Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-05-20
Correspondence of the Virginian
Akron Iiz,Rno. l2th Aprll. 1874

ANTON llkARno, l2th April. lSlf.
On the ooh of March, the Guy of Vera Cruz. and
the far famed lstle OF san luan de ua, wcrdpVtrtd
upo the arms Il the L. s, upon which OCCASION WAS
present. and most imposing sight twas Between four
and five thousand Regulars Militia, (ncuding ahaul
200 from the Castle) matched out Of the walls Of the
city. agreeabs 10 the terms of the capitalization
arms aud with culors il ng. The Amercan lraops 10
gethcr with the marines ard sailors from the Squadron,
We're drawn up in extensive and level Pmifie
ml,e from the city 81 Vera Cruz, and the MeNicaus. as
soon as they reached eur ne, stacked their arms in
line parallel with the one which WE occupied and were
then peratted 10 dsptrse under parole 81 nor to Heir
respective humcs-li homes they had. Each stdttr
had wallet containing several DAYS provisions humane
y furnished the MeNicans by the General of our Army,
because Of their utoi d, stuun isad WAS an imposing
sighi vii add It 0sua painful one. IL Wttnoss
the humiliation of many thousands Of human hciNgs. dl-
vested OF then in the presence OF their VICTORIOUS
foe, and then taking tbelr line Of march, and two
together, followed by crowds Of detected and
children each adult female with pack containing
all the worldly affects OF herscland family, hesitate
not to say Il sight which philanihrupsi CHRIS
tan could contemplate with other feelings than those OF
eNtrome pain.
From the best information which could get and the
appearance Of the ely alter the bombardlaoul. think.
several hundred women aud childieu. must have been
Killed by the bursting OF our shuls mention Tins last
not to cast censure General Scott, (ur the authorize,
Vera Cruz, had timely warning oihs intention, 10 IL
vest The city both By land and sea- but mention It 10
show the misery aril attendant upon war
'Proslrato III the dust
Those walls were laid and lofty tempt stood
lettering IN irghtlu ruins, he flames
Had left tcm black and bare. and through the streets
And midst the heaped up rubbish
Parents and children IN death prumiscuous lay
The bursting Of one shell alone destroyed twenty seven
women aud Children whist they were hneelng before
heatarin ollie churches and eogaled ID oilcug up
prayers 10 the Deity ar protection during the dreadful
discharge Of shot and shells rm OR trenches and
ships
| Tad the satisfaction Of examining the same day.
C29h March the fr-isned Case a san juan de j.
uus. LIS dclcnccs are by no u,ans great rs had
supposed them 10 be. Fully halt Of the guns aud
moars had been removed ior the dcIoncos in the OF
the city, and protection Of other towns the coast In
Alyarado alone, found upwards OF fifty cannon,
which were s1id To have come from san Juan de lima.
still be denied that If the Castle had had It's fall
compliment OF guns. and they we'll mounted and manned,
the Nases Of the world might have been deded.
er the fall Of Vera Cruz aud lis notable Castle, our
Navy had no difficulty IN taking Alsafado. anl SUI
larger town, tacatapan, distant twenty mics irom The
This last city stands on the banks OF very pretty
river and numbers population OF six thousand luoiel
sye and kindly disposed people. They expressed mi
mite surprzc al not moesng themsev,sor proper
~, hui paying them literally for whatever supplies we
received We, at home. have formed very crTonuus
opinions Of the Mexican character. They are ecr-
taIny not well informed people, and it must be ad
well disposed. and except when e1adedto rcaialdn arc
never yindicye Ihemurders asered to thrmUu the Rio
Grande were the natural outburss OF an excited aud
deeply injured people because OF tho hornd exccsses ii
the unruly Texans, and our less unruy Volunteers.
Let us ask ourselves What would he the limits ofour
vengeance were enemy To invade onr territory plum.
der our dwellings, and violate Our wives sisters and
cur daughters
could cite many instances of great kindness shown
10 American Naval Officers aud Scmen cash upon hcr
BY Of weather, made PRISONERS by acrl
dents Of war occurring within the list SIX Gonlhs,-sone
Of them truly touching and would do honor to any
people.
have said that the Mexicans well sp2sed and
friendly race when excited ly injuries II IS ne
less that they people cFedplous and easily de
ludcd. Indeed, they machines in the hands OF
their designing rulers. This is their misfortune, and
should excite commisseratan; certainly not ctr rem
geGlce. We are powerful and an enlightened nation
and it behooves TO give evidence ol our devotion T. Fc'
institutions by abstanng from opposing sister lfepuo
lic who for thirty years has been Struggling i her III
dependence. Have we exercised tlat lobeamnee ml
magnanimry in our quarrel with unhappy Mexico wlnci
characterised the early days Of orr Republic! an
swer-no! Could we not have gotten all tie territory
we desired without fighting for it? say-NEs ! ven
tue to give il my opinion thai by expenditure 4
one tenth Of the money. which the war with heMc
has already Us, the whole country rs FAR as the R
Crando night have been purchased and much q Cat
alurnia as we ought 10 have.