Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-04-22
surrender Of Vera CRUZ. aud the Castle
Of SAN Juan DUIToa.
Three Hundred and Thirty fue Merioan Officer. taken

u
Prisoners
on the 22d, at P. NJ, Gen. Scott opened a hcay,
hre IRON hIs batteries, consisting Of nine mortars
four long 24s and two howitzers On the 2ad the
battery on the west side of the city. consisting OF
Tour % Paixhan guns and two long 32s, manned BY
I oifcers and scamen Of the navy opened most de.
structive fire, making breaches through the walls
and sweeping the streets Of the devoted CITY, twas
here that Midshipman Shubrick and seven scamen
fell, while gallantly sustaining the honor of thei,
country. The FIRE was Kept up from our batteries
until the morning of the 18th, at which time the
commencement of q nortber caused a mutual suspen-
sion of hostiiitics. The ssMusquto Fleet" consist.
ing of the steamer Spitire Captain Tatna, stea mer
vixen. Captain Sands; schooners Bonita, Lieut. Ben
ham Petrel. Lieut. Shaw Refer, Lieut.. Sterrett
Iampico, Lieut.. Griffin and Falcon Lieut. Glasson
all under the immediate command of Captain Tatnen
got under way from SACRIFICES soon after the Open
ing OF our land batteries and stood close into the
city. From this position they threw large number
OF shell and round shot into it, which caused much
destruction. They came TO anchor at night i'm the
position which they had taken and OF daylight on the
ensuing morning they moved to northward of the
Washerwoman Shoals, and recommended the cannon
ade. At this time they were within quarter of a
mile OF the CASTLE the Spitre throwing several shells
into it. ~ aags
The hotilla sustained their position until O'Clock
and then they retired at the signal of recall from the
flag ship. During the whole time they were under
the guns of the castle and city. and Notwithstanding
heavy and incessant fire from the guns of the cas-
tie and Fort Santiago, they retired without the loss
of man. the destruction Of Capt Tatnall's s.gig'
being the only loss sustained
The preiIminaries for the surrender were entered
into and arranged the 9th and 2Sth. and on the
18th the enemy, to the number of A. 000 marched out
OF the city and stacked their in the presence of
our whole army their officers being allowed TO re-
tam their side arms and their liberty on parole The
parole of the officers also required that the men should
not serve again during the war, until exchanged
Morales, who had command of the city, had refused
Its surrender as long shot left or soldier to
man gun; he was deposed on the Goth, and the
surrender received through Gen. Iandero.
Early after the commencement of our fire. the GAL
liant Capt. Vinton, of the Sd Artillery, one of the
brightest ornaments of army, fell from cannon
shot which carried away the top of his head He
bad commanded the outposts of Gen. WORTH situated
at The lime Kiln, within TOO yards of the city, from
the first approach of our troops to the investment
On the 18th, Col. Harvey, with a squadron of dra-
goons and few of the LIST and I'd regiments of Ten
nessee mounted men under Colonel Campbell and Col
Haskell, detachment of Sieptoe's flying artillery
under the command of Lieut.. Judd, in all SEQ men
had sharp conflict with the cavalry of the enemy
IN force OF 1000 or more. The Mexicans were on
the opposite side of the Medelin river, about nine
miles from our camp, and were strongly posted hav-
ing thrown up formidable barricade protecting the
bridge across the river. This proved no obstacle to
the impetuosiy of men they carried the BRIDGE
and cut to pieces and dispersed the Mexcans after
short but decisive conflict. Individual feats Of gal
lantry were frequent during the melee, mention of
which will be made hereafter. Lieutenant Neill, ad |
utant of the I'd Dragons received severe wounds
from lance. but they are not dangerous. OF the !
Mexican officers who captured Vera Cruz five
were generals, eighteen were coones thirty-seven
five majors, ninety captains, and
one hundred and eighty Geuenans. all three hun
dred and thirty five.
Gen. Worth has command Of the city, which is oc-'
cuped by his own and the division of General Pillow
Major Scott, of the 9th Infantry, has command of
Fort Conception on the north of the city, with one
company of artillery and one of infantry Major
Wright of the 9Th that of Fort Santiago the SOUTH
with similar force
Col Bolton has command of the Castle of San Juan
De Uoa with three companies each of artillery and
Infantry.