Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-05
From the New Orleans Picayune of February 2lst
LATER FROM TAMPICO.
SafetY of the Louisiana Volunteers.

SGtefy Of the LOUISIANA v0I"ntceTS.
The brig Cayuga has arrived in the river,
having left Tampico on the morning of Satur-
day, the / 9Th inst Mr. Wheeler, who was a
passenger in the brig, came up to town yes
terday afternoon on Balize boat, and very
kindly furnished us with interesting informa-
ton from Tampico, and a copy of the Sentinel
of the 10th inst
Our readers will rejoice to learn that the
four companies of Louisiana volunteers,
wrecked on the Ondiaka, are all safe, with
the exception of six whom the colonel was
constrained to leave behind. There was no
action between the volunteers and the Mexi
cans they reached Tampico city the morning
of the 9th inst, generally speaking in good
health, but very much exhausted by their
| forced marches Seven were abandoned a
few miles from their first camp, being unable
to march, and the men finding it impossible to
carry them through the sand on ltters. One
of these overlook the main body before they
: reached Tampico the remainder will probably
fall into the hands of the enemy. The names
of those left behind are, Sweeny, of company
+; Colburn, OF company G; Winn, Washburn
and Sergt Warner, of company ], and Dolke,
of company +.
We subjoin the particulars of their adven-
lures nearly in the words Of the Sentinel.
1t appears that early in the day on which
the volunteers had taken refuge from watery
grave upon the sand nearly opposite the
wreck, they received visits from several Mex
leans, who came in the character OF peasants,
fishermen, &C., and were led to expect assls-
lance, in the way of transportation, from the
various promises voluntarily made by the
scoundrels, who were doubtless busily en-
| 81 A. fho IN
commander at Tuspan of the exact condition
Of the volunteers, their number, sc. In the
afternoon flag of truce presented itself, with
demand from Gen. Cos for an Immediate and
unconditional surrender; and it was represen-
ted to them that the country was swarming
with armed men, cutting off all retreat unless
by sea, which of course was impossible Cos
represented the forces under his command to
amount to 1900 regular troops, whereas IN
reality he could only muster about $50, al
told, of which at least three-fourths are SAFE
to have been raw recruits, who had entered
into the scheme with the hope of gain By
plunderlng the wrecked ship and passengers
Col. DeRussey answered through Lieut.. Ozier
5 under cover of the enemy's flag of truce. He
was met outside the enemy's lines by Cen
Cos, who refused him admission inside, bu
after some little reflection, upon the request O.
COL DeRussey, granted him until 9 the mex
morning, at which time the Americans were
to surrender or an action must be hazarded.
AT night-fall camp-tires were lighted, ant
orders Immediately given to march, leaving
S knapsacks and all burthensome material
which could in the least impede, and which
were not wanted for the purpose of sustenance
The first twenty-four hours they are said tt
have made thirty-five miles, and instead O
, hard fighting or diminishing, not an arme'
1 Mexican was seen on the way to Tampco.
E Gen. Cos had so posted his men that h
4 thought he had cut off the retreat OF the vol
e unteers, as we'll as the advance of supplies o
d succor. 1t would seem that he did not pur
: sue the retreating party. Most of the infantr
d under Gen. Cos came in canoes from Tuspan
!, and landed in front of the wrecked volunteers
$ He had four pieces of light artillery, and whe
Il he received Lieut.. Ozier about one hundre
and fifty troops were drawn up in column.
a We learn verbally that there were ninet
e or one hundred serviceable guns in possessio
n of the wrecked volunteers, the others bein
/ either lost in getting ashore or rendered unsel
n viceable-one reason for DeRussys not wal
y ing the twenty-four hours.
: The same day the Cayuga left, the schr
J. VIM. Bryan, Knapp and Tioga also sailed fc
this port, other vessels not recollected. A W
l. ry heavy mail was put on board the Tioga
}. Gen. Scott had not arrived at Tampico, b.
II was still hourly expected.
r. A severe norther commenced on the 9th inst
l. and lasted till the 18th, but no shlpwrecks ha
y been heard Of.
The schr Monitor had sailed from lamp
m co for the island of Lobos with a supply
= water, but no troops had left for that point
+ Mr.. Wheeler informs us that the reports
to sickness among the troops of Tampico ha,
he been exaggerated The health of the troo
n was generally very excellent There are
p bout 1000 at Tanpico, very eager for actio
CT but they are kept profoundly ignorant of the
ID Immediate destination. They only presun
d; that Vera Cruz is to De the next point of q
al tack. The general opinion was that thu
Ill would get away from Tampico by the end
February and they hoped sooner.
p The st. Catharine was still at Tampico Wi
n portion of the New York regiment T.
n officers had many of them gone ashore al
a. were in the city when our informant left
e. The soldiers were not allowed to land, n
~ will any volunteers from this city or the nor
n be disembarked at that point.
s. We can hear nothing of the Mississip
troops on board the Statesman, who at our Il
II accounts we're suffering deplorablv from sic
C ness