The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-11

towards the interior from this new basis An army was
now sent out competent alike Tor the reduction OF vera
Cruz and for the ulteror operations beyond IT, The
business of the navy defined one OF strict CO.
operation and that cooperation was faithfully and eiec-
tuay executed in the mastery landing OF the troops,
under Commodore Corners direction, IN landing the ord
and other materte OF the army and especially IN
the attack Vera Cruz. Combination necessarily pre-
supposes concert There was an entire concert OF an IN
tenon and purpose between the two commanders ana
had the Mexcans fulfilled their boast OF making Zarr
goza OF Vera Cruz and Uoa all that had been concerted
would have been fulfilled ,
Ii the interests of humanity are left out in the consld
Grafton OF the subject, il would undoubtedly nave oeeh
better for the navy if Vera Cruz had not so hasy etp
ulaed and the generous purpose of General Scoil hd
been accomplished of allowing the navy 20 tNe Por'
with the regulars and volunteers IN the pens ana ss
of assault 1t would have been better 100 10, the
navy, looking at the matter win prolesso - @
it, the city having captulated, the CASTLE whch was PEI
ecly intact should have held out and Stood as oueh
to have DONE combined attack from the army oy iaiid
and from the navy by But It the lauit Oh e
navy that this werd renowned castle OF San Juan de
Uloa now more formidable than ever both Tor aggres
sion and defence, should have deemed IL hohoraoe 10
surrender without blow! -
On the day of the captulaton of Vera Cruz and loa,
General Scott and Commodore Perry planned combined
military and naval expedition against Alvarado, to be eX
ecuted by Commodore Perry and General Quilman IL
consist of ample force OF steamers, gun boats
and barges and OF an army OF $500 men OF all arms
II was agreed between Commodore Perry and General
Quitman that the combined forces should advance step
by STEP entire concert as to enter Alvaado sinful
|
The oblec, of the military part of this expedition was
confined to the capture OF Alvaado. Ii was believed
that the navy alone was sufficient Tor thus purpose ne
main army delayed Vera Cruz for want OF trans
portaton. This primary necessity had been amply pro-
vded for by the governments but the frequent and violent
gales which had occurred the coast had caused most
disastrous destruction of horses and mules Many had per-
shed miserably from stress OF weather at others had
been cast ashore and drowned More than two hundred
chosen and trained chargers of Colonel Harneys com
mand had persisted together in the Yazoo on the rocks OF
Blanquia. The primary object of General Quitmans
expedition 10 supply the deficiencies thus occasoned
| by admitting Alvarado and the nelghbonng towns TO
capulate on terms which should embrace shpulatlons
for the supply of large numbers OF horses and mules to
the army
general at Vera Cruz that the Mexican forces at Alva
RADIO had abandoned all intention OF defence Never
heess the purpose OF sending an army there 10 OBTAIN
horses and mules persisted n-the main army being
detained at Vera Cruz only by the want OF transpora
ton The usual for the breaking out OF the voml-
to had already arrived but the fatal epidemic had been
kept back by the unusual duration of the northers. In
addition to this primary object OF the military part OF the
expedition, it was hoped that sudden and simultaneous
might cut off the escape of the garrison and possibly save
! from the flames the Mexican men-o-wa anchored at
Alvarado. These were, however, inferior consldera-
tons TO the important national object which determined
the expedition-an object, in which was partially m
volved the fate of campaign, begun IN victory, which
millions had been expended in maturing, the hopes OF
mighty nation which had never before made such an
exeron OF its latent power and the lives of thousands OF
our countrymen menaced by impending epidemic ten
times more terrible than the enemy. This object was,
however, far depended on this expedition, defeat
ed by unhappy of dsobedence which has occupied
much of public attention, and elected some variety OF
opinion among those who do not consider discipline and
subordinaon material in military affairs, and do not stop
draw nice distinctions between taking town prepared
for Defence and the town when Offering to surren-
der; but concerning which, history, which is not often
unjust, will doubtless render an impartial verdict
Meantime, the garrison of Alvarado, discouraged by
the fate of Vera Cruz, and terrified by the approach of
formidable expedition by and land, abandoned all
hfpfH hn N IpI
and the guns buried in the sand and on premature
demonstration being made by single vessel sent to
burned, and the garrison removed to the interior. The
civil authorities sent out flag OF truce by pilot, 10 de-
clare the place defenceless, and tender its surrender
which accepted in perfect ignorance of the views and
objects of the commanders of the combined forces under
terror of whose approach the defence had been aban
doned
| Gen Qutman, at the head of his army, was met in his
approach to Alvarado. by note written in pencil from
midshipman, who, with garrison Of four men, at the
mercy of Mexican eachery held possession OF Avarado,
and rendered TO him its occupation. And the Commodore
under the Notifying necessity in receiving General
Quitman at Alvaado, to enter into explanations which
that gallant soldier, however mortified HIMSELF received
with the frank courtesy that belonged to his character
But many of the inferior officers and men OF the army,
when they reached Alvarado, at the end OF most la
borious forced march of two days. were not SO easily
convinced that the navy in violating the agreement tor a
combined entry into Alvarado had not played on them an
gnoble trick.
The excellent General Qutman SO distinguished for
his gallant bearing at Monterey marched back IRON Al
ado without accomplishing the object of his mission
Nor his deep modification at the position In which
he had been placed afterwards diminished, when on his
return Vera Cruz, he found that the main body OF
the army had marched to the interior with such trans
portaon could command, and that the independent
command of the expedition to Alvarado, Tor which he
had been enved by other generals, had cut him OIL from
a share in the elories of Cerro Gordo
Having provided for the permanent occupation OF Al
varado by sufficient force, Commodore Perry next d.
rected his attention to Tuspan, where the Mexcans were
understood to be prepared for resistance with force
deemed by them competent for Its defence, and consist
ing in part of artillery recovered from the wreck OF the
luxtun Commodore Perry concentrated all the availa
BILE force OF his squadron at the island OF Lobos, and
there landed and carefully drilled his act together
as army, and especially to form squares to resist
entered into with great spirit by officers and men, and
were calculated to be of great in the event OF an OBJ
slnae resistance being made by the Mexicans. The
squadron being all assembled at Lobos, sailed thence
the 18th April, and, after being separated in norher,
collected again under Tuspan reef the 18th, and en-
poyed the day in sounding and buoyng the bar Scarcely
eewater found upon ii, and the channel was crcu
ers, which drew feet, it became necessary tighten
them by the removal Of everything that could be dispensed
with In hghbng them, even to their sails, rigging, and
sars BY these MEANS their draught reduced TO the
required limit and the morning of the 18th of April,
the whole expedition, consisting of steamers, gun
boats and landing party of 800 men, crossed the bar
in safety. II Immediately formed in line, the Com
modore ahead on board the SPitfire The Vixen and
Scourge followed, each having in tow gun boat and a
number of bages. The whole were crowded with men,
and made most animated display as they stood up the
river, which wound beautifully between its thickly wood
ed banks, rich with tropical vegetation.
Il The desertlon of the inhabitants from fishing village