Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-18
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
U. S. FL.o SHIP MISSISSIPPI d
htsao off Vero C.n7 pril % lSd7 4


possession, and conceiVing il 10 be point OF ho.
nor, as well as duty, 10 reclaim the guns taken
by the enemy from The wreck OF The Trnxon,
and mounted with others for the defence OF the
river and town, determined on attacking il, and
left SACRIFICES in this ship for that purpose on The
18th inst, having in low the steamers Spiihre,
Vixen and Scourge, and the gun-boats Bonita,
Pe,re and ReeteI, with a detachment OF three
hundred officers, seamen and marines from the
Ohio, distributed in This and the smaller vessels.
On The following day we arrived al Looos Inc
appointed place OF rendezvous. The RarllaD,
with detachment Of one hundred and eighty OIL
fcers, seamen and marines from the Potomac,
added 10 her own complement The Albany,
John Adams and Germantown, with the bomb
vessels Vesuvius, Etna, and Hecia, had been pre-,
viousy despatched for Lobos where they arrived
in good time, and were subsequently joined oy Inc
Decatur.
On the 18th, all the vessels lett Lobos for the
anchorage, under Tuxpan reef, but were separat-
ed during The night by norther. Having again
concentrated on the morning Of the 9TH The whole
of that day was employed in tightening the small
ves.elsln sounding and buoyng the channe! of
the bar, and In o;her preparations for ascending
the river.
The following morning (the l8h) The bar was
Afely crossed by the steamers and gun-boatS
bith about thirty barges filled with detachments
Y Ing with them four pieces of artillery.
After crossing The bar, ! hoisted my dag on
board the Spitfre, and Immediately led up the
river 10 The attack; the steamers having the gun
boats and barges in tow, until We got into The
range OF fire OF the enemy, when ordered them
10 cast off the gun-boats 10 follow up the river un.
der sail, and the attachments in the barges 10 land
with the artillery, and storm The forts and town.
These orders were executed with extraordinary
rapidly, while the Fota continued its course up
the river and driving, by its well directed hire, The
enemy from bis defences.
The dispositions Of the enemy for defence were
ludicious they consisted of two iorls on the right,
and one on the left bank OF The river, with posi-,
lions well selected for commanding The reaches Of
the stream. They had seven guns mounted, and
detachments of infantry firing from the iorls ana
the thick chapparal along The margin oil Inc ieH
bank.
General Cos, chief OF The Winward military
division OF The Mexican army, was in command,
and had with him, as is believed from the evil
dence OF his order-book, about six hundred and
fity rank and file.
But il the dispositions for defence were judi
cious, the defence itself was feeble; though had II
been more Obstinate the results would have been
the same, for cannot exaggerate the inGepdiy
ofour officers and men, or say too much oil the
spirit that animated them.
The Truxton's guns were brought of, and the
others destroyed; the forts were also destroyed.
Our loss in the attack has been small four
teen killed and wounded. The enclosed papers,
leuered A, B, C and D, will furnish all neces-
sary details.
The Albany and Refer have been left 10 watch
Tuxpan: the Hecla is ordered 10 blockade Soto
de Marina; the E,na to occupy the river Ia
basco; and the Vesuvius and Porpoise the port
OF Laguna, while the Germantown is securing
the coast north OF LobOS.
| am, sir, with great respect, your mos ooedlent
servant, M. U. PEhRf,
Commanding Home Squadron.
The Hon. JOHN Y Mason, Secretary OF the Navy,
Washington.
UNITED STATES STEAMER MISSISSIPPI,
Of Tuxpan Bar, April %, ls47.
Sir: have 10 repor, the following list Of killed
and wounded in the action Of the 18th inst, viz
Kilkd-Lewis Clayton, seaman OF The United |
States ship Ohio; Antonio Francis, seaman OF the |
United States ship Decatur; John Griffin, seaman
Of the United States ship Rarian, were murdered
BY the rancheros, on the 18th inst.
Wounded -Commander Tatna Of the United
States steamer Spit6re, flesh wound Of right wrist;
James Mccain, seaman, United States steamer |
Spiihre, severe wound Of right elbow-lon; Flag
Lienl James L. Parker, United Stales steamer
Mississippi, aid 10 the Commodore, severe wound |
United States ship Ohio, flesh wound ut right leg
Lieutenant Hals,ine, Uniied States B. brig Hec
la, flesh wound OF right wrist and thigh; Hiram |
Townsend, ordinary seaman, United States ship
Potomac, severe wound OF right thigh; Andrew
Sweeney, seaman, United States ship German
town, flesh wound of lei, shoulder; Henry Q.
Hart, boy, United States ship Germantown, Sigh;
wound of RICH, cheek James McCullen, boy,
United States steamer Mississippi, slight wound
Ct sish! hand GemmaPfsr MaSAsp7ie qji6a
while on duty. on The 18th, accidentally; John
Monroe, seaman, United States steamer Missis-
sippi, severe wound in left hand with loss OF
thumb, while on duly al guardhouse, on night OF
2ist.
1t is with pleasure inform you that the above
wounded are doing well.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
SOLOMON SHARP, Surgeon.
To Commodore NJ. C. PERRY,
Commanding Home Squadron.
(B3 /
The expedition against Tuxpan consisted OF
The following force, all under The command OF
Commodore NJ. G. Perry:
The steamer Spithre, Commander J. Tanall |
The steamer Vixen, Commander J. K. Sands |
The schooner Bonita, Lieutenant Commanding |
T. G. Benham.
The schooner Pe,rel, Lieutenant Commanding |
#. D. Shaw.
The schooner Refer, Lieutenant Commanding |
Thos. Turner.
The steamer Scourge Lieutenant Command
ing S. Lockwood.
Delachmenls OF officers and men from the dill
ferent vessels of The squadron forming The land
ing party III command Of Captain Samuel l..
Breeze.