The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-20
War Matters.
VERA CRUZ AND THE CASTLE.
From the New Orleans Delta.


From the New Orleans Delta.
The expectation Of the garrison Of Vera Cruz was
that the city would be carried by storm and they had
made great preparation for vigorous resistance which
would no doubt have caused great bloodshsd and de-
struction The streets barrcaded they ut
Monterey and oophoes arranged for the gunners
rows OF pckets made and sand bags thrown the
barrcades On the fiat tops Of the houses and
howtxers were 80 arranged as to rake the streets
ry house a fertilization There was too, an album
dance of ammunition; and doubt had the city been
stormed thousands of persons would have been killed
and our army especially, would have suffered disasters
far more heartrendng than any which have yet
red in this war 1t was therefore proof of the human
ty as well as Of the wisdom Of Gen Scott that he pre-
erred the slower but less ssngunary mode Of invest
ment and bombardment. To the mercenary soldiery
emulating the glory Of their brethren mt Monterey by
Strengthening from behind the defences Of
houses, 1t was no doubt a disappointment that the
streets of Vera Cruz were not made to with tho
blood OF innocent women and children who would be
slain In the inevitable confusion of the stormng of
strong place This the ambition Of Morales; but
fortunately the effectiveness Of shells brought the
citizens to their senses they united well as the
National Guard in protesting against any further re.
sstance Morales saved himself from the chagrin
position by resgning and Gen andero second in com.
mand, succeeded him--and he, with more wisdom and
regard for the lives Of the people, proered the captua
ton Of the city The damage and destruction caused
battery were awful indeed. The houses in Vera Cruz
are mostly built Of coral rock and yet the Paxhan shot
would pass through as many of them as lay in their
range Those which struck the roofs would pass through
two or three stories and then burst destroying every
instances throwing
down the sides Of the houses
The castle not at all in jured man In it was
Killed by shell. This immense fortHcation covering
eleven acres OF ground well supplied with ammuni-
ton There wero moro than thousand I3-inch shells
larger than any used by army and hundred OF
the finest guns in the world Many these were made
atiIarpers Ferry, in this country and some Of them
quaint old Spanish brass pieces dated back
a. 1921 The strength Of this famous castle has not
beeu exaggerated. 1t just remark OF officer Of
the British fleet in reply to inquiry Of Com Perry,
whether he thought 1t could be taken by naval squa
uft nr,tf.
or soldiers to man the castle 1t could blow to atoms all
the navies of the world before they could make i'm
~ untenabe without the castle 1t could have been
occupied an hour under fire from the castle In TAX
ing possession Of this ratification many valuable Next
documents tending to throw light upon the in
tentions Of the and others furnishing vaua
Bile historical Information respecting the castle and also
relating to the political history OF the Republic
into the possession of officers We look forward to
their publication with no little curiosity and interest
All the valuable provisions In the castle were ched by
the storekeepers and suffers who lived within its walls
MONTEREY AND THE RIO GRANDB.
From the New Orleans Delta, April Ill
The steamship Telegraph, Capt Aud, arrived yester-
day from the Brazos whence she left the 9Th inst
We arc indebted to Mr. Faster Of her passengers,
for tho Matamoras Flag Of the Sd inst for the Monte
rey Pioneer Of the Odd ut and such verbal nforma-
ton as was current on his route He left sato on the
22d ult, and Monterey on the oath At both Of these
posts every thing was quiet and no apprehensons weo
entertained Of different state Of things ensuing there
Very many of the wounded both Americans and Mexi-
cans dying at Saltllo.
the schooner Henry Long, on Friday, that battle had
been fought between Gen Taylor and the forces under
Gems Urea and Canales proves to be incorrect Urea
kept lowering about Col Curtiss command but having
been advised that Gen. Taylor, with party Of some
700 men, were advancing from Monterey, he with
drew his forces. On the 10th March, General Taylor
met the division of Colonel Curtis and having been
appraised that Morales had concentrated in tho vicinity
Of Ramus with a command Of some 1000 men, he set out
in pursuit Of the gallant general He followed him
far Cadereta, but his force should be literally ying
artillery to overtake him and is doubtful If thoy would
ave han rlpnr nNor aiU
Gen. Taylor had returned to the camp Monterey
where his men were quietly enjoying respite from their
fatigue.
The regiment Of Colonel Curtis Cd Ohio volunteers
had arrived without Inoestation ut Monterey, tho
18th ult They are represented as well disciplined
fno looking body Of soldiers.
Information having reached Camargo that Ca
males, with some $50 men, WAS at village or
rancho called Caperero, twenty miles south OF
Ccrrslyo, Captain Grey, better known rs Mustang
Grey, and a party Of Texan Rangers, had left in
pursuit of him Artful M he IT, he will find IL no
easy task to dodge Mustang for fighting him. Canaes
never fights The road now, from Camargo to Monte
rey-from the Brazos to saltillois clear and may be
travelled by small bands Of Americans without any fear
Of danger or obstruction.
As have already binted IL is understood to be the
design Of Gen Taylor as he gets the necessary
reinforcement, TO march to santilo, and at point
between that and Mexico form junction with Gen
Scott.
AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.
We give below the communication addressed to Cen
eral Santa Anna by General Pona Barragan. which
to give clear idea Of the nature and origin OF
the late revolution.
EXCELLENT sIR--Thc excesses Of all kinds committed
by Don Vaentin Gomez Farias and the present Con-
gross the very criminal apathy with which both have
looked the topic which at present Is OF the greatest
interest to tho nation, viz the foreign md the re-
prchensble stessnes they have displayed In procuring
the necessary material for tho heroic army under the
command Of your Excelsncy, exhausted the patience
Of the inhabitants Of this city and compelled some OF
the stationary troops to unite with the principal bata
lions of the National Guardand proclaim the plan which
have the honor Of now transmitting TO your Excsency
IL has not been sought to introduce anything new into
IT, The federal system which your Excelency came
mere TO re-estabsh remains intact nasmuch rs u meets
the national will IL has been endeavored TO respect ms
much as possible the arrangements Of tho 1924 In
order to establish the provisional government which
wiz rule over the nation until the people elect their
representatives free from the influence Of all parties
For these there has been no opposition TO this
movement In the capital from that portion Of miser
able wretche tho eyesores Of society who have wished