The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-23

great slaughter of the inhabitants tovk place TIE
built the ruins Latitude 10 degrees, % minute;
Longitude I03 degrees, A. minutes West.
more lucid description Of the city of Mexico,
scarcely be furnished by the letter writer's Of the army
although II Is evident the most favorable view Of the Pfc
ture - presented. W
The War, SO.
OFFICIAL. ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF TABAsco.
[From the Washington Union, July 81
The Secretary of the Navy has favored with the
following letter from Commodore Perry received by the
U. s. FLAG sHrr Mssss,rrI,
on rabssco River, June a. Isl7
SIR-Having jim my communication OF the 9Th instant
informed the department Of my intention longer
delay the attack the enemys forces concentrated
near the city OF Taba anchored on the 18th OF the
bar Of the river with detachment of the squadron
consisting Of the Mississippi, Albany Rartan John
ADAMS. Decatur, Germantown stromboii Yesur,u,
Washington. and the steamers Scorpion spittire
scourge aud Vixen-the Etna and Boneta being sta
On the l4th the aotla having crossed the bar, the
barges and surf boats containing pieces of art
ery and as many officers seamen and marines could
be spared from each Of the vessels anchor outside
with detachment OF forty marines from the
Potomac were then towed by the steamers the
bar and joining the vessels ut Frontera the force
was formed into line and proceeded up the the
| following order =
having In tow the vssuvius and Washington and the
boats Of the Mississippi and John Adams;
The spthre, with the 'trombo and Boneta and boats
The scourge, with the American merchant schooner
Sptnre' having on board Captain G. w. Taylor, with
rhe vixen with the Etna and the boats of the Rari-
| tan Decatur, and Germantown
When, ON the following day the hotia having arrived
within thirty miles Of the city information was
from an Indian that the enemy had thrown up breast
works In the thick chapsrra lining the banks Of the
river at three different points where they had posted In
! ambush armed parties In considerable force.
from az the positions indicated By the Indian the YES
was Immediately sienced by great guns and mus
kerry AT the second position of the seamen of the
phaI
VIM. May received escopette ball In his arm, an 4
three men were slightly wounded Lieut. May, Ut the
Time OF receiving his wound engaged in co-opera
ton with Lieut. Jas Alden in sounding and exsmin ing
the obstructions placed by the enemy in the channel d.
rectly opposite the breastwork.
Considering it doubtful whether the steamers could
pass the obstrucons without nconvenient delay and
being anxious to reach the main body Of tho enemy
ordered their commanders to every fort ascend
the river and determined yset wait the expert
land with the infantry and artillery Having
previously made all the arrangements for landing aud
forming the line Of march, the barges and surf boats
and formed opposite tn the point selected
to the third entrenchmsnt Of the enemy which had
hotilla
EEverythipg being in readiness took the lead with
my boat, accompanied by Capt Mayo "a volunteer and
actin gas sdjutant genYFaDn another boat and giving
cheers pushed for the shore, landed aud formed in
separate columns the bank, under the direction Of
and shore In position with seven pieces
OF artillery which were taken from the boats and
uaueu up DanR twenty feet In height and nearly
perpendcuar by the main strength Of the officers and
men attached to them boats then s,nt for the
three pieces belonging to the bomb-vess.ls and in
twenty-five minutes the entire column, Of than
eleven hundred strong with ten pieces Of artillery
In motion towards the city. Its march, however was
very much retarded by the difficulty Of moving through
the high prairie grass and the occasional thckcts of
chaparral yet in opposition to all the obstacles which
presented themselves and the excessive heat of the
day, the column moved steadily on preceded BY the
pioneers and driving back with its artillery and ad-
vanced guard the outposs of the enemy by
| breastworks
Meanwhile, the steamers had succeeded in crossing
the distractions in the channel aud proceeded calamity
up In face OF the ire Of the main battery Of six guns
and body OF infantry lining the intrencbments and
after exchanging few Shots, with but slight injury
measure undoubtedly preopiated by pro xnity Of
our advancing column AT little after four in the
afternoon entered the city with the entire force
infantry and artillery, and took quiet possession Of the
| public quarters,
In the atigung march from the landnr place to the
city-a distance If nine Laiesi struck a often
have been oeiors, with the usasm exhibit.
ed by the officers and men. sud with the extraordinary
efforts which hey occasion to keep the ar
iiry ia line Ia the skrnish.s with the outposte a
The enemy, oar advance displayed much order and Mill
larry skill and the entire lue conducted in manner
| worthy of veteran soldiers.
" were 10 undertake. TO particulsr1s the gsn aud
iudcious conduct of the ocers. should be obliged To-
name them ALL hence beg To refer TO The oscd pa
psfs marked By which the nanes OF all vhe
were engaged in the expedition. stating the respective
duties assigned to them also refer the MT t.
the report OF the senior medical officer
From the best information have been able to obtain
ron hc'erai sources the euerys force in action the
10Th be estimated al fourteen hundred strong and
their loss about thirty killed. which, compared with the
force under my command, and considering the advan-
tages Of Ills fortified position may render the sansss
| OF our loss remarkable.
am, sir, with great respect, your obedent servant,
| M G.. PERRY
J Commanding Home Squadron.
| The Hon. JoBN y. mason,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, d. c.
L. s. SHip JouS ADAMS J
on Tabasco River, June "a 1Si1
OrI of
wounded, &c, in the recent expedition to Tabssco
Lieut. May OF the Mississippi severe gubshot wound
near right elbow.
Patrick Rourke, seaman of do, slight gunshot wound
Daniel Foley, ordinary seaman Of do, slight gunshot
wound OF left
PASSED Midshipman Hudson of the Scorpion, slight
wound Of right hand and abdomen supposed by grape
Walter Jefferson ordinary seaman, Of tho Vesuvius
severe gunshot wound Of left leg
The body OF seaman, not recognized at the time
found floating down the river, day two after the
capture OF the place with marks Of injury the head
| as have Seen informed.
From the place OF landing ut the Palms to the town
many men, especially those at the field pieces, fell from
exhaustion; but with little assistance were soon ena
BLEED to proceed Some Of the received injur In
quarres among themselves In Tabasco others suffered
temporary illness from the combined influence Of intern
perance, heat and exposure few OF
fever made their appearance but of severe cha
racter came under my notice.
The medical officers who accompanied me on the ex.
petition were Surgeons Sharpe, Minor, and Pinkney;
Passed Assistant Surgeons Wr ght Hastings, and VII.
amsi Assistant Surgeon Steele; and II gives mo plea
sure to bear witness to the zeal displayed by them in tn,
performance Of their duties and in seeking opportu
mites TO render assistance.
| am, very respectfully. your obedient servant,
| SAMUEL HARRINGTON, Surgeon u. g. ~
| and Senior Surgeon Of the Expedition.
Commodore NJ G. Perry,
Commanding Home squadron.
| A.
The expedition against Tabasco consisted of the fol-