Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-16
OFFICIAL
DISPATCHES OF GEN'L SCOTT AND
COM. PERRY.


We find in the Union the dispatches OF
Gen. Scott, giving the official accounts OF
the investment, bombardment, and surrender
of the city of Vera Cruz, and also the
dispatches of Com. Perry, the commander
of the naval forces, which co-operated with
the army in that gallant affair We do not
intend to give these dispatches IN detail, and
for these two reasons, which our readers, we
doubt not, will deem good In the first place,
we have compared them with the long and
animated account which we give in another
place, and find that they do not differ in any
material part from it and in the second place,
our limits will not permit US. We give, how
ever, the most important parts of the official
correspondence.
| The two first letters are dated 22d and 23d
March, and contain details of the proceedings
before the city of Vera Cruz. We do not pub
lish them for the reasons assigned above. The
following contains some particulars which we
think will be interesting
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
| Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, I
March 25, 1847.
The Princeton being about to
start for Philadelphia, have but moment to
continue this report
All the batteries, Nos /, 2, 8, d. and 5, are
in awful activity this morning. The effect is,
no doubt, very great, and think the city can
not hold out beyond to-day. Tomorrow
morning many of the new mortars will be in
a position to add their fire, when, or after the
delay of some twelve hours, if no proposition
to surrender should be received, shall orga-
nize parties for carrying the city by assault
So far, the defence has been spirited and OBJ
+ stnate
| enclose a copy of a memorial received
E last night, signed by the Consuls of Great
Britain, France, Spain and Prussia, within
: Vera Cruz, asking me to grant truce to ena-
Bile the neutrals, together with Mexican wo-
: men and children, to withdraw from the scene
T. Of havoc about them. l shall reply, the mo-
ment that an opportunity may be taken, to
4 say-1. That truce can only be granted on
!. the application of Governor Morales, with a
+ view to a surrender; 2. That in sending safe
guards to the different consuls, beginning as
n far back as the 9th inst, | distinctly admon-
shed them--particularly the French and Span.
ish consuls-and, of course, through the two
the other consuls-of the dangers that have
followed; 3. That although, at that date,
had already refused to allow any person
whatsoever, to pass the line of investment
either way, yet the blockade had been left O.
pen to consuls and other neutrals to pass on
to their respective ships of war, up to the 22o
inst; and 4th. shall enclose to the memorial
lists copy of my summons to the governor
: to show that had fully considered the i'm
| hor deb1 of A.
"a including those of women and children, be
IS fore one gun had been fired in that direction
e The intercourse between the neutral ships o
i. war and the city was stopped at the last men
toned date by Com. Perry, with my concur
j. renee, which placed on the ground that tina
in intercourse could not fail to give to the enemy
- moral aid and comfort
le 1t will be seen from the memorial that GU
r. batteries have already had terrible effect OF
al the city, (also known through other sources,
IS and hence the inference that a surrender mus
lie soon be proposed. In haste,
n have the honor to remain, sir, with higl
4 respect, your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCoTT
70 Hon VIM. L. Marcy, Secretary of War.
q q HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
vi Or THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
~, Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, Marc
o. u %, 1917.
~ The undersigned. Maj Gen. Scott, general
NJ in-chef of the armies of the United States {
On America, in addition to the close blockade {
to the coast and port of Vera Cruz, previousl
he established by the squadron under Com. Cor
| nor, of the navy of the said States, having no7
To- fully invested the. said city with an owe
yhoIr 70 nd
that its garrison should receive from witho,
Oh succor or reinforcement of any kind ar
er. having caused to be established batteries, con
Wy petent to the speedy reduction ofthe said cit,
in he, the undersigne deems it due to the cou
A tesies of war, in like cases, as well as II
ms rights of humanity, to summon his excellence
the governor and commander-n chief of Il
Of city of Vera Cruz to surrender the same
tu- the arms of the Unie1 States of Americ
Gu present before the place.
IN The undersigned, anxious to spare the bea
on tful city of Vera Cruz from the imminent h
mo card of demolition-its gallant defenders fro
r, a useless erfusion of blood, and it's peacef
o no inhabltants-woman and children, inclusive
Nc; Hoe from the inevitable horrors of triumpha
, assault, addresses this summons to the inte
,as- ligence, the gallantrv, and patriotism, no lie
than to the humanity of his excellency t
oh. governor and commander-in chief of Vera Cru
ana The undersigned is not accurately inform
ont whether both the city of Vera Cruz and t
sci castle of San Juan de Ulloa be under t
the command Of his esceIlency, or whether ca
all place has its own independent commando
the but the undersigned, moved by the CO
hey siderations adverted to above, may be will
ana to stipulate that, if the city should by capiu
ION ton, be garrisoned by part of his troops,
EZRA missile shall be fired from within the city,
ghts from its bastions or walls upon the castle, L
ID of less the castle should previously fire upon
city.
e of The undersigned has the honor to tender
lggs his distinguished opponent, his excellency
80 governor and commandment chief OF; Vera CIR
ONE the assurance of the high respect and cons
~, Grafton of the undersigned.
sun Winfield SCoTT
III.
htee B.
g. Translation
IT, The undersigned commanding general
, coo the free and sovereign State of Vera Cruz,
a;vs informed himself of the contents of the n
'hev which Maj General Scott. general-in chief
and the forces of the United States, has address
ter's 10 MN unoer oate OF to-udy, demanding
bad surrending of this place, and castle of Ull'
ce- and, in answer, has to say, that the abo
lg- named fortress, as we'll as this place, dep
r to on his authority; and it being his princi
first dutv in order TO proye worthy of the co