The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-21

| IoA VI uioSoouS, s1uu d lew Ol the lSt and "a
Regiments OF Tennessee mounted men un-
der Col. Campbell and COL Haskell, and
detachment of Steptoe's flying artillery un-
der the command of Lieut.. Judd, in all 800
| men, had sharp conflict with the cavalrv
OF the enemy, in force of 1000 or more.-
The Mexicans were on the opposite side of
the Medelln river, about nine miles from
our camp, and were strongly posted, having
thrown up formidable barricade, protec.
ting the bridge across the river. This
proved no obstacle to the impetuosity of our
! men they carried the bridge and cut to
/ pieces and dispersed the Mexicans, after
short but decisive conflict. Individual feats
of gallantry were frequent during the melee,
mention of which will be made hereafter.-
Lieut.. Neill, adjutant of the 3rd Dragons,
received two severe wounds from lance
but they are not dangerous. Of:the Mexi-
can officers who were captured at Vera
Cruz five were Generals, eighteen were
Colonels, thlrty-seven Lieutenant Colonels.
five Majors, ninety Captains, end one hun
dred and eighty Lieutenants, in all three
hundred and thirty-fve.
General Worth has command of the CITY,
which is occupied by his own and the divi-
5th Infantry, has command of Fort Concep-
ton on the north of the city, with one COM
pany of artillery and one ofinfantry, Major
Wright of the 9Th, that of Fort Santiago on
the south, with similar force.
Col. Belton has command OF the Castle
of San Juan de Ulua with three companies
each of artillery and infantry.
E1trocts from the Cor. of the Picuyune
LINES OPPOSITE VERA Cruz,
March 20, lS47.
At o'clock p. M today, Captain
Johnson, of the typographical engineers,
was sent with white flag and letter from
GeneIal Scott, summoning the town to sur
render. This measure, of course, was sim
ply polite way Of informing our friends
in the city that we intended to return the
compliment that had been received during
fifteen days from their batteries. Capt. ].
proceeded along the beach, with an inter-
prefer and bugle, unfurled the white flag
before the walls, and the bugle was sound
ed, as in such cases made and provided,
when several Mexican officers advanced,
and the ranking officer received the letter,
with the information, politely given that the
reply must be returned within two hours.
During his absence Capt J. and two or
three Mexican officers seated themselves
upon the white flag, which was spread upon
the sand for the purpose, and smoked
cigaritos and kept up a very agreeable con-
versation upon matters and things in gene
raj. AT the end Of an hour the bearer re-
turned with letter, and informed Captain
Johnson, in kind of affectionate sub rosa
manner that Gen. Morales would see the
Yankees Id before he would think of
giving up "heroic Vera Cruz" Capt. J.
now rose, exchanged the most afectionate
| assurances of respect and eternal friendship
with the officers paying them in their
own coipn) and rode off. Scarcely had he
passed 10 "chateau de lime-kiIn," which
hid him from their view, before one of their
batteries opened upon our intrenchments.
AT halfpast p. m. our mortar batteries
(seven lO-inch mortars and four 6-inch CO.
horns) opened upon the town. The first
five or six shells did not explode properly,
but the fuzes were Immediately arranged,
and not one out of forty has failed. The
moment our entrenchment batteries opened
theMexicans scommenced firing from five city
batteries and from the castle and its out
works. Their fire, from mortar, howitzer
and round shot, was incessant, and their
shot fell like hail upon our entrenchments.
In few moments the steamers Spitfre and
Vixen, and five gunboats, the whole under
the command of Capt. Tatnall, of the navy,
ran in close to the limekiln, and opened
beautiful fire from large Paixhan guns
1 upon the town and castle Nothing could
have been done so handsomely, and I could
scarcely believe that seven guns (all 1 be-
5lieve, that were actually in use) could have
fred so often or with SO much effect at that
distance. A large portion of the shells
reached their object. This effective fire
was kept up until dark, when the gunboats
and steamers ceased.
M The fire ofthe enemy slackened at sun.
down. Our mortar batteries were manned
by a detachment Of SO men, of the artille-
~, under Captain Vinton, assisted by Lieu
tenants Van Vliet and FAIRY -------,! Soon
after our batteries opened Captain Vintop,
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