The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-17

EDlroRs DELrA Very little time have we for serb.
bling assure . YOU but a. 1hs Pres is
YOU acquainted with the last operations Of the squadron
On Saturday, 18th instant the following vessels anchored
three miles distant from the bar at the entrance OF Tus
pan river: The steam frigate Mississippi, Com Perys
agshp the frgate Raran, the corvettes Germantown
Albany John Adams, and Decatur; the steamers Spit
fire, Vixen, and Scourge the gunboats Refer, Bonl
and Petrel and every preparation was made for common
cling and finishing successful attack upon the forts and
city on the following morning The small steamers
ghtened, so as 10 enable them To the bar, by
moving part OF their COAL masts spas rigging &c. and
the 18th instant at daybreak, in towards the
mouth OF the river, with the steam frgate and all the
ght-draught vessels each one having in tow tram OF
boats from the larger vessels OF the squadron The Mis-
sissippl anchored in live athoms water, within mile
Of s s Sa all things 0s yesss
stood in for the Shore dashed through the breakers INTO
the smooth water Of the river and then landed Their men
IN safety the Sandbeach The small steamers win tue
gunboais in tow likewise ploughed their way through the
foang SURGE safely crossed the bar and anchored where
there scarcely ripple on the surface OF the water
Com Perry came on board the steamer Spithre, Com
mander Tattnall, and hosted his broad pendant Just
about that time Mexican troops were discovered some
distance above on the bank Of the river, apparently
gagged in throwing up breastwork; and instantly the
order was given, call hands up anchor;" and in the
shortest possible time the almighty steam was driving US
WINGED that they were only accommodating, party and
they fled with the utmost precipitation. The steamer
was then put about and again took up her position prep
the city, some five miles distant The Spit6re flagship
led the way then followed the Vixen, Comm'r Sands
the ScourEe, Lieut. CoMmg. Lockwood; the gunboats
Bonita, Lieut.. Coming Benham; Petrol Lieut. Coming.
Shaw; and Refer, Lieut.. Coming Turner and all the
cutters Of the squadron under the commands OF Captains
Breese and Forrest and Comm'r Buchanan-and il was
OF the most beautiful professions that have
witnessed and well planned that the expedition could
not haye failed The smooth surface OF the water, for
over hundred yards dotted with boats with stream
ing pendants and their brightest ensigns The river too
winding along through verdan country, is picturesque
and beautiful in the extreme; and thus we along
.IA
of the first FORT situated in bend of the river about
mile from the CITY, Here from the fort curling smoke
and booming sound passed the ntimaton refund that
should not take the place without struggles but their
shot fell short and the commodore, apparently regreng
the circumstance sung out o ahead fast and the good
Quick time And then The enemy opened upon us in
earnest: shot after shot flew over vessel and struck
the water distance astern'
The fort located high above us, a steep bank
ofthe rver and therefore they could only bring plum
ging fire to bear upon our approaching squadron This
proved Of great advantage to u.s. for as we ran rapidly to-
wards them they must alter the train OF their guns every
time they delivered their fire. And now the scene be-
came admirably exciting The whole Of our small squad
ron had closed Up 20 that we formed perfect phaaax Of
Mississippi were drawn up on the wheel houses, and
from my position the starboard wheelhouse, had
fair view Of the tout ensemble From the flash OF their
guns could Judge that the shot not going strike
us, and then watched them in their until they
plunged into the water asern many fell right amid
group OF cutters, and what astonshed and delighted me
most was to see that not single beat injured in any
wise And now we were rlynnnv IN III within HIM
dred Yards Of the fort and the enemy commenced rno
with musketry and escopettes The marines returned the
fire with musk etry when Teuf Parker from The hnrr
cane deck called out "Don't fire VET hit The marine off,
Ger answered. e are within msket r,npe and scarce
" were the words spoken when Lieut. p and three
other officers were simultaneously wounded bv the enc
mys fire. which feeiingIv demonstrated the fact that
sotne were inclined TO doubt Commander Tatnall Lieu
tenants Parker and Hartstein and Passed Mdshipman
Lowry and several OF the crew were wounded but NOT
SO az to endanger their lives very fortunately and
therefore their friends at home have no cause for dis
uuetinr themselves thereupon A few discharges from
lie pvot-guns Of the Spire Vixen. and other vessels
served to silence the batteries of his fort for the pec
liar tune humed by our Payhan shells had such start
ling effect upon the elongated nerves and snews of our
enemies that beyond a doubt they are running vet
On passing by the fort we observed that party OF sea
men and marines, commanded BY Capt Breese and led
by L;euis May, DeCamp and Others had taken posses
sion of the fort and hoisted the sounspng stripes and
stars which brought forth peas OF loud huzzas which
far DER hills and valleys ring and check the vultue on
the strife below The river at this pass was SO narrow
that we could have eked stone on shore at either side
and the second FORT half mile above had already omen.
ed rakng iii upon u.s. but the shot either fell short or
flew over our ship and only one struck the Vixen and
that was full Ia her bow but fortunately us, below her
water line consequently it did not pass through her. but
penetrated the plank and lodged in the mbers doing but
little damage On the staboard hand all along the enc
nv hid in Ike chappara kept M steady fire OF musket
nv upon u.s. but an occasional volley from the marines
drove them from their conceament AS related of the
first battery the second and third forts were senced in
detail by our paixhan Guns: and in regular order under
ful head of steaa we rushed M TO me anchoaee on
posite the civ OF Tusrin All three of the foTis IN
quick succession were taken possession of by the sea