The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-04-13
FROM OUR SQUADRON OFF We
RA. CRUZ.
UNITED STATES SHIP RARITas,
Off SACRIFICES, March 10, 1877.

SIR: In my last despatch, dated or
the 7th instant, | informed the Depart
ment of the arrival of Major General Scott
at Anton Lizardo. Most of the trans
ports. with troops and the materiel of the
army. having arrived about the same time,
a speedy disembarcation was resolved up
on, it being quite important that We
should effect a landing before a norther
should come on, as this would delay Us
two or three days. After a joint recon
noissance, made by the General and N.Y.
self. IN the steamer Petrits. the beach due
west from SACRIFICES. one OF the points
spoken of in my previous letters. was Sc
Iected as the most suitable for the pur-
pose. The anchorage near this place be-
ing extremely contracted, il became ne
cessary, in order to avoid crowdIng it
with an undue number of vessels, to trans
fer most of the troops to the vessels OF
war for transportation to SACRIFICES. Ac-
c~ordingly. on the morning OF the 9th, al
daylight, all necessary preparations. such
as launching and numbering the boats. de-
failing officers. &C., having been preyi-
ousIv made, this transfer was common
ced. The frigates received on board be-
tween twenty-five and twenty-eight hun
dred each, with their arms and
ments, and the sl0ops and smaller vessels
numbers in proportion. This part of the
movement was completed very success
fully about Ii O'Clock A. NJ, and a few
minutes thereafter the squadron under my
command, accompanied by the command
ing General n the S. anship Massachu
sets, and such of the transports as had
been selected for the purpose, got under
way. The weather was very fine; IN
deed, we could no have been more ia
vOred in this particular than we were
We had a fresh and vet gentle breeze
from the southeast, and a perfectly smooth
sea. The passage to SACRIFICES occupl-
ed US between two and three hours. Each
ship came in and anchored without the
slightest disorder or confusion in the small
space allotted 10 her-the harbor being
sill very much crowded, n~otwithstand-
ing the number of transports we had left
behind. The disembarcaiion common
ced on the Instant. Whilst we were
transferring the troops from the ahips to
the suri-boats, (sixty-ive in number,) [
directed the steamers Spitfre and Vixen,
and the FIVE gun-boats, to form IN a line
parallel with and close in to the beach, to
cover The landing. This order was prompt
iv executed, and these small vessels. from
the Iightness OF their draught- were ena-
bIed To take positions within good grape
range of the shore. As the boats sever
ally received their compliments of troops.
they assembled, in a line abreast. between
the fleet and the gun-boats; and when all
were ready they pulled in together, under
the guidance of a number of the officers
of the squadron, who had been detailed
for this purpose. Gen. Worth eomman-
dcd this, the first line Of the army, and
had the satisfaction of forming his COM
mand on the beach & neighboring heights
lust before sunset. Four thousand one
hundred men were thus thrown or shore
almost simultaneously. No enemy ap-
peared to offer US the slightest opposition
The FIRST line being landed, the boats. in
successive trips, relieved the men-of-war.
and transports Of their remaining troops
by ten O'Clock P. NJ. The whole army,
save = few struggling companies. consist
ing of upwards of 10000 men, were thus
safely deposited on shore without the
slightest accident of any kind. The Of
fcers and seamen under my command
We'd with each other on this occasion, in
a jealous and energetic performance OF
their duty. / cannot bat express to the
Department the great satisfaction have
derived from witnessing their efforts to
contribute all in their power 10 the sue
cess OF their more fortunate brethren oil
the army. The weather still continuing
to-day, we are engaged in landing the ar
illery, horses, provisions, and other ma
terrell. The steamer New Orleans, with
the Louisisns regiment Of volunteers. 500