The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-05-25
The Mexican officers say ,hatlheir go
vernment have no more guns or ammuni-
ton, and that peace must speedily ensue.
OFFICIAL. REPORT OF THE CAP
TIJRE OF TUSPAN.
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP Mis-
sIssIpPI, AT SEA, orr VERA
CRUR. APRlf. 24. l847.

sIssIpPI, AT SEA, OFF VERA
CRUR, APRIL 24, l847.
SIR: Tuxpan being the only fortified
place of importance, situated on the Gull
coast, not in our possession, and conceiv-
ing it to be pointof honor, as well as
duty, to reclaim the guns taken by the
enemy from the wreck of the Truxton,
and mounted with others for the defence
of the river and town, determined on
attacking II, and left SACRIFICES In this
ship for that purpose on the 18th instant,
having inflow the steamers Spitfre, Vix-
en-, and Scourge, and tie gun boats Boni-
ia, Petrol, and Reefer, with detachment
of three hundred officers, and marines
! from the Ohio, distributed in this and the
smaller vessels. On the following day
we arrived at Loboss, the appointed
place of rendezvous. The Raritan with
detachment of one hundred and eighty
officers, seamen; and marines, from the
Potomac, added to her own complement.
The Albany, John Adams, and German
town, with the bomb-vessels Vesuvius,
| Etna, and Hecla, had been previously
dispatched for Lobos, where they arrived
in good time, and were subsequently, join
ed by the Decatur.
On the 18th all the vessels left Lobos,
for the anchorage under Tuxpan reel, but
were separated during the night by
norther. Having again concentrated on
the morning of The l7th, the who'e of
that day was employed in lightning the
small vessels, in sounding and buoying
the channel Of the bar, and in other prep
ara,ions for as scending the river.
The following morning (the l9th) the
bar was safely crossed by the steamers
and gun boats, with about thirty barges
/ filled with detachments from the different
vessels at anchor outside, having with
them four pieces Of artillery.
/ After crossing the bar hoisted my flag
on board the Spitfre, and Immediately
led up the river to the attack; the steam
Eers having the gun boats and barges in
tow, until we got Into the range of fire of
the enemy, when ordered them 10 cast
off; the gnn-boats to followed up the river
under sail, and the detachments in the bar
| ges to land with the artillery and storm
tha forts and town. These orders were
executed with extraordinary rapidly,
while the 6otilla continued lis course up
the river, and driving. by It's well-directed
Gle, the enemy from his delences.
The dispositions Of the enemy for de-
fence were judcious; they consisted of
two forts on the right, and one on the
left bank of the river, with positions well
selected for commanding the reaches Of
the stream. They had seven guns noun
ted and detachments ofinlantry firing lrom
the forts and the thick chaparral along the
margin Of the left bank.
| General Cos, chief of the Winward
military division Of the Mexican army,
was in command, and had with him, as is
believed from the evidence Of his order
| book, about 600 rank and file.
| But if the dispositions for defence were
Iiudicious, the defence itself was feeble;
though, had it been more obstinate, the
results would have been the same, for /
cannot exaggerate the innepidity of our
officers and men, or say too much of the
pirit that animated them.
/ The Truxton's guns were brought off,
and the others destroyed; the forts were
also destroyed.
/ Our less il the attack has been small
fourteen killed and wounded.
The Albany and Refer had been left
TO watch Tuxpan; the Hecia is ordered
to blockade Soto de la Marina; the Etna
to occupy the river TabascO; and the We
suvius and Porpoise the port OF I,aguna,
while the Germantown is securing the
coast north Of Lobos.
am, sir with great respect, your most
obi serv'i, III. G. PERRY.
Commanding Home Squadron.
The Hon. JoEN Y. Mason,
Sec'y of The .Narg. Washington.
GThe killed in the assault were Lewis
! CLAYTON, Antonia Francis, and John
| Griffin. all seamen; and the wounded
were Commander Ta,na, Commander
Mackenzie, (accidentally,) Lieut.. James
l.. Parker, Lieut.. White, Lieut. Hart
stcne, and seamen James McCaun, Hiram
Townsend, Andrew Sweeny, Henry o..
Hart, James McCullen, and John Mon
roe.
! MoRE TROOPS WANTED.--A letter from