Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-04-17
From the Phila. Ledger, 18th ins,


Omciai Despasches oS General Scott.
GiCing an Account of The JaN Surrender,
and Unconditional Cnpi,nl"iion Of the City
Of Vera Cruz, and The Castle Of San Juan
DUhon
The Washington Union, Of Saturday evening,
brings us the Official Dispatches from General
Scott and Com Perry, giving their report Of the
grand achievement Of the American Arms, which
we laid before our readers by Overland Express,
on Saturday morning. The documents are quite
voluninous, and we merely therefore give the
most important Of them in our Extra.
The following are the dispatches and docu.
menfs giving the actual results.
IiEAD QUARTERS OF TINE ARMY.
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz,
March 2:', ls47.
Sir-Yesferdny. seven OF our ten.inch NOR.
,srs being ~ the battery. and the lnbors for
planting the remainder OF our heavy metal be.
ing in progress, I addressed, at two o'clock. y.
81, 4 summons to the Governor Of Vera Cruz.
and within the two hours limited by the benrer
Of the flag, received the Governors answer
ropics Of the two papers. (marked respectively
A and b. are herewith enclosed.
II will be perceived that the governor, who,
| il turus out, il the commander o. both places.
chose. sgninst the plain terms Of the summons,
| TO suppose me TO have demanded the surrender
of the castle and the city-when, in fact from
the non.arrival Of our heavy mctal-princ;Pnlly
mor'ors-l was in no condition 10 threaten the
former.
On the return Of the flag, with that reply,
at once ordered the seven mOrtars in battery,
to rpen upon the city. In short time the smal.
Ter vessels Of Comm'dore Perry's squadron
two steamers and five notwithstanding to
previous arrangement with him, approached the
city w,'hin about mile and an eighth, whence
being partially covered from the cas,le-an es
sentIal condition to their snie,y-'hey also open
ed brink fire upon the city. This has beer
continued, unintcrrup,edly, by the nortars, an,
only with a few intcrmissions, by the vessels
mp to nine o'clock this morning when tho com
modoIe very properly called them OIL from
P"siiion too daringly assumed.
Our three remaining mortars are now az o
click, NJ in battery, and the whole ten in &C
'ivi'y. Tomorrow, carly, if the city shou
continue obstinate. batteries Nos 1 and ) vii
be ready Ia add their fire: No. 1. consisting o
four "a Founders and two inch Paxhan guns
and No :, (naval batrery) OF three 32.ponnder
and three inch Paiyhans--,he guns, officer
and sailors landed from ,bc squadron-our friend
of the navy being nnrcmiliing in their zcalu
cooperation, in every mode and form.
So tar, NC know that our FIRE upon the cit
has br,n highly ,ilrctvs--particularly from h
batteries of l0,,nch mortsrs, planted at obou
500 yards from ths city. lncludinp the prepa
,alion aud defence of the batteries, from III
b"g'nning-now many days-and noiwitf
stsnding the heavy fire of the enemy, IRON ih
city aud castl.-ws have only had iunr or nv
men wounded, and one officer and one man ki
led, in or near the trenches. That officer Wa
Captain John X. Wilton, of the United State
ID artillery. one of the most talented, accom-
. plishcd, and effective members of the arm,
and who was highly distinguished in the bril-
liant operations at Monterey. lie ieli, las
, evening. in the trenches, where he was on du'
as field and commanding officer, universally rs
gre,,ed. have just attended his honor'd rs
mains to q soldiers grave-in full view OF III
enemy aud within reach of his guns.
Thirteen Of the long needed mortars-lea,
ing 81, besides heavy guns. behind-hsve sri,
eJ and two of them landed A heavy northe
then sc, in (st tneridisn) that stopped that opel
alton, and alec the landing Of shells. Hence III