The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-14

sponges and rammers 2s2 handspikes; IL worms 30 lin
stocks 81 pass-boxes.
Taken IN the forts of Vera Cus-6 s-neh s c. howit-
zers, w. 7. foundry, mounted West Point iron car
riages 2pognder iron guns, w. p E., mounted; 81
FOUNDER iron gum mounted 2ipounder bronze guns,
Snew' mounted on French barbetie carriages lsPound
or . T. ana GAVIN and bronze guns, mounted; 20 10
FOUNDER bronze guns; 2-pounder do. 9pounder do
mor on S Sed dS Z sG III
beds; lOnch 5. c. mortar, dismounted
very old guns unit for use yery old isneh s C. NOR
al plaque nah for use 80 snch Shells strapped ana
rockets.
Taken from troops on The 6eM-iGs escopets 1926 mus
kets 1878 musket announcements standards; 20 car
6nes 2oi noncomm ssioned officers swords 90 drums
- bugle trumpeIs, horns flies II band Instruments
izz sets escopet accoutrements.
Besides the articles noticed the invoice there large
quantities OF ammuoon implements, small arms, stand
ards, &c., stored nhe magazines of the town and castle
These magazines could be examined mnulely at the
first visit
The English seem better than the French understand
the condition of things in Mexico. The London Chron
cle OF May 18th holds this language:
St considering the vastaddtions that been made
the Notifications and batteries of the citadel of San Juan
de Uloa since the French attack upon it, confess
surprised the intelligence of its fall Vera Cruz might
well become United States Gibraltar"
In conclusion, it ought TO be remarked that no compar
son be instituted between the operations of the
vestment and vigorous bombardmen OF the city of Vera
Cruz followed by the Simultaneous reduction of both
city and castle Had the city held out1twelye hours
longer, would have been assaed by Storm for which
purpose ample preparations had been made and then
would have been witnessed spectacle appalling
than any recorded in the history of this continent None
doubt what the result of the combined attack of the
naval and land forces upon the castle would have been
|
city Notwithstanding the rodgious difference in the ar
mament OF the former since the French triumpha diff
ference which had converted very slender
of resistance into which well entitled the castle
to be termed at tho time it fell into hands, the Glib
raltar of America" But, thank Heaven our army and
navy spared the experiment and the Frenchman
might well have abstaned from unmeaning and UNI
just comparison between the navy of France and that Of
the United States.
1t is certain that government anticipated fierce re-
sistance from the castle after the reduction of the city,
the possession of which regarded only means of
efecng a greater Interior object For this end, prepa
rations were made on scale commensurate with the inn
portance of the occasion Fifty ten inch mortars and
hundred thousand shells had been sent down to Vera
Cruz, to be used by the army in a combined attack by
land and water Had the castle not surrendered with
the city, mortar batteries would have been established
behind the walls of the latter, sheltered from the direct
fire of the enemy and would have played desructively
upon the fortress Under such fire, aer the range had
been obtaned,) it would have been impossible for the
Mexicans to have stood to their guns AT the time,
the squadron, with its powerful batteries, might, almost
with IMMUNITY. have reduced this formidable work to
level with the Thry-sY hours would have been
more than sufficient to accomplish its utter demolition
But the experience of the siege alone had demonstrated
the hopelessness of resistance, and the garrison wisely
submitted; afordng thereby to triumph of far
more surprising glory than any which could have re-
suited from mere, though crushing display OF our phys
cal force.