Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31
THE CAPTURE OF TABASCO.
Ertract Of a Letter from an officer on board the
United States steamer Spitfre al Iabasco.
COMMUNICATED ron NATIONAL ISTELLIGEScER.

United States steamer Spiifre at Idbasco.
COMMUNICATED NATIONAL IsTELLIGEScER.
On the st of June weighed anchor down the coas
until the 3d. when made the mouth of Tabasco river AT
taking pilot aboard we ran in and anchored abreast
Fonera, about six miles from the mouth of the river W.
found anchored here the bomb brig Etna and gunboat Bonita
acting guards the place, whose peaceful nhaban
threatened with the majestic ire of Tabasconias fol-
daring to hold any intercourse with the deested Yankees
Our force sufficient to knock the into chaos at five
minutes notice The town, which lies upon the left hand
side Of the river ascending is laid regular squares,
surrounding large plaza in the centre The houses
built, with few exceptions OF bamboo cane dashed together
in rows and covered in with hatch Of palm boughs
Their interior is divided into with earthen floors,
and present dirty appearance. An anteduvan relic Of
stick furniture may be found here and there though nearly
every house is furnished with altar upon which may be
the most prouse display Of all kinds Of insignia for the
dissemination of superstition which must have much
as the edces which contained them few houses situated
upon the hest sites about town. frame built and covered
with tiles These belong to foreigners Mr.. Shields,
English gentleman, is building handsome residence which
reminds of Yankee cottage, with its neat ouhouses and
surrounding fence. The has almost dealt death blow
to the prospects all foreigners dealing in this country, ho
alone have supported its commercial interests by deprving
them OF the Of retaining their aboers thrown upon
their hands by the sagnaon Of In fact though
the whole country with unculvaed abundance every
family shows poverty Fruits gathered but pistol shot from
shore aziy brought alongside of the ship and reluctantly
sold for the highest prices As for instance pineappes for
371 cents apiece, waermeons 25 ST. pumpkins
cents, mamma apples G mangoes 2 per dozen, ban
nanas and pantans 2 per dozen, potatoes and
yams so cents per dozen. For pay l2 per
pound eggs 3 per dozen milk so cents per quart chickens
81 to rs cents each, turkeys from 81 to 81. Washing
be done for l2 cents apiece provided you furnish the soap
and starch, of which they have none.
The people for the part of pure Indian
Spanish and Italian boodhe latter being the of all
the internal trouble of this unfortunate country whilst the for
mer are mere tools to carry out their WILL and mostly poor
harmless people, though possessing the strong characteristics
OF the Indian when reused But firing you. I'll push
We laid here until the llth, when weighed anchor,
and down the sixty miles Laguna the highest
port of Yucaan We reached there at A. NJ, and found
steamer Scorpion, bomb brig Hecla and gunboat guarding
this port which floats the stars and stripes and from
which derive II pretty place the
houses mostly brick, neatly whtened. 1t has considea
bic in logwood. We here received that Com
modore Perry had determined attack Tabasco and
return next morning SO, the 18th, at dawn, return
ed to Fronera stopped off the bar of Tabaco speak the
John Adams, which had just arrived. On the 18th the
Grand MosuI, the Mississippi, arrived bringing along the
remainder of attacking squadron On the l4h, every
thing being arranged weighed anchor at in the fol-
lowing order steamer Scorpion, Commodore Perry having
in tow brig Washington and bomb vessel Sptre,
with bomb kech Stromboe and schooner Bonita steamer
Vixen with bomb vessel Ena Scouge and Capt.
Taylor the " submarine man., with his schooner tighten
needed any obstruction in the We all lowed
from twenty small boats, filed with ayusd men and
light artillery Our whole force amounted to fifteen hundred
The procession of vessels and boats extended six miles,
and formed imposing steamed up this
and rapid stream All in fine spirits and victory
ed already to have declared in favor. At the
18th arrived the obstacles which had been sunk
the river bend called the Devils Bend" The Scor-
pion which had ahead about three miles BY her superior
from the bushes upon the bank which she returned
Of grape and canister which cleared the bushes
after which she to anchor No had steamer
the SpfIe up, than shared the fate from the
bushes about ten yards off, Immediately slenced them
by Old Ben" full of grape. The Vixen, followed by
the Scourge, up, and anchored in succession
Night coming prepared ourselves for surprise from
yet invisible foe, by arranging all the hammocks in
thus forming palsade. 1t happened that all the
missiles from the staboard side Of the going up.
Now, the snug little of Engineer p and myself who
together, situated Just the wheehoue forward of
the staboard wheel The balls peppered this place, which
made it rather uncomfortable sleeping apartment But
supposng the enemy would like Sleep and respect the
quietude Of Darkness turned in and slept until IL O'Clock,
when awakened by the noise Of the grape against
So concluded safer 60 within the guards.
But, like "green horn" became excited, and slept
that night, sitting up like "Milene watching for
the coming of the Sun of Mexico" Well the day Of the
10th opened beautifully With the soft and bany breeze and
enchanting scenery around, felt like dancing than
dying. The river at this place is crooked crooked
be- About five hundred yards ahead Of the Mexcans had
sunk all kinds of distractions thus forming bar which
they supposed could not This bar Commodore
Perry ordered to be sounded having detailed Lieut. May,
Midshpman Wainwright, and boats At A. M. we
got under weigh to protect them. Having pushed ahead
in sounding, they suddenly fired upon from concealed
beastwork the bank Their fire well kept up until
brought guns to BEAR when they hurled the
winds Lieut. May had the misfortune be severely wound
ed in the whilst writing down the soundngs. Shortly
after preparations land il now beng the
ton Of the Commodore take the city the by
ing. In the mean time wait until sufficient time
had been given for them reach the city We then
feel way up and conformity with the land force. At
IL o'clock the land force under Commodore Perry, consisting
OF sixty barges full put off from the Scorpion With deafen
ing shouts they struck the Shore and rushed up Me steep
bank Oh, II grand sight and long shall be impress
ed on my memory IL well that there no Mexican
force to oppose them II happy that they had left the
bushes Such enthusiasm equal to ten times force
In thryv minutes after landing this force OF eight hundred
men were under weigh with their eight xpound brass field
pieces, and marching up the city road which, runnng
here, makes the distance about four miles The disappear
Of this naval force left merely enough guard our
vessels We laid here about two hours, when surprising
that the Commodore had proceeded far his way our steam
err the Spre weighed anchor and taking in tow the Boz
nita, proceeded reach the city, which motion was followed
by the Scorpion Vixen and Scougc. We over the bar
in nine feet water shortly after turned up piles which
had been sunk to form "cheveaux de frieze but this
could not stop us we were bent on going ahead.
will here remark that the landing place of Com Perry
where the river is only hundred yards WIDE was upon
the farm Of Gen Bruno young Of talents who de-
voting his whole time nautical pursuits humbug has be-