Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-13
ARrILr.ERY HEADQUARTERS.

Sir--I have Ike honor t. report, L.: nc ;nior-
nation Of The seneral-in-chef, that, on ihc2Sl m
slant and as soon as line chlei engineer had It.
por,ed that The batteries we've sufficiently ad-
vanccd to receive seven moilars, placed Thai
number IN battery. 81 , O'clock on that day
vas prepared 10 open the fire upon The city OF
Vera Cruz. a, qaarier pas; received the or
der OF The general in.chiel TO commence flrins on
The civ. anc he batteries Nos. l, 2 and 3 were
opened with great animation and apparent ehec'
From the moment The batteries opened on The
afternoon OF The 2,a instant, The fire has been il
cessanl dav and night.
On the 22d and daring The night, battery No.
| was under the command OF capt. Brooks, OF
the 81 artillery; battery No. : under ss charge
of Lieutenant Shackehord, Of The 81 artillery;
and battery No : under lhr charge Of Capt. Vin-
ION. of the Sd artillery, and until lhe hour OF bis
death, abou, O'Clock, p. M, when nc command
tc-olyed upon Lieutenant Vanvlie,, 81 artillery.
The severe loss 10 The army by The death Of
Captain Vinton, was the only loss we sustained
on The first day. Several OF the men we're Slight
ly wounded.
The fire from rhe cry and from the cas- lie on
our batteries, with shot, shells and rockets, has
been in;eYmil,cJ. bu, with very bTiei periods.
sinre we opened our ate les; and we r,c:' as
critc our safcrr, nne,r such q heavy and cen
slant fire, 10 the skill and science OF shc officers
O. engineers in The obstruction .. our batteries.
From The morning oil The 23d 10 this morning,
the batteries have t"en in charge OF Captain Me-
kcnzic, OF the ID artillery, and Capt. Anderson
aad 2ievet Capt !a:ot, OF The I'll artillery.
Yesterday, about IL O'Clock, M, was able to
place three more uC..t.s in battery, but owing
10 the hiehncss Of The wind, the shells could nc
be landed from The store ship, and cur fire o'ihis
time has hcin very moderate, not exceeding one
fire in every FIVE miauies.
Las. night snccceded in moving three 80
FOUNDER guns 10 battery No 4, with The neces
sary ammunition and implements which have
been placed in battery.
one more 2l-pounoer and Two inch how-
gers will be moved Out tonight, and tomorrow
morning, las we thall doubtless obtain supply
oil shells today The storm having abated sufficient
w TO land them shall he aole to open the icur
batteries with ten moriars; four 24-poundcrs and
two inch howtZers, with incTea>e Ell effect, and
renewed vigor
can bear testimony from personal observa-
ton, to the skill and sallaairy Of all lie officers
detailed on artillery service under my direction,
and of the cheerulness and steadiDcss OF The men
in ths performance o. their iaborious duties.
have The honor 10 be, respectfully, your ODE
dent servant JAMES BANK HEAD,
81 Artillery, Chief Of Artillery.
III. oCQTT, ACL 1uJ oeH., Aiuiy L1eaufuat'eis'
ARTILLERY HEADoUARTERs.
Camp Washington, March "A, '41-5 MS
Sir: since my report OF this date of operations
in The batteries 40 10 O'Clock, a m, the hour
when The troops are relieved, have 10 safe for
the information Of The senera-in.chiet That he
eneruy opened b;isl fire on our batteries soon
after sunrise this morning wi'hru, any etlsc'; hit
about 10 O'Clock, most Of their batteries were
again opened On US and one man Of company
B." ID artillery, was killed al battery No. !, and
lhice men were severely wounded
A she'll fell into battery No. g. where four men
Of company "F,a "a artillery, were Wounded
The she'll teiI on one OF the raouars, breaking The
mortar bed and throwing The mortar thirty tee,
iion The platform. Anoiher nortar he'd can he
obtanrd from The ordnance depot, aud the mortar
will be reinoInted
We have been restrained from The want of shells
from throwing more THAI ol.e every five minutes
during The day. q full supply will be in place
to night, and as soon as lis dark. enoushdo send
them 10 The batteries without being observed by
The entlny.
Am, very respectfully, your oSedienl servant,
JAS. BANkaEAD,
Second Artillery, Chief of Artillery,
To L. Scorr,. Acting Adju'ant General, Army
Headquarters.