Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-16
TERMS 50 SO i'm advance.
WHOLE NO. 1876.

ter shot threw barrels of earth from the en-
bankments over !heir heads, as they Law in the
trenches. Their escape seems to have been
miraculous. indeed, and every person is sur
prised that at least oEe-half of their number
was not slain. Il
| But here allow me TO relate an incident that
occurred during the heaviest of the fre-it is
an evidence of the GOODNESS of the American
soldier in time of the greatest danger, and at
the same time illustrates the ruling passion of
a small portion of the army, which amounts to
a mania in some instances, brought on, no
doubt, by having too much spare time, and no
means wherewith to convert it into usefulness.
A small party, who had been laying in the
trenches all day, becoming tired of doing moth
ing. as they said, were devising some means
of passing away the time. At length one of
them proposed game at cards, and hanled
out an old greasy pack. and some half dozen
Of them sat down in the ditch to play, with
nothing but tobacco for stakes. They became
much interested, and it was not long before
they forgot all about cannon, bomb-shelis,
Mexican batteries. or any thing else, but their
tobacco and the cards. 1t was not long, how
ever, before I3-inch shell fell on the top of
the embapkment; the explosion completely
covered them with the earth; they all scram-
bled out as quick as they could, and shaking
the sand from their clothing, and cleaning it
out from their eyes, one Of them very coolly
remarked. swell, boys, I'll be darned if that
didn't come mighty near being zen strike!"
March ga Norther sprung up this NOR.
ming which has been blowing furiously all
day filling the air, and covering every body
with sand. The Mexican batteries have been
quiet, with the exception of few shots about
midnight, when they opened sharp fire for
| ms nuP bav d,,
ring the night, but continued to pour into the
city constant stream of fire. At one time
| saw as many as six shells in the air, the
whole Of which exploded in the city. about
The same time, with terrific and deadly eff
feet.
Just as daylight was approaching Capt.
Tatnall's Mosquito Fleet weighed anchor, and
under cover of a moon somewhat clouded. ap-
preached within 600 yards of the Castle
AS soon as they had got their respective posi-
tons. they opened broadside from the Fleet,
which was answered by the Castle with great
! spirit, both by round shot and shell. Capt
L. continued the engagement for about
half an hour, although the signal from
E the Commodore's ship calling him off, had
, been hoisted for some time; but, ! suppose,
was not seen, on account of cloud Of smoke
which hung around the shipping.
!. > This attack of Capt. L. on the Castle is
= considered one of the most daring feats that
= has been attempted since the commencement
:, of hostilltes.
. Since writing the foregoing. I have been
: furnished by gentleman with the following
: memoranda:
, Monday Evening, March 22.-Hove up an.
j Choir and got under way at ST, viz: Steamers,
. (Spltfre and Vixen, schrs. REFER, Lieut.. Ster-
:, rett Bonita, Lieut.. Benham; Tampico, Lieut..
= Griffin; Falcon, Lieut.. Glosson Petrol,
> Lieut.. Shaw, came to anschor $50, and opened
o fire at 5:35; ceased firing at 1870, by order oil
= Capt. Tatnal.
S Tuesday Morning, March GA $50 hove
up anchor and was taken in tow by spitfre
g and Vixen at $50 and commenced firing al
e 6:l5; at 6:30 was recalled by the Commodore,
o but held on about Is minutes longer; had the
D fire of the Castle and town; they fred grape
: round and shell; the shore battery attempted
j. to rake US with grape, but fell short. We had
e not man hurt, although the shell burst all
round us. The Petrol had a hole shot through
It her starboard quarter from piece fsheIs, and
4 her bowsprit shroud cuta way. A shell also
7 burst under the quarter of the spitfre and spill
2 one of her boats.
e During the whole Of to-day (23d) Genera
h Patterson, in conjunction with the Navy, have
e been making the most extraordinary exertion:
e to finish an entertainment to plant a marine
d battery, consisting of three 68's and two long
Y 32's, which have been landed during the course
!. of the day from on board different vessels o
n war.
e The officers and sailors have heretofore
l. borne the brunt of all the labor in landing tn.
Is arms and munitions of war belonging to thu
= army, and have applied themselves to it will
J. an energy that certainly entities them to grea
lie credit; bot now that they had an opportunit,
A. of participating in that part Of the expedition
" where honors are to be won and laurels gath
. cred, they exerted themselves with an almos
/. superhuman effort.
About 200 volunteers and sailors were at
lie tached to each piece of ordnance, which wa
h by them conveyed over sand hills and hollow
d half knee deep il sand, and through lagoon
ID about feet deep and IS yards wide, with
ID soft bottom. They were all placed in position
he about three miles from where they landed
during the night. The sailors and volunteer
e. worked admirably together.
q. During the early part of last evening, tn
Mt town was lighted up by building on fire
re which was ignited by the bomb shells.
ut was impossible to tell what building it was
Id but it was supposed by the engineers 10 b
IN the Barracks. AS soon as the fire was discov
Y, oIeu lIom OuI uloILdI HatLeIys was very HluC
ir gratfed to observe the cessation of our fire
s. for notwithstanding we were endeav oring +
n destroy their town, or compel them to surren
De der it, with their other strongholds and fort
at fcations, still humanity would seem to requir
" that temporary cessation of hostlities shout
= take place under such circumstances. Wa
" is terrible in its most modified form but tn
Y, besegng of a city like Vera Cruz, when W
v know that we are battering down the house
I'd over some fellow creatures heads, but cannt
tell whether we are destroying the soldiers
our real antagonists-or the women an
I'D children 49,. And then to witness tn
tn burning houses lighting up the church spre
st. and domes of the prominent buildings, wit
I'D the families moving about on the tops of til
20, houses in the utmost CONSERVATION and app:
Ill rent despair, cannot do otherwise than exci
- a feeling of commiseration.
- March 24h, 1s47.
n, After the fire in town last night, our batt:
ST. ries again opened and continued until NOR
ne ing. During the day the army guns ha,
ey worked very slow, on account of short SUI
he ply of ammunition, being prevented from Ian
in ing any yesterday by the norther.
II, Early in the day General Patterson let Il
J" town hear from him. The entertainments ar
guns were entirely undiscovered by the Mex
it. cans, until the "Sailor lads'' commenced u
&C masking. They soon commenced pourin
IN into the city severe and effective FIRE, uni
d. about o clock-their position being only sc
I'D yards from the walls of the town, and wi