The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-26
INTERESTING SPECIAL DISPATCHES,
FROM THE
Sc AT OF AR,
TO THE
NJ z w YORK n ER AL o.
ARMY INTELLIGENCE.
VrRA CRtJz. MEXICO.

ARMY INTELLIGENCE.
VERA CRUZ, Mexico, Aug q, lS47.
train starts for the army day. under command Of
Col Wilson, Of the 18th infantry. About thousand
will go with the command, consisting Of the bat
talon Of the 4th and 9Th infantry which sailed from
New York in June under command Of Capt. g. Morris,
detachment of voltiguers from Baltimore under Capt
CALDWELL and companies of the 18th llth and oth in
fsntry under command Of Major Lay. Of the 9th in
accompany the train This is the smallest train which
has left here only about eighty wagons and two
to trouble the trsn in addition to- the mounted orcs
half battery OF three guns goes up under command
young 1mcsr Of ar h Lent mt. B. Sears OF
their arrival here, some two weeks since, has been
precedented, not one man having died The fever Is
abating fast not oneourth as many deaths occurring
as there month since. The rainy il at
length over, much to our regret the heat is al
most intolerable Since the death Of Paymaster Bos
worth the troops have been suffering funds; but
owing to the arrival Of Major Reynolds who instead
remain here by Col Wison-we are again all right
Since the death of Major Smith, assistant quarter
lott OF the quarter masters department most gentle
manly officer, and one eminently qualified to fll the
situation The Mexicans again becoming quite i'm
pudent; one lancer and three Dragons, armed with
! sabres attacked Sergeant Low of the 4th infantry
while proceeding to the campat Bozans, about three
miles from the city, the Jaapa road the sergeant de-
Tended himself bravely Sitting the and rout-
ing the party This act perpetrated at mid day,
beach, full view Of the town The brave sergeant
had only his sabre and received three slight
Some Germans about four miles from the city, have
built little fertilization and are enticng our men to
join them and some fourteen fifteen Germans have
already done So party o. some forty dragons went
out last evening, under command of Lieut. Gorgas Of
ordnance to Antigua to arrest deserters what
they met with have not yet learned. News is very
indeed Nothing from the army since the arrival
Of the British courier the LIST inst in fact learn
most Of our particulars of army news through the
columns Of the New Orleans papers. The Mexicans
Puebla but know nothing at all Last reports say that
Gen Scott will march when he is reinforced by Gen.
Pierce who was at Perots the aoth ult We may
poet to learn something certain either of peace war;
soon. ! can assure you all in the army would hail the
news Of peace most gladly The health of the squdron
very bad nearly two thirds of the Of the Mis-
ssppi being sick in exposure and hard
ship The navy deserve much credit for their unshrnk-
ing endurance Of the privatons and dscomforts to
which they have been subjected during this war
Owing to the want OF transportation to the interior,
Orleans. The Virginia which brought out troops and
a cargo of provisions from New York, has completed
cargo from one of tho vessels in the harbor and
the whole to New Orleans to morrow This IL strange
economy in our government but Uncle Sam is rich and
he expects to gain much by this war, afford
in the morning, 30 reuo,r. Should any thing occur
on our journey up worthy Of note will drop you line
sHrr ISABELLA,
CARE HENLoPES August %, I847.
SIR You have heard doubt ere this Of the de-
parture of this ship for California with detachment Of
volunteers Thomas Roach IN command; j s. Norris,
second; c. T. Shrie, third We are hundred strong,
and all hale and hearty young men, who will
days add another star to our already studded home
spun.
Our Commander is young in years but evidently old
In he has been connected fo years past with
one Of Gothams oldest and largest banking institutes
where his easy and gentlemany department gathered
around him circle Of friends and admirers whose grief
at his departure well expressed through the
rial of friendship they nted him with Nor Is he
respected by u.s. for we all love him though he
amongst us from childhood.
Our ship is noble specimen Of American workman
ship and her Captain both gentleman and a sailor and
|
but the ship rocks and the pilot who takes my letter is
nst sO n ana must close al the comforts
aught know all the hazards Of war.
