Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-04-24


gainst us during the war. The gym
was fixed upon as the day upon which
our army should take possession, and
on the morning of that day Gen. Scott,
with Gen. Worth and his division, ac-
companied by the chief, officers Of the
army and large representation from
the squadron, entered and took possess
SION, the enemy at thesa time march
ing out. As the American flag was
hoisted at the plaza. and over San Ju-
an d'Ulloa, salutes were fired simulta-
neously from the castle, the batteries
of the city and the squadron.
Gen. Scott Immediately took up his
head quarters in the palace, and inves-
ted Gen. Worth with the command OF
the city, as he gave at the same time
the command of the Castle to Col. Bel
ton, that of Fort Jago, at the southern
extremity of the city, to Major Wright,
and that Of Fort Conception, at the
northern extremity, to Major Scott
The smallness Of our loss during the
siege is wonderful; including Capt Al
hurtis and Vinton, of the Army, and
Midshipman Shubrick, Of the Missis-
sippi, the latter Of whom was killed
while employed in the naval battery,
in the rear Of the city-our entire loss
in killed is only II, and wounded 2S.
That of onr enemy's garrison our in
formant did not learn, but understood
that Gen. Valdez was among the kill
ed. The loss among the non-combat-
ants has unfortunately been very great.
The number of women and children
killed is variously estimated at from
500 to 1000.
The enemy assigns rs reason for
the early capitulation, a desire to spare
the blood of non-combatants. and be-
cause they were out of provisions both
in the city and castle. Several OF the
inhabitants of the city stated alter the
surrender, that there was month
provisions there; but however this may
be, after the terms of capitulation had
been agreed upon, Gen. Scott, on be-
ing informed of the scarcity of provis
ions in the city, sent in four 'day5' sup
plies for their relief.
Com. Perry, during the siege, was
extremely strict in preventing any in
tercourse between the foreign vessels
of war and the enemy, and Gen. Scott
refused to afford the British and French
consuis an opportunity for leaving the
city when they found the fire becoming
little too warm for their safety, as
they refused to avail themselves of the
first notification for all foreign resi-
dents to leave the city.
The destruction of the city is very
great. Fully one.third oft is IN ruins.
During the siege, Col. Harvey, with
$50 dragons and two pieces of artIl-
lery had brush with 1900 of the enc
my's cavalry, and two pieces of artil-
lery. at Maddell;n, small town about
six or eight miles south Of Vera Cruz,
and repulsed the enemy. The Mexi-
cans had command Of bridge over a
small river which runs through the
town, but were driven from it with a
loss much greater than was suffered by
Col. Harvey. This is supposed to
have been the advance Of 10000 of
the enemy which are at Perote, and
which it is supposed designed coming
in the rear of our line by circuitous
route, and creating diversion in favor
of the besiged.
Gen. Scott, il was supposed, would
advance soon on the capitol. Gen.
Twigg's brigade, when the Princeton
left. was under arms, prepared to
march to Jalapa, and Gen. Quitman's
brigade was preparing to march upon
Alvarado, which it was supposed would
be taken without much difficulty, as no
preparation had been made for land
attack.
The Princeton has gone to Pensa-
cola, where she will remain a short
time, and then proceed to Philadel-
phia for repairs. She has on board
Com. Conner and Col. Totten, chief
o. the Engineer corps, who is the
bearer of dispatches to the Govern
ment from Gen. Scott.
During the norther on the 2sth,
nearly thirty merchant vessels were
driven ashore at Sscrifcios, and it was
supposed the greater number OF them
would be lost.