Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-31

the u. States early in November, to Join the Ohio
"A at Valparaiso; and will probably relieve Com
Shubrick in The month OF March or April next
Com. Stockton, on his being relieved by Commo.
dore Shubick avaied himself of the permission
given by the department, and has returned TO the
u. States by the overland route.
Ia my last report l had The honor to inform you
that "on the 22d OF Augus 1916, The forces OF the
United States, under Commodore Stockton, had
entered The Ciudad de los Angeles; that our flag
was flying at every commanding position; and
| thai California was in The undspuled military
possession oil The United Stales." Surprising that
the war in California was ended, Commodore
Stockton was actively concerning measures for
| the prosecution Of the war on other parts Of the
| enemy'S coast and territory, when, in violation OF
| their parole, the Mexican leaders in California
| on the 23d vi September, renewed hoslilles and
| in consequence oil the small number which could
be detailed TO garrison the places occupied by our
forces, gained some partial advantages But, on
| m. 30 h OF December, The commodore with about
| ,ix hundred officers and men from the ships Con-
| press, Savannah, Portsmouth and Cyane, IN CO.
| operalion with Brisadier General kearny, with
| abuu, sixty men OF the LIST dragons. and abou!
ity mounted rfemen, marched from San Diego,
| for the capital OF the CALIFORNIA;. Alter march
of one hundred and forty miles, they met the enc
nv al the Rio San Gabriel, on the 9Th OF Janu-
| v,
a s,ron, and advantageous position; and after an
other encounter en- the 9th, with similar result,
the enemy was driven from the field, and our
forces entered The Cuidad lie los Angeles without
| further resistance. BY these energetic measures
the insure cion was Queiled; and, by subsequent
capi,ulation, all hosli,ieS in California ceased,
| and have not been since renewed. In this UMPIRE
| cetented march OF the sailors, OF more Than one
hundred and fifty miles inland, and in their severe
encounters with the enemy, they are reported to
| have WED with their brethren OF the army in
steady discipline and daring Courage. They
have in the emergencies in which the country
was placed before the arrival of troops, served in
| The most credi,abc manner as Infantry, artillery
| and dragons.
From the latest dispatches received from the
| squadron, | am happy to Stale that everything
was tranquil in Upper and Lower California, The
| military possession complete, and uEdiStuIbed
trade carried or without interruption, aud The
| civil government in successful operation ieel
authorized TO express the confident belief that Ma
zatlan, San Bias and Acapulco have before this
time been captured by Commodore Shubrick.
and are hold by tho squadron under his COMMAND
open 10 the trade oi neurals, under The same con-
dlionS as other Mexican ports in The military oc-
cupaiiun Of the United States. These measures,
with the blockade of Guaymas, will efectualiy
exclude IRON The Wesi Coast OF Mexico all con-
traband trade.
With view to mask the contemplated com.
| bined attack on Vera Cruz and The castle, orders
were given in October, 1876, 10 Commodore Con-
ner, commanding our naval forces in the Gulf Of
| Mexico, to capture aud occupy Tampico. These
| orders were eallanlly executed in November fol-
| lowing and preparations were made with the
| greatest activity TO enable the navy 10 have its
proper parl in this interesting military operation.
