Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-18
OFFICIAL.
UNITED STATES fLAs .Hrr MISSISSIPPI,

AT sea OF Vera Cruz. April "a. is47.
SIR Tu1psn being the only fortified place OF
situated on the gull coast, in and con-
ceiving to be point OF honor well as duy 10 reclaim
inc guns taken by the enemy from the wreck Of the Trux
'o ana mounted WITH Others tor the defence OF the
and town. determined on attacking it, and left SACRIFICES
in this ship for that purpose the 18th instant having i'm
tow the steamers Spre Vixen and Scoutge and the Gun
boats bono' ie'fe and Refer with detachment Of three
hundred oheets seamen, and marines the Ohio
uibn,ed in this and the smaller vessels ON tho following
day we anved at Lobos the appointed place of
WIN ae'aehment OF one hundred and eighty
oheers seamen and marines from the Potomac added TO
her own complement. The ALBANY John Adams and Ger
manown, with the bomb-vcsses vesuvus Etna and He
ca had been previously despatched for Lobos where they
arrived in good hme and subsequently, Joined by the
Decatur.
On the 18th, all the vessels left Lobos for the anchorage
under IuSPan reel but separated during night by
norther. Having again concentrated on the morning Of
the l1ih the whole OF that day employed in tightening
'he small vessels IN sounding and buoyng the channel
the par and IN other preparations for ascending river
The following morning (the lSihl the bar was safely
crossed by the steamers and boats with about thirty
barges hled with detachments from the different vessels
at anehor outside having with them four pieces OF artle
~.
After crossing the bar hos,ed my flag on board the
Spiihre, and Immediately led up the the attack
the steamers having the gunboas and baryes tow
nj we got into the range of fire OF the enemy when or
deed them 10 off the gun to follow up the ryer
under sail and the attachments in the barges land with
the artillery and storm the forts and town. These orders
were executed with extraordinary rapidy while the Flo
s continued lis course up the rver, and driving by its
wen directed h'e, the enemy from his detences.
Ihe dispositions o! the tor defence udciou,
hey consisted OF two forts the right and the
bank OF the river, with positions well selected for COM
mandng the reaches OF the They seven guns
mounted and attachments of infantry firing forts
and the thick chaPpaa along the margin Of the left bank
Cen Cos. chief Of the wnward military division of the
Mexican army, was in command, and had with him.
believed from the evidence OF his order-book about ESQ
rank and file.
but II the dispositions for defence were judicious the
defence itself eeble though, had been
nate the results would have been the same for
exaggerae the nlrepdiy OF officers aud men, or say
too much OF the spirit that animated them.
The ItuNton's guns brought oil, and the Others
destroyed; the forts were also destroyed
Our loss in the attack has been small-iourteen killed
aud wounded The enclosed papers, etteed A, B. and
ID, will furnish all necessary details
The Albany and Refer have been left to watch Tux
pan; the Hecla ordered blockade Soto dc IA Marina
the Etna 10 occupy the river Tabasco aud the Vesuyu
and PorPose the port OF LaRuns while the Germantown
is securing the north OF Lobos.
am, SIR with great respect, your obedient ser
want. NJ C. PERRY
Commanding Home Squadron.
The Hon JoRN Y MVsoS, Secretary of the Navy Wash
ngton.