The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-04-20
From the National InteRigenc1.
BATTLE OF VERA CRUZ,

d. LIZ C1 41e2k O&eOE"
Instead of crowding u paper with all
she official papers relating TO this brilliant
achievement which the Department has
laid before the public, we select only, as
being of immediate interest, the latest
Despatch from Gen. SCoTT and the terms
of capilul alton; placing first in order how
ever a brief summary of the operations
that led 10 the results which these pa
pers communicate. We deem ii a prop
er Introduction to them, for which "a
Friend who participated in the siege
has placed us under obligations:
On the 9th Of March the troops were
disembarked by the navy, four thousand
being thrown on shore at the first trip,
which formed Immediately, and drove IN
the light troops and pickets of the enemy,
and took possession Of a magazine and
the hills around Vera Cruz.
On the 18th the investment was con-
pleted. and two mertars landed.
On the 18th ten or twelve more NOR
tars were landed.
On the 18th the trenches were opened
a tnight.
On the 22d the city was summoned TO
surrender at 2 O'Clock p. NJ; and, OH re-
iusal, a fire was opened from seven NOR
tars, which was afterwards increased to
nine.
On the oath the navy, having landed a
battery from the ships of 32-pounders and
three ~6S-pounder Paixhan guns, opened
THEIR fire in the morning. The fire Of
this battery, from lis superior weight OF
metal and the destruction it caused, drew
the concentrated fire of five of the ene-
mv's batteries on il, but without effect
1t silenced three forts, demolishing two Of
them entirely. 1t was manned and wor-
ked during the whole time by the officers
and seamen OF the ships.
On the 25th battery of four 24-poun-
ders and two s-inch howitzers opened
fire.
On the Goth the enemy commenced
negotiations for surrender.
On the 29th possession was taken of
the city Of Vera Cruz and Castle of San
Juan d'Ulua, the enemy marching out
and laying down their arms to the COM
bined forces of the army and navy. The
American flag hoistcd in the town and
castle, and saluted by the troops and
ships.
The number Of prisoners had not been
ascertained, kbut was estimated at 1000,
comprising, it is supposed, some Of the
enemy's best troops and many of their Of
fcers. The number of officers in the CT
ty and castle is supposed 10 have been 8
generals, Is colonies, 81 lieutenant colo
nels, ) majors, 90 captains, and $50 lieu
tenants.
During the sixteen days intervening
between this Decentralization and COM
mencement of negotiations, there were
five days of violent northers, in which all
landing of stores, &c. were interrupted
entirely; and during the seven days of O.
pen trenches there were two days and
nights in which it was impossible TO I'M
dertake anv new works, or even, by
clearing the trenches and batteries Of
large quantities Of drift sand, TO arrest the
aceumulating damage.
Our total loss in killed and wounded,
from the 9th to the 29th OF March, is
sIxTY-FIvE; Of whom fourteen were of the
Navy, engaged in serving a shore bate
ry, and hfty-one Of the Army.
The officers killed are, Captain John
r.. Vinton, ID artillery; Captain William
Alburtus, ID infantry; Midshipman Tho
mas B. Shubrick, navy.
'rhe i, ficers wounded are, Lieutenant
Colonel Dickinson. South Carolina vol
unteers. Lieut.. nelozier Davidson, I'd IN
fantry, slightly; Lieat. Lewis Neii' "a
Dragons, severely-all doing well.
From the 18th TO the 18th. before our
fire was opened, all the work done(moun-
ting guns, making trenches, &c.) was
performed under a heavy fire Of shot and
shells from the castle.
On the Goth there was a heavy north
er, in which twcnty-six vessels went on
shore. and several had 10 cut away their
mas,s. Those which went ashore, SO far
as regards the vessels and their cargoes
OF Government stores, are almost all total
losses. 1--WE that were wrecked to the
windward Of tie castle are said TO have
lbs; all hands.