The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-07-24
From the Star SpungIed Banner
A Tragic Incident in the Bonn
bardment of Vera Cruz.
BY PETER RAMRoD, U. $. A.

parchment OF Vera cruz.
BY PETER RAMRoD, U. $. A.
Just as was sighting one of the guns of
my battery on the first day of attack, heard
my name called by one by my side, and look
ing up, saw c., n young mdshipman,
whose activity and officer like conduct had
noticed at the time ofour landing, when he
had charge of cutter which aided in put
ting us on shore.
lie seemed very much excited; his dark
eyes were flashing with emotion; his ihce
was deadly pale, and yet there was something
in his look us he stood boldly upon the par
apet Of my battery that told me that it was
not fear which pulcd his check. Though
shot and shell came busting through the
darlencd air, he stood unmoved, like sea
girt tower amid the storm gazing city ward
"What do you want, c." said J. when
| heard his voice, and at the same time step
ped clear of the recol of my gun, while the
artillery man advanced with his match TO fire
il.
"For Heavens sake don't fire yet" shout
ed he as he sprang down from the parapet's
front and glanced along the right of the gun,
then seized a crow, and with the strength of
a Hercules heaved the brecch ofthe gun to
one side, so that the shot | had aimed with
care at one ofthe largest and finest looking
buildings in the town, over which waved the
national colors ofMeXico, would fly wide of
its mark.
"What mean you by this strange conduct,
sir!' said sterny, not liking this interference
with my orders
"Wait one instant till have fired, and
will cNplaln" said he, meanwhile sighting the
gun. The next moment he snatched match
from the man who stood near him, and fred
Springiug upon the top ofthe parapet to
,Vntrl fIp pt11pt pI his ChptI IL liStnDipt
and render useless n gun on the enemy's wall
which had annoyed US very much all the
morning.
He smiled when he saw my look Of gratifi-
cation at his Unexpectedly successful shot,
and then more calmly tlan lie had spoken
before, remarked:
"Lioutenanr, forgive me for interfering with
your duty, but your gun was aimed at spot
which had come hither 10 desire you to
spare. You see that palace with the Nag fly
ing at which you was aiming?
81 do" replied not knowing which way
led the drift OF his remarks.
"For the love of heaven spare that house!
care not if every other In the town is blown
to atoms, but do not destroy that one
"What is your reason sir:"
"That is the palace ofDon Ignatto Corulla
a noble Castillian, not Mexican"
"There are Mexican colors flying on his
house top"
"Oh it is only because ho is brave and sides
with the Mexicans because he resides among
them now-but you asked my reason for
wishing TO spare that house. Hear it. My
hetrothcd, Anita de Corulla is there, and oh
God! to what danger is she exposed. Lieut.
do not deny my requCst-spare that house
think of the agony must feel in knowing
that SHE, my love, my very life, is thoro pro-
tccted only by walls which crumble at every
shotl
II will try and aim eIsewhere,"I exclan-
ed for indeed felt for the poor fellow.
"Thank you, OH, thank you, my dear Ram
rod" said he, 81 have been to all the batter
les but the mortar on the extreme left, and
at the risk of being laughed at, have begged
all to spare that house. All have promised
me TO do So and if, when we storm the place,
can ONLY he first oyer the walls, and reach
her doors before the others, yet may save her
from the fearful perils which now so durkly
environ her."
'Ihnpe you may" said 7, shuddering as |
thought ofthe fearful excuses which must
inevitably occur if we srormcd the town-the
excuses which the maddesS of victory and
the desire to revenge fallen comrades ever
leads even well disciplined soldiers to COM
NIT.
Again he warmly thanked me and turned
to 20 TO the mortar battery which he had not
visited. Ipnssed along the line ofguns and
especially to spare the horse which C
had pointed out; but what were my feelings,
when, while was pointing it out 10 one of
my gunners. saw in its place nothing but
cloud of smoke and dust, l knew at once
bomb had struck it, and from the looks of
things feared the worst for my young friend,
especially, when, as the dust and smoke set
tied, | saw the flag gone, large part of the
walls fallen, and palace perfect wreck.
The bomb had been fired from the mortar
battery,
Icontinued on in my duty and time in-
deed we had oft, 1t was almost painful to
the smoked and sweaty faces ofour worn out
men as they toiled steadily on in the work of
destruction; it was sickening to see here and
there a ghastly mass of bloody flesh and
crushed bones, which by some shot had been
thus transformed from life and beauty-hut
soldiers must sicken at nothing in times like
these.
saw no more of my young friend c.
during the bombardment, but often during
this time had thought of him and his deep
anxiety, and inwardiy prayed, that for ms
sake as we'll as for the cause of humanity,
she was spared it was IL narrowing thought
as we fired those showers of shot and shell
amongst them, that the innocent, feeble and
helpIess were even in more danger than the
garrison soldiers who stood behind their en-
brasures, and often flncied, and my very
hearts blood curdled with the fancy, that
could hear tho shreks wounded and dying
women. and the pitilul cries of poor children
were borne down upon the breeze, and al
most see the crushed. mangled, dying, dead!
oh God save me from ever again witnessing