The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-20
Commodore M. c. PERRY,
Commanding Home Squadron.
u. S. STEAMER SpITFIRE, June

U. S. STEAMER SpIrFIRE, June 90, 1877.
SIR: Agreeably to your order that | should furnish
you with report of the skrmish between detachment
of seamcn from this vessel and party OF Mexlcans,
yesterday evening" have state that after the exercise
of small arms and field artillery in the plaza marched
my men back OF the Spanish consuls house, intending to
take them through the different Streets for the purpose OF
giving confidence to the inhabitants AT the back OF the
consus house my attention was very much attracted by
the facilities with which enemy OF ordinary capacity
could approach directly to the plaza without lear OF de
econ sentries could perceive them, and followed
the PATH the marks Of those 6aa wG ea
evidence that this path had been used by the Mexcans
We tracked them to house not musket-sh shot IRON the
square, where they had evidently left their horses,
which we supposed to have been twelve fourteen by
the appearances. This path brought us into the main
street, and was about to return to the plaza, when
muskes fired by officer and three men, whom
had sent in advance TO give the alarm, i necessary
TO the spot and found that they had fired on the
mounted pcquei guard OF the MeXlcans, who immediate
y reiterated Here, appears, the Mexcans had rem
dezvoused Tor some days. Judging from their res being
still lighted and the marks of soldiers; and after recon-
NOTHING the place. marched about again. with the lnten-
{ton OF returning TO the plaza not thinking prudent to
go any farther We had not returned twenty yards be-
fore were attacked in the rear by large body Of
men-- should say hundred, Judging from their
heavy fre-and ordered the Immediately to attack
Them which they did with great spirit, and followed
them up from bush to bush, and house to house Al
this time had with me only twenty men and tour OIL
GERS but carbines, consisting OF twenty-five men,
up when they heard the firing, and took position on
the right side OF the road where they kept up CALLING
the Mecans ceased entirely and they had left their po
sition. The damage we did the enemy am unable to
state, as only saw two men fall myself Not knowing
what force the enemy might be in, made search, but
marched my into town, bringing in the wounded
one severely hurt, and one other slightly.
| These the facts connected with the case. No men
could have behaved better than the officers and
while under heavy fire and opposed to an invisible
enemy who shooting at them from every bush:
They showed admirable adaptation to this species OF
fighting and but for the imprudence OF one or wo we
should not have had man hurt.
| Much TO my surprise, the Meycans behaved with
spirit, and yielded their ground apparently with great
luctance. This convnces me that they were in much
greater force than | had al first estimated.
| do not think any danger whatever is TO be appre
hended from an attack the town from the class of
men we encountered They what is termed regu-
lars, but their firing bad that it was completely
thrown away.
have since learned that they retreaed that night to
! the nearest village
Very respectfully, your obedlent servant,
DAVID d. PORTER, Lieut. Cong.
| Commander G. }. VAN BRUNT, Governor of Tabasco.