But tits our country % call,
And who blame the deed
Fen should we fall,
And for eur country bleed.
IMPORTANT, IF TRUE
VLRA CRUz, Mexico, Aug 4, l841.
As the new method Of exploding Shells during their
flight, by means Of electricity Is about being generally
introduced 1t may be interesting to your readers to
prepared with the end of coil Of wire attached to It,
which, being discharged from the mortar IL carries
out WITH IT, ks Inc string OF KITE Ihs length Of the
the shell Is to be thrown, and being laid to
freely the inner end Of the wire is disturbed by
motion of the shell but Is free to be taken to gayanc
battery at any moment during its flight IL Is species
Of the magnetic telegraph applied to the flying shell,
thought, land perhaps quicker This method can only
be used to advantage, when the shell is projected with
it's WSo o h al 10 on Ds so Visible during
This be done to distance Of about two thousand
feet large she'll projected with greater velocity
than sufficient to carry it to that distance, be
distinctly traced by the eye, from the moment of its
leaving the mortar, to the end Of its flight. The
person in charge Of the explosion, keeps his eye
hxed on the shell, and It passes nearest to the
desired point Of attack, effects the explosion, by
his eye from the she'll As shells are at present.
used, they cannot be made to explode at the
moment of coming into contact with object and in
the open field, of service against body Of
than shot Of the diameter, the explosion
cannot be depended on at the desired moment But by
eecting the explosion at the precise instant Of coming
in contact with body of troops, which this method
ssne capable Of doing the effect Is increased hun
bred fold A constant succession of such explosions
would destroy any body OF men, beside women, chill
dren and other insects The effects of the shell
would not be confined to the Immediate vicinity, but
would extend to great distance in all directions
cordng to the magnitude OF the shell and the powder 1t
contained.
The light 10 inch mortar weighs 1900 pounds and car
ries shell Of 100 pounds weight containing four pounds
Of POWDER this great weight Of the shell intended
give 1t sufficient density and strength to project it to
great dtance, and penetrate hard substances But
use In the open field 10 inch cylindrical shell Of the
same length, made OF hafnch wrought iron, weighs
pounds and carries 20 pounds OF powder and has su
ctent density and strength project from one to two
thousand feet Tor miles By increasing the length Of
the SHE'LL the quantity Of powder could be PROMOTION
ally increased probably up to 1000 pounds or more
fertilization armed with shells Of this descrip-
ton, would have inc xhaustible supply OF mining
above ground, in other words Of throwing
into the midst OF enemy, and exploding them at the
most decisive point And AS this could be Done FROM
approach enough carry the works by the usual
methods. There many other applications Of this
method particularly to destroying ships the great
Of insmmsbe surface which they expose in the
sals spars and decks; but these will be- reserved for
future communication (which ask Of Cave johnson
as q special favor to hurry along
HERALD NAVAL CORRESPONDENTS.
u. s. FLAG SIR GERMANrowS,(
Anton Lizardo, Aug =, 1si7. I
Knowing the wide circulation of your excellent pa.
per beg leave, by this favorable opportunity, to give
you list of our officers as well as the distribution of
Of the In the Gulf We arrived here yes
terday Bara Saptauder via Vera Cruz which lat
ter place wo found in a very sckly state The yellow
fever and black vomit il at its height.
Immediately upon arrival here, learned that the
Mississippi was ordered home, and Commodore Perry
has bosted his broad pennant board OF this ship
Our officers are Com're NJ &. Perry Franklin Bucba-
nan, Cong; Lieuts. T. A. jenkins, w Leigh; Acting
Master, II. Rolando Surgeon, w. + McLenaham Act
ing Surgeon, L. b. Steele Purser, Quentin Busbee;
Commodore's Secretary, w. ii. Armand; Lieuts Ma.
rines, NJ r. Kentzing, NJ c. Perry; Midshpmen, 4. s.
Fnlebrown, w. l.. Powell D. NlcCorkle Felix Grundy,