The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-11

The following narrative from an able officer of the
navy, who has recently been in the Gulf squadron, wit
messed many Of its feats and assisted in many OF It's
movements. has been communicated to in manuscript
by its author another copy having been furnished Tor the
Pensacola Democrat
Communicated.
Recent Operations OF the Home Squadron under Com
moiore Perry.
The offensive operations of the home squadron having
been recently brought close by the capture of abasco
the last point the gulf of Mexico which prepared to
offer resistance to our and every port OF the least
importance, throughout the whole extent OF the coast
IRON Texas to Yucatan, being in our nndlsturoed
possession, it may furnish useful contribution to the
history of the times, well proper tribute OF justice
TO the jealous officer who has been charged with carry
ing out the views OF the government IN the gull OF Mex
leo, enumerate very briefly the services which have
been effected by the home squadron under Commodore
Perry.
Ii NAV be remembered that Commodore Perry arrived
at Vera Cruz in the Mississippi the Goth March last,
after passage Of thirteen days from Norfolk He found
our army landed, Vera Cruz invested on every side the
enemy keeping up an active fire on our lines but the fire
not yet commenced on our part That night 1t blew a
gale from the north. Towards morning the Commodore
informed that the steamer Hunter, together with
French barque, cher prize, and American schooner
were all on shore the northeast breakers OF Gfeeh
island and their crews to the number of sixty souls IN
imminent danger OF perishlng.
AT daylight nowith standing the violence OF the gale
the Mississippi got under way. Although she
parted her chain, from the force OF the wind, she
steamed wndward with las afterwards discover
ed) sixty athoms of chain dragging after her She forced
her way steadily towards Green island, and, having an
chored near it, Captain Mayo, with Leuenanis DE lamp
Alden, and Blunt and Passed Nlidshpman Fauntleroy
CALAMITY volunteered their services, and went 10 me
rescue of their perishing felow-men They had the
satisfaction of saving all with no hue peril A nhn
the wrecked was young woman with her infant enid
When the young mother folded her husband and her
child in her safety the deck OF the Mssissp-
pi the scene of thrilling interest Nothing is
hazarded in saying that this noble ship had not been
there, and in the hands of one who knew what to 40
with her. the whole of these shpwrecked persons must
to the of disaster the Mississippi without APP
pareny having thought OF the possibility OF moving IN
such gale. :,
obeyed, the duties which the Commodore owed to his
country against her enemy in the command which he
had assumed that morning, whilst his way to rescue
The disappointment Of General Scott, in not seasonaby
receiving his heavy siege ordnance, owing to the non-a
rival OF expected transports, delayed by opposing winds
and weather the VOYAGE had retarded the attack on
Vera Cruz. OF fifty morars on their way only ten had
yet arrived He was unwilling open his batteries with
feeble fire. which might have encouraged the enemy to
prolonged resistance. Commodore Perry offered to
supply this deficiency by landing guns from his ships,
condition that their officers and men should accompany
and fight them This offer was accepted Three s-ineh
three 32pounders of sixtyone hundre1weight the num-
Der and description desired by General Scott were landed
the 22d March, the day after Commodore Perry as
with General Scott Commodore Perry ordered the steam
Spitfre and Vixen, and schooners Bonita Petrol,
Refer Falcon and 1ampico, commanded, respectively,
by Commanders Tatnall and Sands and Lieutenants
Benham, Shaw, Sterrett, Glasson and Gren to stand
close in to anchorage under Point Homos accessible
for vessels of their light danght and cooperate in the at
tack on the city of Vera Cruz which they did in most
gallant manner keeping up very active and destructive
fire. and though exposed within effective range to the shot
and shells of the castle of Ulloa they only withdrew in
obedience to signal when the whole OF their ammuni
ton was expended. Meantime the heavy guns which
had been landed were drawn by the sailors assisted by
the army distance of three miles, the worst pos
sble road, hily deep with sand, and encountered by
the stumps Of trees that had been eled give them
passage to elevated position within $50 yards of the
walls Of Vera Cruz Portions OF the road, within sight
of the enemys works, could only be travelled by night
and great precauton was necessary to keep the enemy
ignorant of the existence of battery in unexpected
and formidable position, until its guns should be
mounted
In these laborous operations days and nights
passed among the sandhlls by the officers and
men, with scanty and irregular meals, and almost with
sleep. During the last night norther of great vo
lence ragged through the sand hills blending soil and sky
in wild confusion. AT length, on the morning of We'd
nesday oath March, the battery having been prepared by
the engineers and the heavy guns raised to their elevated
platforms by the utmost excrons Of the seamen. their
fire was opened under the command OF Captain Aulick
with effect at once visible in the destruction it
stoned in the city and by its drawing the almost excu
sive of all the guns and morars that could be d.
reced against from Vera Cruz and the castle of Uloa
Five killed on this day, chiefly by round-shot
wounds in the head chest, and equal number,
wounded Dy anu spnteTS from the Cnapara
On the following day, (25th March) the fire was
sumed from the naval battery with greatly augmented
quantity of ordnance stores by fresh party of officers
and men under Captain Mayo. clear breach of thirty
feet the city wall adjoining the fort of Santa Barbara
was opened, sufficient TO admit stormjng party. The
wall OF Santa Barbara itself undermined and ready
TO topple over into the ditch Before the ordnance OF
Capt Mayo exhausted, all the opposing batteries of
the enemy were silenced. One gallant and highly prom.
ising Young officer Midshpman r. B. Shubrck and one
seaman, fell On this day, and three wounded
The effects of these two days cannonade of the naval
battery the city of Vera Cruz may still be seen, and
will long continue to attest the vigor and accuracy of
fire. This accuracy not accidental Before its fire
was opened, the distances OF the various points be
aimed at ascertaned and the range OF the guns be-
ing known from the Sandy Hook practice of Commodore
dom shot fired on either day.
On the Goth March-the fifth day from the commence
ment of bombarnen and before the fire of the ma
val battery could be third time opened under Captain
Breese who with party of officers and men, had re-
Iieyed CAPTAIN Mayo-Vera Cruz sent out q proposition
TO capituate which resulted surrender of the city
and castle Of Ulloa. The Mexican soldiers who had
the shells falling vertically into the city, did not relish
and could not hold out against missiles sent directly
through the walls into their barracks and places OF
refuge The share that the navy had IN the reduction
of Vera Cruz still be by examination OF ITS
deences 1t may also be estimated by the loss OF lie
sustained by the navy. The army had eight killed Cone
marine among the number, in the andlng) investment
cavalry skirmshes, and siege The navy lost seven
killed in the siege alone.
Had Vera Cruz delayed another day TO make PROPOSE
fon to capiulate Gen Scott had generously arranged
that the regular army, the volunteers and the navy
each have marched separate column to the assault
The suddng- sail booms of the Mississippi for want OF