Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-17
INCIDENTS OF THE ATTACK ON VERA CRUZ


FROM CORRESPONDENTS OF TIE N o. DELTA.
MARcH 22At 10 o'clock to-day white flag was sent into
the city. The bearer OF it conveyed message from Major
General Scott addressed to Governor Morales commander
the Mexican forces This message a formal summons 10
surrender the city of Vera Cruz without further defence as the
General Chief of the American forces desired to avoid any
further blooished Gov. Morales replied in very dgnied
tone aud style of language IN substance that he sorry
he the of unnecessary booshed and loss of life but
that he had high and important duty perform involving
the honor of his army and the interests of his country
that he would surrender until he had exhausted every
means OF defence.
ngs and cleared away the masks to batteries they had
hitherto exposed notwithstanding they have kept 40
firing entertainments during the process Of
preparation, from the Castle Fort Santiago, and baston
front in the of the city
The conferences the begeent forces having con-
cluded at o'clock at the American battery, consisting Of
only moars commenced the bombarment the city
The shells fell into the place after the few first fires and ex
poded with much precision could have been d, sired
The city, from end to the other became enveoped
in cloud Of smokehe vivid and urd flashes of the ar
ry from their city batteries breaking through brief inter
vas and report after report followed other in quick
ceson until after the dusk of evening had passed. when they
comparatively ceased The round shot and shells fell heavy
and fast the entertainments behind which batteries
planted.
As soon as Com Perry perceived the land forces engaged
he ordered Capt Tana, with what is called the mosquito
Fleet" consisting of the steamers Spfre and Vixen and five
uuboats, viz Refer, Bonita rampco, Falcon, and Petre
TO attack Capt Tanal inquired at what point he should
engage Com Perry very emphacally replied, Wherever
YOU do the most execution sir" Accordingly the little
fleet took position under point of land known the Lime
Kiln about mile from tho city, where they projected
from point blank shot of the castle As they got
their position in line they opened fire OF round shot and
shell at rapid rate and threw them handsomely" into the
and Fort Santiago.
The castle paid its respects Capt Tatnall and the
powerful engines of havoc and destruction in full
blast from every quarter hurting their dreadful AMI deadly
missiles into each other ranks rapid succession which they
kept up until about dark when the Mexican tompaa
lively ceased, and the Mosquito Fleet also held OF for the
night.
At eight o'clock the party that were in the trenches were
relieved by another detail The troops who returned from the
entertainments literally covered with smoke and dust,
ad much dgured that they could not be recognised
cep by their voices Shell after shell exploded in Their midst
and shot after shot threw barrels of earth from the embank
mens their heads they lay in the trenches Their
ape to have been miraculous indeed and every
surprised that at least half of their number slain
March ga norher sprung up this morning, which has
been blowing uriousy all day, filling the air and covering
every body with sand The Mexican batteries have been
Iuiet with the exception of few shots about midnight when
they opened sharp fire for short time. Our have
ceased during the night but continued pour into the
city constant stream of fire. At time many as
shells in the air, the whole of which exploded the city
about the same time with terrific and deadly effect
Just as daylight approaching, Captain Tatnals Mos
quito Fleet weighed anchor aud under of
what couded approached within 60 yards of the castle AS
they had got their respective posi- IONS they opened
broadside from the fleet which answered by the castle
with great spirit, both by round shot and she'll Capt T.
continued the engagement for about half hour although
the signal from the Commodoes Ship calling him off had been
hoisted for time but suppose account
Of cloud of smoke which hung around the shipping. 4
This attack of Capt T. the castle considered Of
he most daring eas that has been attempted since the
Of hosities.
During the whole of to-day General Patterson in conunc
ton with the navy has been making the extraordinary
exeons to finish entertainment to plant marine battery
of hrea6 md tyo Laar
landed during the course Of the day from board different
vessels of
The officers and sailors have heretofore borne the bunt of
all the labor in landing the and munitions of war belong
ing the army, aud have applied themselves to it with an
energy that certainly entities them great credit but
that they had opportunity of participating in that part of
he expedition where honors be and aues CASHIER
ed they exerted themselves with almost superhuman eff
fort About two hundred volunteers and sailors attach
ed to each piece Of ordnance which by them conveyed
sandhs and hoows half knee deep sand and through
lagoon about two feet deep and seventy yards wde with
soft bottom They all placed in position, about three
miles from where they landed during the night The sailors
md the volunteers worked admirably together. |
During the early part of last evening the lighted
up by building fire, which gnted by the bomb.
shells impossible to tell what building it was but il
supposed by the engineers to be the Barracks As
the fire discovered from mortar battery was very
much gafed to observe the cessation of fire for,
cndeavong destroy their town,
compel them tn surrender H. with their other stronghods and
still humanity would require that
porary cessation of hoses should take place under such
War terrible its most modified form but
he besegng Of city like Vera Cruz when we know that
baterng down the houses fellow
heads but cannot tell whether DESTROYING the soldiers
real antagonstsor the and children And then
witness the burning houses lighting up the church spires
and domes OF the prominent buildings with the families
about on the tops Of the houses the utmost consern
ion and apparent despair do otherwise than excite
feeling of commiseraton.
MARCH 24-After the fire in town last night our batteries
again opened and continued until morning During the day
the army guns have worked very slow, account of short
supply Of ammunition, being prevented from landing any yes
terday by the norlher
Early in the day Gen Patterson let the town hear from
him The entertainments and guns entirely undiscov-
cred by the Mexcans until the sailor lads commenced I'M
masking. They soon commenced pouring into the city
and effective fire. until about ocock-their position
ing only hundred yards from the walls the town. and
with such range to enable them flank Of the o
fcations and works from whence the enemy was firing
The following is the size and weight of the guns with their
officers, as far as ] could learn them
PotomGc-Two 32pounders, 63 cwt Captain Aulick and
Lieut. Baldwin.
RarTtan-One 32-pounder, 63 cwt, Lieut. Ineersoll.
.Wssissibfd-One s.inch gun, 63 cwt., Lieut. Lee
.HbaHy-One s.inch gum 63 cwt., Lieut.. Perry.
81 .Hary's-One S-ineh gun, 63 cwt. Lieut. Kennedy.
The navy battery set the on FIRE again to-day.
The Mexicans did not fail return Gen Pal,ersons fire
with great energy and rapldty and sorry to say with
some eiect-klng and wounng 6-anong the latter was
Lieut.. Baldwin, of the Potomac.
AT o'clock the officers and from the navy were
eved BY the following Capt Mayo Lieuts Semmes De-
camp, Fraiey and Studman Passed Mishipmen Nelson
Cazer, and Wager Mldshpmen Shubrck. Joe Smith Ma