The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-04
" There's many n slip,
'Twixt the cup and lip"


The return of commander Joshua r. Sands, late in
command of the u S. steamer Vixen, with captured
guns and other trophies from the Gulf of Mexico has
been announced in the public journals and advantage is
taken OF the occasion offer the public $50 deeply in
teresed in everything that touches the honor and
duct of navy fuller notice of the services rem
dered by Captain Sands and his gallant comrade Com
mander Tanall, OF the u S. steamer Spiire. Their
services will long be remembered by fleet and army,
for they form part and parcel of the late brilliant har
monious and combined operations of both branches of
service in the Gull of Mexico The Vixen, carrying
three 24-pounders, and the Sptre Is, and two 32
Founders, Originally built for the Mexican navy,)
were purchased by government the breaking out
of the war, and promptly despatched TO the Gulf about
the close of last August The command, though inferior
to their grade in the service, cheerully accepted
by Sands and Tatna officers daring, intrepid, and
tive as our service boast These vessels were appar
entity no very formidable accession the naval
ment destined to reduce the strong city OF Vera Cruz
and the impregnable castle of San Juan de Ulloa but
they proved themselves of eminent use and value from
their light construction and draught, in crossing bars,
ascending rivers, towing larger vessels, landing forces
approaching difficult places, and in many other ways,
which kept them necessarily and effectively employed
The Vixen and Spitfre, (or they were called The
Two Politics." name of familiar endearment bestowed
on them by our in the Gulf led the way the first
premature attack on Avarado, the circumstances of
which are too well remembered by all to need any fur
ther notice here.
Their next operations were at Tabasco, which they
captured ascending the river upwards Of sixty miles
an event made memorable BY the fall of the young and
gallant Norris worthy and lamented son of Commodore
Morris.
Tampco was soon after their theatre of action. This
important city they captured, supported by the armed
boats and small craft of the squadron and retained pos
session of it till ii was garrsoned by detachment OF
the army
An expedition then fitted out against Laguna Isla
del Carmen which place also captured about the
close of December Here commander Sands remained
governor for upwards of two months, maintaining
strict blockade until summoned to take part the then un
certain and serious attack upon Vera Cruz and Uloa On
this memorable occasion, the Vixen and Spre rendered
the most signal services, transporting and landing the
troops opposite the island of Sacrfcos anchorng close
in to shore with the small vessels of the feet protect the
landing, where it was anticipated matter of course
that an obstinate resistance would be made
As soon as our batteries were ready and opened upon
position near Puto de HornoS, where within range of
the batteries OF both city and castle they remained all
night pouring in broadsdes, till their ammuntion sup
piled from time time by the fleet, exhausted The
spectacle was, indeed exciting Zone might almost say
udcrous) to see these small steamers in hostile attitude
against the terrific batemens before them. But the
gallant Tatna regardless of all odds, boldly proposed 10
his friend and conrade Sands, TO approach and assail
both town and castle AT still closer quarters and it was
done with prompness and aacrty each towing in seve
raj small vessesan which called forth the admra-
ton of the whole squadron and army. signal from
the commodore to recall them from their perious post
was suffered by their intrepid commanders to remain for
long me unseen nor did they retire until an officer
was despatched by the commodore in boat with posi-
tive ORDERS when they reluctantly backed outhe boats
crew which brought the peremptory command cheering
them as they slowly retired
After Vera Cruz and the castle had fallen Commodore
Perry with his wonted energy and activity, fitted out
expedition against Tuypan and the Vixen and Spitfre
were again on the wing This was arduous labor and
the Vixen and Sptire stripped for believing themselves
of everything supeuous 10 the taking down of their
and spars to the passing of the dangerous
bars With all these precautions they touched repeatedly
and they last got safely into the harbor where
the i'll aed Truxiun had time before been wrecked
and captured 1t was a proud moment when the Vixen
and Spitfre aided by the boats and schooners attacked
the three forts that opposed Them and after sharp ac
ton slenced them 1t here that the gallant Tatnall
received wound from musket ball in the hand
and the Vixen was penetrated by 2i-pound ball below
her waer-ine which, by some miracle, did not sink her
and which, had il struck few feet higher, would have
made frghtfu havoc her deck, crowded as il was
with marines and sailors, who were to storm the works
il they held out But they landed in safety took DOS.
session OF the and FORTS and spent several DAYS in dis
mantng and destroying them and it was here that they
enjoyed the inexpressble satisfaction of ecapturng the
guns and other materials vigorously taken from the
unfortunate Truxtun, the former of which they found
mounted on the works, and used against them.
Commodore Perry then proceeded, in concert with
land force under General Quman, to occupy Alvarado
which, it well understood the enemy, dismayed and
discouraged would surrender without any resistance On
arriving at Avarado, they found the Mexicans had re-
tired and the place in possession OF Lieutenant Hunter
This little sketch, imperfect as il is, and confined to
two of the smallest vessels which composed the arma
ment in the Gulf, viii help to show that though the ar
my of operations in Mexico have been on grander
SCALE the navy also has done all that il was pos