his Division, accom-
panied BY the chief officers Of tn. army and
a large representation from the squadron,
and took possession, the enemy at
the sare time marching out. As the Amer
lean flag was hoisted at the plaza, and over
San Juan de Ulloa, salutes were fred sim
from the castle, the batteries Ct
The city and the squadron. Gen. Scott
Immediately took up his headquarters in the
palace and invested Gen. Worth with the
command of the castle to Colonel Bolton,
Of Fort Jago at the southern extremity
II the city, to Major Worth, and that Of
Fort Conception, at the northern extremity
Maj. Scott.
The smallness Of our loss during the siege
5 wonderful; including Captains Alburtis,
md Vinton, of the Army, and Midshipman
'hubrick, of the Mississippi, the latter of
whom was killed while employed in the na-
al battery, in the rear of the city, our
loss in killed is only II, and in woun-
led 20. That of the enemy's garrison our
nformat did not learn, but understood that
Zen. Valdez was among the killed. The
oss among the non-combatants has u~nfortu-
lately been very great. The number Of
and children killed, il rariously sta
ed at from 500 to 1000.
The enemy assigns % a reason for the
'arly capitulation, a desire TO spare the
Hood Of non-combatants, and because they
we're out ofprovisions, both in the City and
he Castle. Several Of the inhabitants of
he city stated, after it, surrender, that
here was q months provisions there; but,