The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-14

The following letter is from capital young officer in
the navy 1t does Justice to that gallant of the
public service Unable to fight much they desired 10
do shpboard-having sufficient enemy to encounter
the worthy of their prowess, they determined
change their element and raise marine battery the
shore. The following letter chronicles their achieve
ments 1t is delightful to witness the harmony and
operation which have prevailed between the army and
the navy, and the fine qualities which adorn the latter
The landing of troops conducted IN the most adj
mrable manner; the firing of fleet on the castle was
as chivalrousy conducted in the face OF its big guns
and bombs could be effected and here is the sort OF
exhibition which they make shore when they have
nothing else to do at
Extract Of a letter from mMshipman on board the US
steamer Mississippi.
On Tuesday accompanied Captain Mayo on shore In
his gig; and By his direction raised flag staff IN front
of the of General Scott The old hero complmente
me by saying it was done in seamanlke manner, and
treated me with great poteness In the meantime
norhe arose and neither Captain Mayo nor myself c9u'o
my discomfort The first part OF the night threw my
self upon the boat cushions and afterwards crep IN be-
part Of their blanket The next morning returned to
the ship just in time to join my division, and to repair
again shore to relieve the party at the naval battery
were the officers, under the command OF the gallant Gap
tain Mayo We reached the battery al 5, p m, and re-
ieved Captain, Aulick. Nothing was done by us that
night although were kept on the qm O,ue by steady
stream Of shot, necessarily poured into us One OF our
men had his leg broken; and while lying the sand
very near where was standing. was hit again on me
same limb, and had it again fractured So you may Judge
how they peppered u.s. In the evening the army engl
neers repaired breastworks The enemy supposlng
men Shubrck, McGaw, and myself, threw ourselves
down in the open air until daylight, when we found we
could hardly stand, completely we benumbed by
the heavy dew. Our blood soon set in circulation
however by exercise the guns. Each ship sent gum
making six in ALL with their crews, ammunition, Prov,
sions, &c. Ours was snch Paixhan and we had
L,ttor on1o, Idnarp
of work made of bags of sand with regular embasures
and bomb-proof Had it not been So many OF us mus
haze lost the number Of our mess We fired away orlsky
for hours before breakfast and Immediately after
at it again, while the city poured one continued
shower of eighteen pound shot and large shells into us
We were careful to take deliberate aim, and always
did execution. 1t SO happened that fred our gun
the principal part of the time. Poor Shubrick dis.
charged seventeen rounds, while was looking at
the enemys battery through the glass, the better TO
direct the fire then came down, and told shubrisk
would take spell, when he handed me the match. Inc
gun was out and PINNED, when Mr.. DE Camp told
me to take the glass, and exactly where to aim As
obeying this order, poor Tom Shubrck, standing
by my side the right truck, being opposite the
breech Of the gum said, "Hold on, Joe let's see what
his left hand my right shoulder These were his last
words Just at that instant (and the glass still at my
eye an IS or apound h shot passed 1--we IN Oae
We both fell. and all supposed had been hit but IN all
instant my feet, and beheld poor Shubrck lying
on his back, and the blood gushing in from his
neck and head. He instantly killed. We went on,
however and fired away for hours until every bat
terry was senced, except one small gun ON the extreme
left OF the town, which did no damage Our ammuni;
ton getting short and Stacked our fire and
went to dinner Our good Capt. Mayo gave us terrapln
soup and Madeira wine, and other extras. hired our
gun the rest of the day, and trust it did good execution
am certain we demolished battery, leaving not
stone upon another The enemy fired about l,400 shot
and shell at us and only killed Shubrick, from
the Albany and volunteer belonging to company sta
toned near us. man very near me, at our gun, had
his hand broken, and marine was Knocked down by
spent ball Thus you may infer how well we were pro-
tected. We were always the lookout, and when
ever the smoke from the enemys batteries the
word was "ttopn, and every would fall flat. Two
shells exploded within twenty-five feet of us, blowing
up 100 pounds of powder, knocked provisions
and water about, took out piece of Lieut. Frays hat
and never injured man.
Tomorrow we bury poor Tom Shubrck How deep
ly we all deplore his loss better messmate never
had. He had strong preseptiment that he should be
shot, and left letter directed thus: Tobe opened should
be among the missing" | opened it in presence OF
Capt Mayo and others. 1t stated his desire 10 have all
his things sent TO Midshipman Scott and contaneda
lock OF hair for his mother and Others and ring TO D.
Capt Mckenzie has made arrangements for the proper
disposition OF his effects and has written beautiful lei
ter to his father hope shall raise, by subscription
a handsome sum to erect monument to his memory III
Washington.