The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-19
WAsHIScroS, May IL, lsp

The Castle Of Psrote.
Gen. Thomas J. Green one Of the Mier prisoners,
gives in his history Of that Inflated expedition the fol-
lowing description Of the castle OF rerots:-
Tho mariner In approaching the Mexican coast Of
Vera Cruz, is struck with the sublime magnineencs Of
the volcano Of Orrabs with Its regular eonica peak
covered with perpetual long before can see the
lower lands. 1hough this mountain 10 one hundred
miles from the coast yet so high and imposing is its sp
pearance 1t looks to bo the Immediate neig borhood
When Mt off Vera Cruz, in casDg the eye ncrth-
ward the next most imposing peak Is the FIRE De Pc
roe trunk of Perote called from the rock upon lie
extreme summit having the appearance Of a trunk
This peak, though frequently covered with snow, Is not
perpetually snow capped.
At the foot Of this mountain (about lao miles the
way from Vera Cruz TO Mexco) upon its north and In
a valley, which separates it from annette u
Though il Is built in vslley, apparently low from the
extreme height Of the adjacent mountains, yet Ia
about 900 feet above the level OF the Its CONT
guilty to the snow mountains its altitude, Its Iotition,
such the sun cannot reach but few hours in the day
all render it extremely cold place The castle ad
joining this mountain pass, as you ascend from ihs
terres caiientes, the hot lands. has been tho
stronghold in Mexico Of despotsm liberty, according
to the whinn Of it's inmates The range Of its artillery
bounded bs tho Trunk ~ -erote" south, and the
march OF zarro north occupies enc Of tbs principal
The castle built principally Of the volcanic tumiss
stone, dark honey -combed cinder which was, when
first emitted from the volcanoes In state Of souton
by heat, but which has since become OF such an e.
trerney hard character that It win yield only by
grees TO- the hardest steel The main wall Of
eight hundred the nsdes and about sixty feet
the top Of the wall to the bottom Of the great
the outworks Al each corner OF the main rampant
there bsstion extending outward, whose sides form
obtuse angle to the main wall that all points Of
the circle may be defended ~ guns bearing directly
tions there Is moat about twenty feet deep and
hundred wide On the outside Of the moat there stone
wall while the main wall Of the castle forms ts inner
side About fifty feet beyond the outer wall OF the
moat 10 cherau1 de frizs, built Of squared cedar tim
bers twelve feet long set upright the ground thess
tisedt Der hnl
their length On the outside Of this ditch Of about
fourteen feet in width the outer embankmeat Of which
IL ee, ated to reach nearly to Its top The entire
works inside Of this ditch are said to contain seventy
six acres ofland
cpal rampant the height u about sixty feet upon
which mounted about eighty pieces of artillery upon
around the fortress This fiat roof supported by
arches adjoining each other twenty feet vide by
inside of ths castle These arches adjoining each other
aud extending entirely around the square. constitute
the workshops store rooms and cells Of the prisoners
These cells regularly numbered and when the
lie was completed, l773, Ferdinando VII. (King OF
spain) was inscribed each door in large letters
1he ruthless hand Of revolution has run the paint
brush over tho name, though IL 10 yet dlscsrnibis
through the painting Upon the inner side, and at each
angle Of the fertilization s broad stairway ascending
to the top. These stairways are secured by strong
wooden gates, twelve feet high
After describing the hollow square enclosed by tho
sides Of this fortincation the buildings therein such
the officers quarters soldiers barracks aud the
parade ground in the centre OF the court 500 feet
paved with cement, under which - an immense
water tank containing many millions Of gallons sup
piled by subtsrraneous stream OF pure water sumcient
from the food the great moat at the shortest no
ticc The General says
These works the labor Of many years; they cost
many millions Of dollars and had not the improvement
the combustblo shot formed new era In the science
of war Il would have been impregnnble 70 assault.
such then Is the castle OF Perotc; built by the Kings
OF spsin for Of State the security Of conduc
IA. on specie or Of intermediate depot for them
ON their vay TO Cruz well depot for military
storee ss safeguard against the chances OF rebellion
N was not Intended post OF defence against invasion
as an army pass either side In the open plain
beyond the reach OF is guns, As military post II 10
useless against invasou for dozen t6 pound
bomb shells would riddle " TO pieces and dsmount its
guns -
IL has been for years only stronghold Of decpotism
and the prison houec Of revoutioazer including tho
santa Re aud Mier expeditions OF the Texans Natives
Of the country hunted down In the mountains arc
brought In chains TO this bac have been here confined
tin trained TO the service OF Bustauente
or Paredes. az the might be.
IL would be great blessing to the Mexican people
this establishment OF corruption and despotism wer'
Ieveed with the earth aud Its foundations eft ss 70
their locality matter of conjecture to future antigua
rians.