Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-06
THE sToRMING OF VERA CRUZ.

THE STORMING OF VERA CRUZ.
The correspondent OF The N. o. Tropic, refer
ring TO The threatening 'norlhers" which will de-
lay the landing of the howlzers, thinks that the
attack cannot be commenced until about the 2olh
or Dist March. The city itself is now complete
ly beleaguered:
The navy can have but little 10 say in the mat
ler-her position seems 10 be misunderstood. II
may be we'll 10 say that no attack will be made
directly upon San Juan de Ulloa, until The city
is in our hands. Our lines will then be brought
near the walls, and snch ships as may be, manned
with Paixhan guns, and supplied with shells;
such bomb-krlehes as may be sent down from
The United States, and such batteries OF his big
guns as Col. Bomford may have prepared and
Shipped will al once be opened upon the Castle
moi 10 beat it down, nor 10 make an effective
breach in lis walls, but to render the climate too
warm Tor Mexican courage 10 flourish in.
Before even this step is laken, the place will
be completely invested, and hunger may indeed
render recourse TO The method spoken OF unneces-
sary.
No fears need be entertained, fancy, that The
Castle will open upon The CITY, when The latter
enters into our possession. think Mexican bru-
tally falls far short OF such an atrocily. Be This
as il NAV, am assured that Gen. Scott will
not quarter his troops in The city, bur along the
lines outside until the Castle may be reduced
His army will then, OF course, retire 10 the noun
lains, leaving al Vera Cruz only force sufi-
cient 10 act as garrison.
From letters in The N. o. Times we make
lew interesting extracts:
All daylight on the 10Th, our troops formed in
line OF baule and marched forward. At8 A. NJ,
thew got two howizers Of Captain Tolco!t's 4lh
artillery, to bear on The enemy which soon caus-
ed hem 10 retreat, our troops following closely al
their heels, and driving them from height 10
height, in dreadful hot sun, and among high
sand hills. Al A, P. M, our troops, after hay-
inc had several skirmishes with the enemy, got
possession OF The high hills al the back Of Vera
Cruz within the range OF the enemy's bomb
shells which formed quite an interesting scene to
us. bursting in The air, and some OF them falling
down harmless in The sand hills. One OF them
we picked up, was nothing less than Is inch
shell. There were also several Is and "A pounds
shot, Our troops, The meanwhile, were very qui-
ely approaching and cutting of the supplies OF
the CITY. The men had this night very good
sleep. and were not at all disturbed AT daylight,
The lllh, Thursday we had over twenty pieces
Of cannon on shore. The enemy woke US up
with morning salute OF few bombs and rock
els: all this day employed in getting camp equi
page, tents, and provisions on shore, until 5, T
NJ, when our troops had another brush with the
enemy; report coming in that there were l5t
Mexican Vas II General ss5 ou. 40 no
Worlh's tents, and did not hear Of Il, Ar ( p
NJ, letl the shore. after having proposed 10 Gen
erals Scoll and Worth 10 IL. tur,i uui ,uips in
10 bomb kelches, 10 lie within gun shot OF Vera
Cruz, 10 the eastward OF the point in ten feet wa
ter and blow The town down. am TO have ar
answer; they will give il their thoughts; and
perhaps, which ardeniiy desire, their approval
Commodore Conner's fleet consists Of Two frigales
three slooTs OF war; one brig do, three seamers
and FIVE gun-boals, all OF which lie very comior
tably under the Island OF SACRIFICES, surrounded
by American merchantmen and foreign vessels o
war out of shot reach of the enemy.
p. S. | had forgotten 10 tell you that our troop:
had taken the enemys powder magazine, outside
OF the city, but there was very Little munitions o.
war in it. General Worth has been shown the
aqueduct leading the water 10 the city. Las
night he had il cut of. We have nearly sur
rounded the city, and OF course cut of all sup
plies from them. They have only two thousand
regular troops, and one thousand militia in The
town, and but little provisions 10 subsisl on. II
we do not whip them out, we will starve them
out.
U. S. Gulf SQUADRON,
OF Vera Cruz, March Is, 1917
Gentlemen seize moment OF leisure, al a
late hour OF The night, 10 write 10 you and give
you an outline OF The movements OF the army and
navy for the past three days. On the morning Of
the 9Th instant, the squadron got under way from
Anton Lizardo with the squadron OF transports,
having on board General SCOTS army-the
"fying artillery OF the squadron" as The small
steamers and schooners are collaborating the
lead Al 4 o'clock, p. M, the schooners anchor
ed within one-quarler OF a mile OF the shore, and
The Decentralization Of the troops commenced BY
all the boats Of the squadron. AT dark body Of
dragons oil the Mexcans made their appearance
on The hills, but were soon dispersed by the fire
kept from The steamer Spilfirc and schooner Petrel.
On the 10Th renewed activity secured the landing
OF all the troops, the enemy appearing in great
numbers on neighboriDg hill. They were al
lacked and driven from their position. In an hour
or two they took stand on the summit OF another
hill; our gallant little army pushed on and dis.
lodged them; they retreaied During The night,
they attacked our army with a large body
Of cavalry-report says fifteen hundred-in
which The MeIicans met with great loss one
hundred killed, many wounded, and fifty horses
taken. During this time, the guns on the city
walls kept up very severe firing on our troops,
while small fort and The castle were firing on
our small vessels. On The morning Of The llth,
the main body of The Mexicans, 1900 cavalry,
1000 infantry and artillery, engaged our forces,
and they were completely defeated, horse, loot
and dragons. All behaved most gallanily, and
our loss was most surprisng-but Two killed and
three wounded; amongstthe wounded was the GAL
LIANT Lieut.. Col. Dickerson, OF the South Carroll
ma volunteers. One of the Pennsylvania regi-
mens of volunteers is spoken OF in high praise.
They attracted attention from The fact that when
The Mexican cavalry charged Oh them, there SEEM
ed to be moment Of faller; in an instant they
recovered, and charged on The enemy like tigers
winning great praise. But this is due 10 all ;
the whole army are the most determined SET OF
men ever saw. Their motto appears 10 be "Do
or die"
Our naval force is loo small TO dream of al
lacking the Castle boldly and upon lis front; but,
understand that all the smaller vessels are 10
go in close 10 the town and in shore, side of the
Castle 10 day or tomorrow: certainly as soon as
General Scott and Commodore Conner give the
signal for general attack. The Navy is in a
perfect state OF frenzy 10 gel at The castle and
town; they are working like horses, day and night,
10 gel The army Appliances on shore-guns, hor
ses, provisions, etc. This all done, the army will
attack The city By land, and The navy by waller
The next news you hear, hope will be the sur
render of Vera Cruz and The fall of the castle
ere long They have 5000 men in il and can't
hold out long. must close, am truly SO ia
tigued, can write no more 10 night, and to. NOR
row may be day of military and naval glory
for us. Yours, with esteem. -.
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