The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-04-09
CANp MAR VgRA CRuz,
March IL, mOrning. {

wrote you nasty Ietter last eve
ming, with short account of the
movements of the day. After it was
closed the Rifles under Col. Smith
had brisk action with the enemy,
in which the latter, after a partial
success at the outset, were finally
driven back with considerable loss.
This morning the line Of investment
some five or six miles in extent
will probably be complete.
do not think, from all that | can
see and learn, that Gen. Scott will
be able to plant his batteries for sew
eral days to come; and until he can
make good show he will not open
upon the town at all. When the
bombardment does commence it will
be in earnest.
Captain Vinton of the artillery has
been ordered TO take up a position
at a limekiln close in to the walls Of
the city, and this he has effected
without loss. Anticipating an at
tack upon this point last night, Gen.
Worth went out, after dark, with
two companies, to support Captain
", but nothing occurred. There
was some little skirmishing at the
different pickcts during the night,
but otherwise all was quiet.
Col. Harney's dragons have not
as yet arrived, yet their services are
greatly needed. 1t is said that a
large train of pack mules, which
went out of the city yesterday, took
a heavy amount of specie as well as
valuables. All this property might
probably have been captured had
Gen. Scott had cavalry force. II
was also reported last evening that
something like 1000 Mexicans were
seen coming in towards shutdown
by the main road from Mexico, viii
a large drove Of cattle for the be.
leaguered city but as the invest,
ment was not then complete, and as
we had no cavalry, they could not
be taken. / learn, however, that
Gen. Twiggs, who commands on the
northern side Of the city, succeeded
during the day in capturing quite a
number of cattle. A norther is now
blowing, which it is hoped will bring
in the I'd Dragons.
At the magazine, which was cap
tured day before yesterday, a con-
siderable quantity of ammunition
was taken. 1t was evidently Of
English or American make, as il
was labelled "short range" ''long
range" &C., Sc, in good vcrnacu-
lar. The Mcxicans managed to get
off safely The larger portion of their
ammunition, and it is now carefully
slowed away inside the city walls.
1t would take a page of our pape,
to give full effect to description o.
the first landing of our troops on the
afternoon of the 9th---a more stirring
spectacle has probably never beer
witnessed in America. In the frs
line there was no less than seventy
heavy surf boats, containing nearly
four thousand regulars, and all o
them expected to meet an enemy
before they struck the shore. Not
withstanding this, every man was
anxious to be iirst--they plunget
into the water waist deep as they
reached the shore-the ''Stars ant
stripes" were instantly floating
rush was made for the sand hills, ant
amid loud shouts they pressed on.
ward. Three long and loud cheers
arose from their comrades still OF
board, awaiting to be embarked, ant
meanwhile the tops and every por'
ton of the foreign vessels were
crowded with spectators of the
scene. Not one who witnessed i
will ever forget the landing. Why
the Mexicans did not oppose us is {
greater mystery than ever, consid
cring their great advantages at tn,
time and that they have since oppo'
sed every step Of our advance.
The troops, both regulars and vol
untcers, have suffered incredibl,
since the landing-marching ovel
the heavy sand-hills without water
under a broiling sun during the day
and sleeping ont without tents Of
bedding during the heavy dew'
which have fallen at night-expos.
ed, too, tc continual fire from the
batteries from the enemy; yet not ;
murmur has been heard. Anythin.
can he effected with such troops.
Yours, &C., G. w. X.
L. s. Stoop or Wan, ALnANy,
Sicr,fciov, March 10, morning.
The Portia, so it is said, is to sal
Immediately, and by her | send 20,
a few lines more. The northcr ha.
completely blown itself out, so tina
! by breakfast time the surf boats vii