The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-01
WAsnrscroN, Saturday, Nav /,

4
1897, agent of the government OF the United States
WAsmNcroN. Saturday. May L, 1917
To The Editor Of the Union:
DEAR SIR Agreeably to the desire EXPIRE ssed by YOU
yesterday send you some sheets containing descrip
ton OF the lower portion OF the road from Vera Cruz to
Mexico, on which our army under General Scott was
moving, by the latest accounts. Ii is made from my
notes and recolectons OF my trip 10 Mexico ten years
ago. and will hope, be of some in rendering more
easily ntelgibe the news which may be daily expected
from that quarter. Should you consider il worth while
will send you similar sketch of the remainder of the
road TO Mexico.
| With great esteem, yours,
ROBERT GREENHOW
In the afternoon of Thursday the 18th of july 1897
our good sloop-ofwar, the Vandala in which had the
honor to be passenger, anchored in the roadstead be-
tween the island OF SACRIFICES and the mainland of Mex
leo, within couple of hundred yards of the British
with every point OF which had long been familiar from
description. On the right lay Sacrfcios little ridge OF
sand protrudng above the water; the left the low
shore of Mexico, beyond which appeared family shad-
owed the sky, the tall peak of Orzaba and the rreg-
uar outline OF Peroe in front, the towers and spires Of
Vera Cruz and the white of the castle of Uua gilt
black caggy rocks OF the volcano of San Andres Tusta
arose at the distance OF sixty miles the point of An
ton lizardo. The weather was delightful; the sunset
recalled 10 mind those of Naples and the breeze pure
and fresh, seemed 10 contradict the assertion OF the old
pilot that the c0mlto raging in Vera Cruz scarcely
four miles Off Through that Famed hot-bed of pesti-
ence was to pass, on my way TO the city of Mexico
but only expected to pass for had been instructed
not to enter it until the OF conveyance to the liz
terror ready and with this view had sent note
by the pilot to CONSUL requesting him to engage place
for in the dagencd, stage coach, for the following
day. But here had reckoned without my host for
at . o'clock, messenger in boat bringing me
letter from the CONSUL from which appeared that
must Immediately go up to the city and spend the night
there as the water gale would not be opened the morning
I pnfIl 1t tha ut thp No.
being left, prepared to obey the summons and was
my way in the boat rowed by three stout half
naked Indians to the dreaded city.
few words as to the topography of the surrounding
places may not be unacceptable al the present moment
The Mexican coast there runs nearly northwest
and southeast The whole shore and the country for
two miles from it is very low, and nearly level
presenting sheet of sand rumpled by the winds, and
sustaining only few weeds and shrubs where the
ridges highest Opposite the Shore the distance of
about threequaers of mile, begins extensive bed of
coral rock four five miles in diameter, of which sew
era portions project above the forming small islands
while others, just covered by the water prevent all but
the smallest vessels from passing the spot. The
most southern OF these islands, called Sacrcos by its
discoverer, Gralva, in 1885, from the quantity of human
bones found upon it, is of sand about three hun
bred yards In length by twenty in breadth, partially
covered by rank weeds. Isla Terde Green BtanD is
another, about three miles eastward from SACRIFICES;
and about the same distance northwest from the latter
island is that of Ul,a, San Juan, entirely occupied
by the famous fortress. From SACRIFICES to Ulua
stretches line of coral reefs, called the LaUandera, or
JVashewoman, from the foamng breakers which appear
it during sorms and between these reefs and islands
the east and the main land the west is the channel
which forms the roadstead of Vera Cruz. The city
lies exactly opposite to the castle; The intervening
space constituting the habor, vessels while dischargng
their cargoes, moored to rings in the castle WALL from
which the goods are sent over IN lighters Should their
moorlngs fail dulna nortter, they must nfallby be
dashed TO pieces on the Lavandera and for this reason
ships of and others, which are not required to be
near Vera Cruz, usually anchor between Sacrcos and
the main land, as they there have clear to wind
ward in case OF breaking their cables.
The shores here very difficult of access, in
quence of the violence of the surf Between Vera Cruz
and Anton Lzardo, in distance of about twelve miles,
the only place at which boats reach it with safety is
the north side OF small projection of the coast called
Mocambo Point, nearly opposite SACRIFICES; and there,
doubt General Scott effected the DISQUALIFICATION of his
army the 18th of March last.
On the spot where Vera Cruz stands, the Spanish
discoveries 1885, found Indian village called Cita
or Ula, from which the island opposite was named San
Friday of the following year, fernando Cortez disem.
barked, and traced with his sword on the burning sand
the outline Of settlement which was to bear the name
of La Villa Rcd de la Vera Cruz, the Rich CITY of the
True Cross. There he abdicated the authority confer
red him by the governor of Cuba and accepted in its
stead commission from the mayor and aldermen OF the
settlement TO command the forces OF their sovereign
the expedition for the conquest of the great empire of
Anahuac; and from that point, after burning his ships
which lay in the roaisiead opposite he began his march
into the interior No spot in America, except perhaps
that (if it could ba dentifed) on which Columbus first
landed has many romantic associations connected with
it, or is more likely to be regarded with interest in after
ages.
The settlement, thus begun, after removed to
the mouth of a twelve miles farther north, where il
maintained until the end of that century, and them
in consequence of the insecurity of the anchorage the in
habtans transferred TO the point first selected by Cor
opposite which the castle had been shortly before
erected the island of San Juan. The of Vera
Cruz assigned TO the town The site deserted
is marked by village called La 4nbgm--the Old
1own-and the same appellaion is given to the river
which flows by IT, The castle begun about the year
1875 by the Vceroy Don Martin Enrques de Almanac
for the protection Of the royal shpshis excellency hav
ing had opportunity of Witnessing. in person. the dan
ger to which they might be exposed in the combat be-
tween his fleet and the vessels Of the famous Eng fish
slave trader, John Hawkins, in 1868.
To return TO myself: After rowing an hour, we enter
ed the part of the roadsead called the harbour where
few small vessels lying, between the castle on
the right and the city on the left 1t night and, al
though the shone brightly objects were but ndis
tncly at distance; as, however had an oppor
tunitv TO examine them with more care, on my return,
shall describe them az then found them
The castle is somewhat oblong its ground pan with
bastions at the angles stretching, its greatest length
about two hundred and fifty yards in front OF the city
from which il is distant about half mile The walls
are very high probably less than forty feet and
rise immelate from the water; and the whole, though
imposing from its mass too regularly geometrlca in
form to present much of the picturesque
The city, as seen from the harbor, exhibits another
line of dead WALL extending about threequariers of
Conception on the north and that of Santiago on the
south The castle and the city have each only one gae
opening to the harbor. From the city gate mole oil
sone about a hundred and fifty yards in length, by
len in breadth, stretches at right angles into The sea-
but not far enough enable the smallest vessels to he
near it, crane at its extremity showed that an attempt
was made continue it but such work is beyond the
notya of Tho Mt ntpnpr nF