Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-21
THE NAVAL DETACHMENT AT TABAsCO
THE NATIONAL ISTELLIGENcER.
Ertract Of a letter from an officer on board (
Sfeo,yor Zn;tfrp I,b, OK

Steamer Spitfre, July 25.
Since last wrote multitude of events have anspired,
varied in their character like startling
phanasies of disturbed rest the fruit of fevered brain,
than realities the remembrance Of which time eiace.
hero of five hundred battles could not be enthusiastic
as he boosted of his eas than your humble he
rated in simple words the part he took the rencopntes with
the Mexcans. The Commodore, leaving Tabasco, left
behind guard ships the Spite Etna, and Scourge,
tain possession Of the almost deserted city, surrounded by
Mexican sodery who only awaiting the absence of the
Commodore and the majority Of his force to fire from
every building. Our position critical could muster
from the and the bomb brig about hundred
effective these with the marines making ITS men,
small guard for extended city hence conne
sentres quarter this the main plaza In this
square the marines quarered together with daily deach
of sailors from the vessels work the three field pieces
stationed in the plaza This force sufficient indeed
the enemy in of direct attack but wholly inefficient
keep them such distance the safety of the
citizens not being within hail of sentries from the brutal
insults and robberes of prowng Mexican sodie ready
the shades OF prevailed to repeat their nocturnal
pursuits The effect of this policy became apparent SO
the Commodore hull down with his forces Those
citizens who had remained to receive protection lost
confidence, and the priests joined in the rush to get off
This was not very complimentary to U.S. but we knew our
strength, and, though small we determined to
defend the city all hazards As confined our land force
the plaza, trained great guns aboard ship
rake the suburbs of the city with SHE'LL At o'clock every
day landed and drilled the sailors musketeers and
bneers. appointed lieutenant of party of twelve
Of the former Now, that had on, became
combatant by volunteering On the third night after the
Commodore had departed, about IL O'clock whilst all still
and the new cast gmmering light through the soil
tay ruins which surrounds the plaza, the sentinel post
the ruins of the house where Senmanat
fed discovered numerous slowmovng objects which appear
ed to him to be animals of unknown description which
he had yet this strange land These animals
had already filled the old ruin apd arranging themselves
The sentinel challenged, but receiving reply he fired his
musket and fled the guardhouse Immediately
at their field pieces and the sneang enemy had time
make rush upon shower of grape changed their drec
on and in total confusion they disappeared in the bushes
which skirt the ruins Our small party made
Cape for have since learned that hundred advan
ced to surprise in parties from the northern and
the other from the western side of the plaza Had they acted
in concert and not been timely discovered there would have
been hard fighting before could have landed party
from the three vessels to assist.
The night after, sentinel fired at by party of eight
behind house. How he escaped is difficult say, for the
ground covered with mortar knocked down by the balls
which struck within few inches of his body He barely fired
his piece when of the rasca showed himself and then fell
back just the sentinel about to fire again they took TO
their heels and This night ashore, having voun
teered to at gun--one OF the Founders The
sentinel from time time would fire away down the
when prower could be seen our men were IN an instant
at the gum ready to rake any thing with grape and canister
can tell you that my ardor for doing duty somewhat
abated by the time that dawn approached having been exceed
ngy annoyed by mosquitoes, feas and andhes We slept
OF the day make ori However, at o'clock,
81 of the 'Sprers found themselves upon sierra rma in
their best Clothes with eight ten rounds of blank card
ges, besides few ball cartridges We had rugged up
pretty flag upon boarding pike and drummed up drum
and fife, determined to out drill all the rest of the army Of
inuGo in the plaza. Well, after performing various
utions within the plaza, captain concluded give
little exercise in marching about town and displaying his little
force thereby gradually accusomg the men to any active
duty they might be called upon perform Aher marching
down halted, when the carbneers depoyed
the right being directed to meet at certain stated
devious then directed to proceed ahead with
to scouts This order received with pleasure and
obeyed with aacriy, by running into the bushes which fill
the gardens contiguous this We had progressed
about half mile in this way four hundred yards ahead Of
the musketee who hid from by tho bushes, when
suddenly out in the main street which leads to the neigh
boring towns in the country there halted until the two
men came up and then pushed in search of adventure
This found for had scarcely two hundred
yards further when bend in the road discovered to
standing the of OF the houses which here skirt
the road thinking he passenger did not tell the
fire but he US he capped his hands TO his
hat and disappeared full speed At the time horse
flying up the road in the bushes Here halted,
when the musketees under Captain Porter up. We
then hurried on Having proceeded mile along the main
road found ourselves in the country, where but hut
and then At of these huts stopped and
found that had been used the guardhouse of the enemy
Ii thought that the had had sufficient
cise that they had shown abundance of spirit the
enemy, and having effective ammunition concluded to
steps, The carbnee had not yet up, but
were lesurey marching forward. We had scarcely
mencng etracng steps when such another shower Of
balls whsng past US Our brave fellows returned this
salute promptly though enemy yet apparent; all
we could do fire in the bushes where smoke appear
ed. After five six rounds hom men, they began
porting that their ball cartridges expended and that they
firing blank to keep up appearances The enemy well
knew this by the report of pieces and, encouraged by the
fact three four creeping out from the bushes into the
road $50 yards distant Those Of men who had ball
left took deliberate am which caused these obsruc
tons disappear, being killed and six wounded The
balls being SPENT the order fall back reluctantly given,
and etreaed in good order, until the overwhelming force
Of the enemy pressing closely forced US, alter re-
treating 400 yards enench ourselves behind reed house,
intending stop here and await their approach with fixed
bayonet when would have made sailors charge and
given them particular etre in the oclose action We
breahesy awaiting their cautious advance when three
hearty cheers and voey announced the oppotune arrival Of
the carbneers The enemy then gave raking voey,
and made off in all directions through the dense chapara
Away boted after them, but they match in
speed for the Mexicans who disappeared in few minutes
We collected and commenced searching for the
wounded found the Mexica had sustained loss We
found one with ball hole through both Of his legs,
era others had slight wounds and had his muske
knocked of bis hand and the stock shvercd You would
have been asonshed the shower Of balls these kept
up and that their large bullets did little execution
They fred too high. branches inch in diameter
from the orange trees heads We put poor
fellow Ia six and half feet darkey) litter and slowly