| Bomb-kelches and steamers we're purchased,
armed, and sent forwards the ship of-!he-line Ohio,
| destined for The Pacific, was ordered 10 Inc Gulf;
| the sloops Germantown, Saratoga and Decatur
were ftted and sent down; and all the necessary
means at the command OF the department, were pnt
| in reQuisition to make the cooperation ofhe naval
| forces as efficient as possible. cannot exagse-
| rate my admiration Of The conduc, Of the officers
| OF every grade, who, waving all privileges OF
| rank and considerations OF personal comfort,
| eagerly sought service in the expedition, and oil
The salantry with which their duty was per-
formed by those who were so fortunate as 10 re-
| ceye orders fer the service. The combined
I uprtatrous we've conducted WIN The highest Skill
| and courage, and the city o. Vera Cruz, with its
| formidable deienceS, sarrisoned with more Than
| FIVE thousand men and armed with more than
| tour hundred cannon, after resistance OF bare
| ~ five DAYS capitulaleG with total loss 10 the
assaianls OF Twelve killed, OF whom six. be-
| lon9ed To the navy ard six To the army. The
entire operations, from The landing Of The troops
which was effected from the ships OF war, to the
surrender OF the place, brought the army and ma
| w into the closes, CONTACT and the courage and
| skill displayed were not more honorable 10 both
| than the perfect harmony which PREVAILED
The conduct OF the officers and men OF The squad
| ron, whether on shipboard, or in the battery on
shore, received from the army the highest COM
mendation, while the former enthusiastically ap-
plauded the eaantry and skill Of their more for
| tunale brethren OF the army. On the Dist day of
! March, Com. Conner, who had been in com
mand Of the home squadron Tor more than three
years, and whose health had greatly suffered from
the long and honorable service which he had per.
| formed in an uniavorable climate, al or the and
ing Of the troops, and pending the attack on Vera
| Cruz transferred the command TO Gem. Perry
| This gallant officer has conducted The operations
Of this command with distinguished judsmen! and
success. Alvarado, Tuspan, Laguna Fronie-
| ra, the mouth OF the Coa.Zacuaicos, and the city
| of Tabasco, eighty miles in the interior, the CAPT.
| lsl OF one of the richest and most fertile Of the
| Mexican Safes were successfully captured and
occupied by our naval forces. In many OF the
operations which led TO these results. the service
| was arduous, The exposure 10 unhealthy nnue
| ces great, and the localities gave to the enemy
decided advantages Of successful resistance; yet
wifi an indomitablc courage and ortilude, The
officers and men met and overcame all difficult
lies, and Still hold these important points, except
| the city OF Iabasco, which was voluntarily eva
| cua'cd because Of its extreme iusalubrily. Bless
| ed with vigorous health and robust constitution,
| The Commodore has in person encountered The
| hardsh!ps and exposure 10 which those under his
command have been subjected; and those high
qualities have been exhibited by The squairons,
both in the Pacific and in The Gull, which give
assurance that the navy would have covered itself
nib th..e .o,r III L:ol A
country VIII crown our armies, ii the same op-
portunity Of distinguished service had been al
forded.
OF the events which occurred in the Gulf Of
Mexico during the past year, none have excited a
higher decree OF sympathy and admiration than
the loss Of The brave officers and men who perish
ed with the brig Somers-lhe heroic and romantic
generosity eviuced BY many of them, when in The
most imminent peril, and The noble efforts made
10 save them by the officers and crews of the Bri-
ti,n, FrcuCn, ana SP~~:k -L:r. 81 - duIuuIeU
in view Of the wreck. 1t has afforded me the
highest satisfaction 10 take, under your direction
the necessary measures 10 carry iaio effect the
joint resolution OF Congress of the 81 ol March
last, which made it the duty of the President 10
cause suitable gold and silver medals 10 be pre-.
pared and presented 10 The officers and men al
tached to The foreign shirs-of. war, "who so GAL
antly, and at the imminent peril OF their lives,
aided in reScuing from a waiery grave many OF
the officers and crew of The UniIed States brig
SOmers." have instructed Commodore Perry
10 procure the names of the brave and generous
men who are entitled 10 this distinguished mark
OF nations gratitude. He has promptly I'M
deraken The grateful duty; and, so soon as he
shall have obtained and communicated The ncces-
saly information, the medals will be prepared and
presented.
During the past season, regret 10 state, sick
ness has prevailed with much virulence in the
Gulf squadron, and at the places occupied by our
naval forces along the coast. Many valuable
officers and men have fallen under The ravages of
fever But it is source of great satisfaction that
the number of deaths has been very small in pro-
portion 10 the number Of cases of yellow fever.
and of fever oil other malignant type. No class
of officers has suffered greater proporlionale
loss than the medical corps OF the navy. Their
heroic devotion to their professional duties has
received ne II decerved The warm and grateful |