Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-04-21

Of artillery, both OF this date, copies Of
which enclose give the incidents Of those
three batteries.
Battery No. 4,which viii mount 24-poun-
doris, and two S-inch Paixhan's guns, has
been much delayed in the hands ofthe indie
fatigable engineers BY the norther that fill.
ed up the work with sand nearly as fast as
II could be opened by the half-blinded la
borsrs. II will, however, doubtless be in full
activity early tomorrow morning.
March 25.--The Princeton being about
to start for Philadelphia, have but a mo-
ment to continue this report.
All the batteries, Nos.1 2, 3, 4, and 5,
are 10 awful activity this morning. The
effect is no doubt, very great, and think
the city cannot hold out beyond to-day.
Tomorrow morning many will be in po-
sition 10 add their fire, or after the delay Of
some twelve hours if no proposition to sur.
render should be received | shall organize
parties for carrying the city by assault
So far the defence has been spirited and OBJ
stinate.
Ienclose memorialreceived last night
signed by the consuls Of Great Britain
France, Spain and Prussia. within Vera
cruz, asking me to grant truce to enable
the neutrals, together with Mexican wo
men and children, to withdraw from the
soene Of havoc about them. shall reply, the
nsoment that an opportunity may be taken,
10 say--l. That truce can only be grant
ed on the application Of Governor Morales,
with view to surrender; 2. That in send
ing safeguards to the different consuls, be-
ginning as far back as the 18th inst, dis
tinctly admonished thcm-particularly the
French and Spanish consuls--and, of
course, through the two, the other consuls
of the dangers that have followed; 8.
That although, at that date, had refused
to allow any person whatsoever to pass the
line of investment eithor way, yet the block
nde had been left open to the consuls and
any other neutrals to pass out to their re-
spective ships Of war up to the 22d instant;
and, 4th. shall inclose to the memorial
lists copy Of my summons to the governor,
to show that had fully considered the i'm.
pending hardships and distress Of the place,
including those Of women and children, be.
fore one gun had been fired in that direc
ton. The intercourse between the neutra
ships Of war and the city was stopped a
the last mentioned date by Commodore
Perry, with my concurrence. which placed
on the ground that that intercourse could
not fail to give the enemy moral aid and
comfort.
Ii will be seen from the memorial, that
our batteries have already had terrible
effect on the city, also known through other
sources, and hence the inference that a
surrender must soon be proposed. In haste.
have the honor to remain, sir, with high
respect, your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. WM. L. Nancy, Sec'y Of War.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE y. S. ARMY, }
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, :
March %, 1917.
The undersigned, Major General Scott,
general-in-chief Of the armies Of the United
States of America, in addition to the close
blockade of the coast and port of Vera
Cruz, previously established by the squad
ron under Com. Conner, of the navy Of the
said States, having now fully invested the
city with an overwhelming army. 50 as to
render il impossible that its garrison
should receive from without succor or re-
Enforcement Of any kind; and having caus-
ed to be established batteries competent to
the speedy reduction of the said city, he,
the undersigned, deems it due to the cour-
tesies Of war, in like cases, as we'll as the
rights of humanity, to summon his excel
lency, the governor and commander-in-
chief ofthe city Of Vera Cruz to surrender
the same to the arms Of the United States
Of America, present before the place.
The undersigned, anxious to spare the
beautiful city Of Vera Cruz from the irmi-
nent hazard Of demolition,-it gallant de-
tenders from useless effusioh Of blood,
and its peaceful inhabitants--women and
children, inclusive--from the inevitable
horrors Of q triumphant assault, addresses
this summons to the intelligence, the gal
lantry, and patriotism, no less than to the
humanity Of his excellency the governor
and commander-in-chief Of Vera Cruz.
The undersigned is not accurately in
formed whether both the city Of Vera Cruz
and the castle of San Juan d. Ulloa be un-
der the command Of his excellenoy, or
whether each place has its own independ-
ent commander, but the undersigned, NOV
ed by the considerations adverted to above,
saay be willing 10 stipulate that, ifthe city
should by capitulation, be garrisoned by a
part Of his troops, no missile shall be fred
from within the city, Or from its bastions
er walls, upon the castle, unless the castle
should previously fire upon the city,
The undersigned has the honor TO tender
70 bis distinguished opponent, his excellen-
cy the governor and commander-in- chiefof
Vera Cruz, the assurance Of tie high re.
spect and consideration ofthe undersigned.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
,fe b. s.f a 71t
o.+'@ y 1Translation.1 sH s.. !,
The undersigned, commanding general
sf the free and sovereign State Of Vera
~ H- H. WF