Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-01

W., w;ll therefore, so dispose OF tie force w'hc
now is OF may be placed ua'ei your co" ~. ~,
nc will give The most efiectuat prolec''oh ~ =; W
80. nsand commerce. You will be cao''ou
nn, - violate The rights Of others, but u leS,>
and punIsh any aggression on ours. -
aeclaral,on of war shall he maze os "e1 sn.
aoains, lie United States, yon VII, ~ eomu 'r,,
your OPERATIONS as 10 show 10 het anu " VIC 49,
mat while ready 10 do lu.oee GUY .,;or.
40, nc 10 are prepared ~ vindicaic inc has'oDa
honor and 10 yisi, upon our enemies me usihcs
..reri,;rs nj The war thus provoked. II, "i,'ou
.n.h =, omen declaration, hosiilIlieS shai "
commenced on her part, yoa Will mce' ana vs.. ;,
hem with The utmost promptnesS a''u e"e,a -, !,
anJ IN The 18th OF August, 1919, II was dsSn'
;n,ar.ssed unop him by the Secretary OF inc 10
90 aha, The policy Of this Government 10 '"'
reservation of peace il possible. r.
In the extremely delicate cifcuius s hos,;,;,S
which he was placed by The liema 49, n fn,y
"" 10 na,, NJ Mexico, Commodore conner lun5
snstaiued his reputation lot sou"0
The performance OF his any. a;,,, II. incl.
'"I I'm The Sd OF May 1916, he received ,ne l"ei
,;','oa =, Vera Cruz, which leil no aouo. on nc
Mind thai orders had been gwen oy 1he -
''llhu "a. ~ General Arisia 10 attack we
gov, ,r,nv cas-, OF the Del Norte WIN 'he
tAlii' ',aaar his command On The 4'h Inc Com
~, s,lsd with the principal paI' ol MS
'ii"oos mr. The Brazps Santa laso, ana ancnoi
81 IA ,n- bar on The Sih, wnile lHe od"'. 80 =,
Aha was raging. Although 100 iale I'@ ~ the
- ,bs, memorable colicI, Inc afs,sa, !, . .m@
sousdron was most opporInne; anu I ,sb.1 hr !. ~
o;yen 10 the depot al Point lsaoci, oy 'nn-
'"y We .nnsred seamen and marines under
jug NV creoory OF the RariIan. A delach-
CaP,am Ssr Canaan Aulick, of the Potomac,
ihsus -, ,be river to Burita and aided in es-
piab;sb;ng a military pos, at that place
Ear these prompt and gallant movements The
.on,modore his officers and men, received the
hanks Of the President through This department
On the 18th OF May, The Secretary OF the Ma
w informed him, ,ha, Congress had declared thal
a stale of war exists between the United States
and The republic OF Mexico, and ordered HIM 10
exercise all the rights that belonged 10 HIM as
commandment chief CT belligerenl squadron -
Under these orders, he declared and enforced d
blockade OF The principal ports IN Mexico on lnt
oulf. The enemy had no ships oil war whicn ne
dared To show on The open sea; ana ae'eflh,neo
on commencing war, precaulion mad been taken
in advance OF the medi,aled attack, 10 place ms
public vessels in situations where from ha'uid
Obstacles, they couli not be reached oy the Snips
Of our SQUADRON As soon "a authority was CIV
on nv The appropriations OF Congress, measures
were IA ken bv the department 10 purchase lor EN-
olovment in the squadron small vessels ol suia
he drafts of wafer 10 cross the dangerous bar'
which Guard the purs OF Mexico. three schro
ners and two small steamers were purchased, pu
The last of these did no, report TO me squadron
from nncon,roabe causes, until early in Novcm
Der.
On The Th OF August, Commodore Conner ap
neared off The bar Of Alvarado, with purpose
Of attempting the capture OF the enemy's vessels
Of war in thai river. The return of bad weather
endaneerins The small vessels in The open roac
stead and the rapidity OF the current from th'
swollen state Of the river induced MN - aoahuot
his design and 10 withdraw his force
on The 18th OF October, he made another al
tempt 10 enter The Alvarado river Tor The SAM
purpose. In endeavorins 10 cross The bar, one o
The steamers having in tow The principal divisloT
Of the attacking force, grounded and became en-
TANGLED with the vessels in tow. The cuTren
could no, b. overcome in the stale OF The wine
withou, the aid OF steam, and The Commodore
had the modification of being compelled TO Ieire
ON The 18th of October Commodore NJ Z
Perry, with the steamer Mississippi and the SINAI
vessels. lell the squadron al Lizlrto and saile'
for Tabasco. On the Odd he arrived off The bar
and with srea, judgment and sallantry caPtuTe'
The town OF Fronleira, with the enen IS steamers
and vessels in port, and proceeded up the river
distance of sevenly-iour miles, into The interior
"A settled country, and appeared before the city
rabasco. He captured the vessels in the porI
,n,, ?; the earnest request Of The foreign mer
chants. humanely determined not 10 involve then
=, ,uin. bv DESTROYING the town. In droppin.
