The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-04-20

- II AZ
ONLY seven mortars, commenced the bonn
bardment Of the city. The shells fell IN
to the place after the few first fires, and
exploded with as much precision as could
have been desired. The city, from one
end to the other, soon became enveloPed
in a cloud Of smoke-the vivid and lurid
flashes Of the artillery, from their city
batteries, breaking through it at brief inter
walls, and report after report followed each
other in quick succession, until alter the
dusk of evening had passed, when they
comparatively ceased. The round shot
and shells fell heavy and fast at the en-
trenchments behind which our batteries
were planted.
AS soon as Com. Perry perceived the
land forces engaged, he ordered Capt.
Tatnall, with what is called the "Mosqui-
to Fleet" consisting of the steamers Spit
fire and Vixen, and five gunboats, viz:
Refer, Bonita. Tampico, Falcon, and Pc
trel. to attack. Capt. Tatn2ll inquired at
what point he should engage Com.
Perry very emphatically replied, "Wher-
ever you can do the most execution, SIR"
Accordingly the little feet took position
under a point ofland known as the @Llme
Kiln about a mile from the city, where
they were protected from a point blank
shot of the castle. As soon as they got
their position IN line they opened a fire
of round shot and shell at a rapid rate,
and threw them handsomely" into the
town and Fort Santiago.
The castle soon paid its respects to
f! Capt. Tatnall, and the powerful engines
| Of havoc and destruction were now in full
blast from every quarter. hurting their
dreadful and deadly missiles INTO each
others ranks in rapid succession, which
they kept up until about dark, when the
Mexican battaries comparatively ceased,
and the "Mosquit0 Fleet" also held of
for the night.
At eight O'Clock the party that were IN
the trenches were relieved by another de-
tail. The troops who returned from the
Entertainments were literally covered with
smoke and dust, and so much d~isigured
that they could not be recognised except
by their voices. Shell after shell expio-
ded in their midst, and shot after shot
threw barrels of earth from the embank-
ments over their heads as they lay in the
trenches. Their escape seems to have
been miraculous indeed, and every person
is surprised that at least one half OF their
number were no slain.
MARCH ga norther sprung up this
morning, which has been blowing furious
ly all day, filling the air and covering eve
ry body with sand. The Mexican bat
tcries have been quiet, with the exception
Of a few shots about midnight, when they
opened a sharp fire for a short time
Our mortars have not ceased during the
night, but continued to pour into the city
a constant stream of fire. At one time |
saw as many as six shells in the air, the
whole of which exploded in the city a.
bout the same time with a terrific and
deadly effect.
Just as daylight was approaching, Cap
tain Tatnall's Mosquito Fleet weighed
anchor, and, under cover of a moon some
what c!ouded, approached within 600
| yards Of the castle. As soon as they had
got their respective positions, they opened
a broadside from the fleet, which was an
swered by the castle with great spirit,
both by round shet and shell, Capt. T..
continued the engagement for about half
an hour, although the signal from the
C~ommodore's ship, calling him off had
been hoisted for some time; but | sup
pose was not seen on ccoun OF a cloud
Of smoke which hung around the ship
ping.
This attack of Capt I. on the castle
is considered one of the most daring feats
that has been attempted since the COM
mencement Of hostilitles.
During the whole of to-day General
| Patterson, in con JUNCTION with the navy,
has been making the most extraordinary
exertions to finish an entrenchment to
! plant a marine battery, consisting OF three
| 6s's and two long 32's, which have been
landed during the course Of the day from
| on board different vessels Of war.
The officers and sailors have heretofore
borne the brunt of all the labor in landing
the arms and munitions of war belonging
to the army, and have applied themselves
to it with an energy that certainly entities
them to great credit; but now that they
had an opportunity of participating IN
that part OF the expedition where honors
are to be won and laurels gathered, they
exerted themselves with an almost super
human effort. About two hundred vol
unteers and sailors were attached to each
piece Of ordnance, which was by them
conveyed over sand-hills and hollows half
knee deep in sand, and through a lagoon
about two feet deep and seventy yards
wide, with a soft bottom. They were all
placed in position, about three miles from
where they landed, during the night
The sailors and the volunteers worked