The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-09
ed and convinced the Mexcsns that his previous
oessncs from desire 10 protect the property OF

ed, and convinced the Mexicsns that his previous for
neutrsls
captain of neutral vessel who shore dur
ing the commandment reports that the enemy had ex.
pressed themselves confidently that they could beat off
any force that might attemp cut out the Condor
tiat our nre mad been destructive the buildings;
that one of Paxhan shells had exploded in the in
side OF house aud turned inside out and 30 great
.e 'S,ee Oh our 80 pound shot that one had gone
and that SIX persons As far IA he could
ascertain none were killed 1t was reported subse
qusnuy mat several oil the enemy killed. The
Cysne lef the harbor the 9th without moderation
We now set msnfuliy at our remaining work. which
was to cut out the only Mexican vessel har
Dor he neutrals had hauled they were directed)
This was the brig Condor. anchored within pistol shot
Of the town. and within short musket range Of their
troops, concentrated behrd the hill have before mem
toned She evidently was not burned when the gwn-
boats were on account Of her being completely
covered by their combined forces. lying far
behiod this hill that they could fire upon her their
protected position without exposing themselves to the
ships guns Our launch, with her gun a ia pound car.
ronsde mounted In her bows and the third cutter
called away with their crews armed and equipped
Lieut. q. w Harrison, command OF the expedition in
the launch, with Mid. hipman H. N Crabb and Acting
Boatswan James Collins The third cutter, with Lieut.
some extra small arm men, showed OFF hall past
eleven Lying on their oars few minutes alongside,
nent remarks setting forth the necessity Of his sending
them upon hazardous expedition wishing them to
from her exposed position, how they would have
handled the gun boats. The officers and in the
that every man was disappointed that selected
for the expediton-gave way and pulled directly for
the brig. We at opened the fire from the ship upon
the town with round and she'll shot, concentrating the
fire upon tho government buildings, which, fortunately
formed q space between thus hill behind which the
military lay, and where the Condor lying Our fire
had the effect to make the troops withdraw little find
greater security behind the highest part Of the hills
soon saw that our shot and shells wore doing fearful
ecuton by the holes in the walls Of the houses As the
enemy did not open upon our boats immediately
fire slackened for fear that our she'll might burst
bel n and l0 in IN
people.
When our boats boarded the Condor, the enemy, with
three cheers, opened upon them with vollsys Of
kerry and peunder charged with grape and round
shot, and cuverine situated within musket range OF
sumed, and well directed, tina, prevented the
my frem approaching the Condor, combining them be.
and shells. Their fire also warmly returned by our
launch's and the small armed drawn up the
with an axe and our men were heaving cheeriy upon
the hawser running to the Hedge anchor, which they
had dropped as they approached the brig, with of she
In the time, the ensmy's fire became hot that
Lieut. Ha rson ordered the brig to be fred fearing the
boats might be disabled. This work done under
showers OF balls. they receiving the hlo of
least FIVE hundred muiks.. When she was warped up
to the kedge she taken In tow by the boats II
at this moment that the enemy had eXultation,
ing the boats pulling away from the brig and not OBJ
serving the hawser which slack, they thought the
boats beaten oil, but they soon saw tho hawser
tighten and the brig follow the boats the LIST
sent to assist in towing in charge Of Acting Master F.
Stenson The brig was out Of range Of the
mys musketry, the fire far gnited, she was tow.
ed to leeward OF US, and the boats cast of we
ceased firing our officers and joyously re.
ceived--not man injured, which seemed miracu.
lous-the briggs side, and masts full OF shot,
and one OF our launchs broken by grape shot,
the only injury done 1t seems quite STAINED and
fabulous to me, eyewitness when written,
to you, that two boais with about fifty men, should be
exposed to great fire from twenty to thirty minutes
without sustaining injury; but such is the whole truth
believe you may search naval records in vain for bet
ter planned or more completely executed expedition
Its entire success, without the highest evidence Of
is just conception and its gallant execution The spirit
that lighted the ripoIi still alive in navy.
The old spirit Ia not buried, but raised up.
IL must be recoleced this cut Ing made at mid
day, and previous notice given The truth is enemy
did net open their FIRE upon boats until they board
ed the brig when with three cheers they opened upon
thom, believing they had every bagged that
eacn Of their shot There be doubt tn they felt
that they had them trapped IRON their exuaon. Never
did set OF men behave BETTE than ours did.