Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-06
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OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
FROM OUR SQUADRON OFF VERA
CRUZ.
OF SACRIFICES, March 10, Is47. /

U. >. SHIP RhRITAS,
Of Sacrifcios March 10, ls47.
Sir In my last despatch, dated on the It'll list,
I informed The department OF The arrival OF Ma
Tor General Scott at Anton Lizardo. Most OF
The transports, with troops and the maleriel OF
the army, having arrived, about the same Time
speedy Decentralization was resolved upon, II be-
ing ouile important that we should effect land
ing before norlher should come on, as this
would delay US two or three days. Alter joint
reconnaissance, made by the general and myself
in the steamer Pelrila, the beach due west from
SACRIFICES, one of the points spoken OF IN my
previous letters, was selected as The most suit
able fer the purpose. The anchorage near this
place being extremely contracted, il became neces-
sary, in order 10 avoid crowdng il with an undue
number OF vessels, 10 transfer most OF The troops
10 the vessels of war for transportation to Sacr-
ficios Accordingly. on The morning OF The 9ih,
at daylight, all necessary preparslions-suc as
launching and numbering The boats, detailing OIL
icers &c.-having been previously made, this
transfer was commenced. The frigales received
on board between twenty-five and twenty-eisht
hundred men each, with their arms and accou-
trements, and the sloops and smaller vessels num-
bers in proportion. This part OF The movement
was completed very successfully about ii o'clock,
). N and few minutes thereafter The squadron
under my command, accompanied by The COM
manding general, in the steamship Massachu'
sets and such of the transports as had been select
ed for the purpose, got under way. The weather
was very fne-ndeed we could not have been
more favored in this particular than we we're
We had fresh, and yet gentle breeze from The
southeast, and perfectly smooth sea. The pas.
sage 10 Sacrfcos occupied US between TWO and
three hours. Each ship came in and anchored
without the slightest disorder or confusion, IN
the small space allotted TO her-he harbor being
sill,very much crowded, notwithstanding the num-
Der of transports we had left behind. The dlsem-
barkation commenced on the instant. whist we
were transferring The troops from ships 10 Inc suIl-
boats, (sixly-6ve in NUMBER directed Inc steam :
ers Spi,fire and Vixen, and the five gun-boats, 10
form in line parallel with and close in TO the
beach. 10 cover the landing. This order was
promptly executed, and these small vessels, from
the lighiness OF their draugh', were enabled 10
take positions within good grape.range oil The
shore As The boats severally received their COM
elements Of troops, they assembled, in line
abreast, between the feel and the gun-boats; and
when all were ready, they pulled in, together un.
der the guidance OF number OF the oncers OF
the squadron, who had been detailed for this pur-
pose Gen. Worth commanded this, The hrst line
of the army and had the satisfaction Of forming
his command on the beach and neighborlng
heights lust before sunset. Four thousand nve
hundred men were thus thrown on shore, almost
simultaneously. No enemy appeared to offer us
the slightest opposition: The first line being land
ed. The boats in successive trips, relieved tue men.
| ot.war and transports of their remaining troops
by 10 o'clock, P. M. The whole army (save
few struggling companies) consisting Of upward, ID,
Of ten thousand men, were thus safely deposited
on shore without the slightest accident OF any Kino
The officers and seamen under my command
Wed with each other on this occasion, in zeal,
GUS and energetic performance of their duty.
cannot but express TO The department the great sa
tisfaclion have derived from Witnessing lheil
efforts TO contribute all in their power 10 the sue
cess of their more fortunate brethren ofthe army
The weather sill continuing fine, to-day, we are
engaged in landing the artillery, horses, provi
siops, aud other materiel. The steamer New
Orleans, with the Louisiana regiment OF voun
teers, 800 strong, arrived most opporlulely, a
Anton Lizardo, just as We had put ourselves II
motion. She Joined US, and her troops wer'
landed with the rest Another transport arrIvet
at this anchorage to-day. Her troops have als'
, been landed. Gen Scott has now with him up
wards of eleven thousand men. At his request