Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-02
LATE FROM THE GULF soUA DRoN-foss OF
THE BRIG SOMERS.

i i1E SOMEhc
i The New Orleans papers bring us accounts frol
the Squadron off Vera Cruz to the 9th ultimc
with the melancholy particulars of the loss of Il
brig Somers under the command of Leutenal
SEMMEs, while engaged in blockading that port
This unfortunate event happened on the mornn
of the 9Th utimo, off Green Island At the time
its occurrence the Somers was under way to ascel
tain the character of strange vessel then in sigh
and being struck by heavy squall, she capsize
and sunk in twenty or thirty minutes. There wer
on board of her about eighty persons, OF whom
twenty-four persisted, and fifteen dried ashore OF
spars, hen-coops, &c. and were taken prisoners 0
war by the Mexicans. Among the lost are acting
Master CLEMSON and Passed Midshipmen HyNsoN
The remainder of the officers and crew were saw
ed by the gallanry of the officers of the English
and French vessels, lying under Sacrifcos, who
Notwithstanding the danger which attended theiI
efforts, nobly rsked their own lives in open boats
during heavy gale, in order to render every pos
sible assistance.
Previous to this disaster to the Somers, several
of her officers had been engaged in reconnaissance
of Vera Cruz, with the intention Of ascertaining
the locality of the magazine and the feasibility OF
an attempt to blow it up. AT the head Of this ha-
zardous undertaking was Midshipman RODGERS
and Surgeon WRIGHT, who, for two nights, favored
by darkness, had successfully pursued their obser-
yatons but on the third night while returning to
their boat, they were surprised by small party oil
Mexican lancers, and Mr.. Rodgers and one seaman
were taken prisoners DR.. Wright made his escape
to the shore, where, joining the rest of his men
they pushed off and reached their vessel in safety.
Commodore CONNER arrived at Anton Lizardc
on the 18th instant He was on the Princeton
b,t hoo ri Al Nar
The sloop-of-war John adams was blockading
Vera Cruz. The frigate Potomac arrived att Green
Island on the 18th instant. The frigate Gambler
land sailed for Norfolk on the 9th instant.
Annexed is list of the men supposed to have
been lost in the wrecking of the Somers, from
which must be deducted the fifteen who, it has
since been ascertained, drifted ashore and were
taken prisoners by the Mexicans
Last Of officers and Men bst-Henry A. Clemson, act
ing Master John r. Hynson, Passed Midshipman VIM.
g. BIazier Ebenezer Terrell, Charles III. Haven James
Ryder, James Thompson, Charles Lowe, Thomas Young,
William Gillian, Matthias Gave, Major CAIN Dennis Kelly,
Alexander Anke Charles Mcfarland, James Fenne Chas
True, John Day. VIM. Purdy, Edward Mccormick, VIM.
Elsley, VIM. Quest John Hargrave, VIM. McCardy, John
Christopher Myers, Clement c. Wlen, Thomas MCGOWAN,
Joseph Antonio, Adolph Bemente, Manuel Howard, VIM.
w. Powers, Henry W. Spear, James Chapman, Lewis
Johnson, Jonatus Leopold Thomas Jefferson, William II.
Rose, Peter Hernandez.
List of officers and Men saped-R Semmes, Lieutenant
Commanding NJ G. l.. Claiborne, John l.. Parker, Lieu
tenants j. F. Steele, Purser John II. Wright, Passed
Assistant Surgeons Francis G. CLARK, Mdshpman; Ed
mund I. Stevens, Pursers Steward Jacob Hazard Yeo-
man Amos Colson, VIM. Johnson, Mathew Buck John
McCargo, John G. Van Norden, Charles Seymour, John
williamson John Pollen, John Smith, Henry S,rommell,
Thomas Mulhollen Geo. Wakefield, VIM. Keys, Francis
HARE, VIM. Toand, VIM. f. Thompson, Christopher Law
renee, Joseph Todd, Stephen Maynard Samuel Bennett,
Thomas d. Burns, VIM, Power, Joseph Skipsey Joseph
JONES' Charles Nutlee Washington Cooper, William Dix,
Francis A. Waldeon, James Chambers
We have been favored with the following Letter
from an Officer of the late brig Somers to Mem.
Der of Congress, received last evening"
U. s. FRIeATE RARIrAS, DECEMBER l3, 1896
Mr Dean SIN: You will simultaneously with this receiv
of tho melancholy the United States bril-
Somers, which capsized in norher off the harbor
Vera Cruz As the narration which has been written
full in its details of this awful occurrence will occup
your time by repetition of it.
Ny object in writing you this time call your atten
ton particularly the daring and devoted conduct of the off
and of the foreign men-ofwa lying at SACRIFICES
who rsked their lives in successful efforts
from the ocean, and to those who had gained Greer
Island, where they would otherwise have remained severn
days without food water and finally have been made pr
The narrative which you will in the newspaper
every way authentic, and will give you just but still ar
is the hope of all the officers here that the Government
will notice in honorable the devotion of these
officers As of the surviving officers of the Somers
should be my feelings of gratitude and admiration
for these gentlemen if did my humble opportunities
to call the attention of every member Of the Government
whom am permitted to address to the obligation which
them personally and also the testimonials due them
only from the service to which belong but the Govern
ment represent.
hope will be thought proper and just CALL in formal
manner for the of all the officers who commanded the
boats, and to award to them honorable testimonial
worthy Of the country, which gives only guaranty Of its
philanthropy in manesng due appreciation Of such devo
ton in behalf Of its officers and seamen exposed the
imminent perils.
am writing in great haste the of the sailing of
vessel, and have hardly time for revision.
Yours very truly and respectfully.
WISCONSIN. w