Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-08

O. The following letters. from several Of the
volunteers from Sslinsgrove, now 10 the army,
were handed to Us for pubiicstion. by Mr.. 0sug.
Ter. to whom they were addressed. Mr.. App 10
and competence, for the pleasures and hardships |
OF life 10 camp:
vEsA CRrz, April LIST, Is47.
MY DEAR FRkSn--I now take my pen in hand
to let you hear from my friend Bower; he re.
quested me TO give you a general history Of mat.
ters and things here. Thank God, we are sil
well and in good spirits. We have taken Vera
Cruz. and lost but 20 men killed and wounded,
while the enemy's loss 10 reported 10 be from
2 900 10 2 800 killed, and 10 Judge from appear.
auces it must be greater A great many build
ings that our cannon knockr down have not been
examined We bad Ave days fighting to take
the city. Day before yesterday the Mexicsns
marched out Of town, and surrendered their arms
and ammunition I had heard much about the
cowardice Of the Mexicans. and am now inclined
to believe the whole. II the Cd Pennsylvania
Regiment had possession Of the castle, the world
could rot take il. This city is the strongest
fortified place in the world The Castle of San
under water. The wall that surrounds the city
10 fort. To see them stack their arms and
leave them, was solemn sight. Jacob App will
finish this letter. Give my respects to all.
/ remain your humble servant,
HuGH McFADpEN,
For my f,iend and fellow soldier,
FRAScIs BowrR
Dear and Be ;oped Fr'end-lt is with pleasure
that we write, in answer TO your letter, which
we received yesterday. about our military life.
We landed on the 9th ult. about FIVE miles below
Vera Cruz, at which time may say the battle
commenced; for the Mexicans hardly ever cea
sed firing upon us, though this did no, annoy us
as much ns the skirmishes we had with those
I outside our camp which were rot a few. i,
was not long before we had the city entirely sur.
rounded, and all communication between it and
! the country cut off II may appear strange TO
you that we delayed the attack for the srac. Of
| two weeks and laying all this time exposed to
the FIRE of their heavy cannon and bomb shells
which were fred from the city TO almost every
quarter Of our camp; but time not yet
come. We were preparing our batteries. about
COO yards from the city, in one Of which, front.
ing their best fort, ! was engaged at work, and
after they were finished we were engaged in pull.
| ling cannon, and were all the time busy at some.
thing. Gen. Scott was disappointed by 4 gun.
which came not until all was over The gun
was intended to blow down the castle and oh
how wish cond have seen her playing II is
true, ! saw The 6s FOUNDERS flying ,hickly thro
the air. but they would have appeared as sha
dows towards a no FOUNDER. This vessel bad
nothing on hoard but this gun and m~n 70 man il
II was on the 22d, on a fine aud beautiful day
the sun shone and spread its beautiful rays over
both armies, until almost o'clock P. NJ. wher
the clouds began TO rise and spread thcm.ev We,
over one Of our batteries and over the city. Tn,
lightning and laundering commenced and as
stood upon one Of the sandy hills where | bad I
fair view, saw the "thunder stones" dying be
fore the fash, bidding farewell from the mouths
Of the cannon. ard making themselves known al
they entered the city. with acclsnations OF grea
Joy, as they spread over whole squares, doing exc
cution in every direction. This was Gen Worth
battery, which continued to throw shell unit
Wednesday the oath. when Gen Pillows bate
ry, (our balteIy) followed him with his balls
playing upon the fort, SO that the city could fin,
work in every corner.
The first night after our fire commenced
was stationed as guard upon the hill before men
toned. To see the fiery balls Passing and re
passing in the air was great iun, bu, TO hear ih
screams and eroans and crying OF the women an
children, was enough Ia create feelings in IN
breast Of every one. thar words cannot express
In reading historic. OF battles have sympaihse
for the innocent but I never felt upon the sub
ject as did that night
Our army was formed into three divisions
the first was commanded by Gen. Worth an
stationed on the right; the second by Gen. Pill
low, ito which We belong) was stationed on tn
left Of the first, and the third by Gen Twisss
was stationed on the extreme LEFT
The fire was kept M until Friday morning
when they gave up the city and castle, whic
put IN end TO the efuson Of blood. Our troop
lay quiet until Monday morning. when we wer
marched 10 a plain close 10 the city, where W
, arrived just as the Mexican troops were march
ING out of the city with their arms, d. essed i
various uniforms, among which WAS a compan
of blacks dressed in white. As they marrhe
out they gave US splendid music They grount
ed their arms and marched of, and left them 70
d "unele Sam" This put me in mind of the SUI
. der o! Lord CORVALLIS. They reported thei