,.nwn the river, one Of his prizes grounded, an
!, large hody o. Mexicans opened furious M
~, her. which was promptly returned with orea
erfsct-lh- stranded vessel was got aiioai, and 'ht
Nex;cars beaten off But in this lreacheIous al
lack one American seaman was Killed, anc
Lieutenant Charles w Morris and two seamer
were woundrd Lieutenant Morris survived IN
III The Isl of November. when he died oil M
wound on board the Cumberland. His com
mandnc officers have paid n sad tribute to ths
worth Of ih, brave young officer, whose unllme
" death is a severe loss 10 The service.
The objects Of the expedition were fully ac-
complshed and, By the capture or destruction
every vessel and steamer ot the enemy in iha
important river, check has been gwen 10 com
merce, by which, no doubt, munitions oil wa
wsre Introduced into Mexico from Yucalan.
Much praise is due 10 Com. Perry, and TO liz
officers and mer under his command, Tor The skill
Judgment and courage manifested throughout IN,
expedition
ON the 18th Of November, Com. Conner saliet
with large portion OF his squadron, and on lht
lath the town Of Tampico capitalized uncondl
iionally without resistance. Three 1ne CUR
boats and other public property fell into The hands
of the car,ors The enemy, anticipating an at
tack had Withdrawn the garrison, removed tne
guns and Destroyed The munitions OF war lhs
success Of the enterprise is oil great Importance
and The enemy has lost one OF the most conside
rable ports on The Gull. Arrangements have
been made. TO hold il; and the Commodore is in
slruc,cd TO relinqnish the command ashore to lht
officer ofihe army commanding the garrison, ant
resume the operations Of the squadron. Add
tons ol great value are made 10 The naval torce'
in The Cult, ty The capture Of the enemys yes
sells in Tabasco and al Tampico; and The prizr:
adap, Ia the navigation ut he mouths OF Inc ~
vers along the coast will be equipped and useful
" employed as cruisers.
The political condition Of the Stale Of Yucalai
had induced a course Of conduct towards he
which exempted her from the evils OF war. Hav
ing received information which justified the be
lief that this generous course on The part ot th'
United States had been abused, on The 10Th o
October last, instructed tn. Commander OF IN
squadron that ''lhe President has given 10 INT
new position in which lucaan is placed by TIT
pronuncamento Of Merida, careful consIdefa
ton and directs me 10 INFORM you mat me olal
mus, i've regarded as ar integral part OF the Mex
lean republic, and her people as portion OF tn
public enemies with whom We are al war, ant
vou will act towards her as towards other poI
tons Of Mexico"
These instructions will be carried into effect
During The past season, the brig TruSon ha
been osr, and the brig Perry wrecked; but ma
been, by grea, exeriions OF Lieu'enanl-command
ing Blake, got 10 Key West, and will be brongh
to Norfolk for repair. The officers and crew o
the Truxlon became prisoners TO the Mexlcans
An inquiry will be had as 10 the causes OF bot
di.asteis-a proceeding due 10 the officers and Il
the service.
No general cartel has been established hetweel
the two governments TO regulate the exchange Q
prisoners during The existing war. proposition
of the Mexican government To exchange the 9th
GERS and crew of the Truxton agains, General l.;
Vega and the officers who accompanied HIM
prisoners OF war in The United States, was b,
your direction acceded 10, and the exchange ha
been carried into effect Our officers and mel
were placed on board our squadron and sen
home; and The Mexican officers, being al full liber
ty, have been offered free passage in one OF on
public vessels, and, | have reason 10 believe
have sailed from Pensacola tor Vera Cruz.
In concluding my report Of The operations
the naval forces in the Gull Of Mexico, deem
but an act of justice to call your attention 7
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