The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-05-07
From the Ohio Statesman

morning Of tire g. Of this mJnth, and ar
rived al our place of landing some two
miles south Of Vera Cruz, al 2 clock in
the afternoon. The lsl brigade landed
about six O'Clock that evening, the 2d ant
Sd about 8 o clock. We expected oppos-
alton 10 landing. but were disappoinl ed.
About ? O'Clock in the morning the bnl,
lets were ny ing over our heads thick aud
last. We were soon under arms, b0t u
was quite dark. and the enemy MI not
be seen. The firing ceased, and we again
laid down on tiies nd TO get liitle sleep,
preparatory TO hard days work We had
mot been long aleep before we were again
aroused by the Gting Of the enemy and the
beating OF the long roll (which means ior
all to turn oul] The men were soon in
line. The balls were whizzing over US
ann we were behind sand hill, and ere
not injured by the FIRE. Two companies
were sent over the sand hills as skirmish
prs, who soon dispersed the enemy The
par,y who caused these alarms numbered
the city. They wounded three or four,
but none Of Tie America were killed.
At daylight we commenced surrounding
the city, Gen Worth's brigade leading off,
Gen, Pillow followed With the volunteers,
and lastly moved Gen. Twiggs. Gen.
Pillows comand ad SIX irinisll, in which
some two or three men were lost. The
next day the Rifles took the lead, and for
two or three hours had some warm work,
in which we had one killed, and in IN,
company two were wonnded--one slightly
ON the head by spent ball; the other
badly, having his leg broken. The Sur
.geon thinks his leg can be saved, as he is
now doing well. He was enlisted by Lt.
Newton, at Norwalk, and his name is
Weller. He isa brave man, aud ! am
sorry he was SO unfortunate. Oh our
march, W discovered, about mile to the
west, ON the top Of hill, six officers on
l,orses. Gen. Smith detached my company
10 drive them away. As we marched al
quick pace, they fell back. We took
post where we were to remain until fur
there orders from Gen. Smith. Whilst
the men were resting, Weller discovered
signal in the chapParal few yards from
the road, made Of plank about IL feet
long, struck in the ground with shorter
piece nailed to il, forming cross. Gu
the topof this was large tin bucket paint
ed white. lie called my attention TO this,
and asked permission to go aud get it,
and also To ascertain whether any troops
could be seen over the hill. started with
lin. We were climbing up the bank
which was quit ileseep, when avolley was
fred / us, and Weller fell stood where
/ was and ordered my men to FIRE, which
they did as quick as thought, aud followed \
ii up rapidly. Tie Mexicans run like as
many children before a mad dog. We {
are sure of having killed one Colonel and j
a captain. OF my campany, Neil and
Weller only were wounded. t
On the 22d, at clock and 20 minutes, {
we commenced throwing shells into the |
OF both city and castle. :
had the pleasure ,fseeiug the Mex {
icans march out and stack their arms
and the entrance Of our troops into the {
city as the most splendid scene have :
ever witnessed.
Vera Cruz is an old fashioned, romantic
city. The streets are wide and paved
mostly with round stone-some with shell
and coral. The buildings are generally
white having think and heavy walls, and
look more like prisons than dwellings,. ?
The wall around the city is about twelve {
feet high, and so built that men on the t
inside can fire small arms through the port
holes, which are some two yard apart a
The barracks are thirty feet from The walt 4
and very strong. The are several forts n
outside and connecting with the city wall, II
,ome of W hich have as many as thirty can
ION u
The country around here, as far as !
Dave seen, is nothing bnt sand bank, and $
ants, sand crabs, aud scorpions "
in abund danoe--the interior is said to be
more pleasant. hope so, il we have to
go throught il; for il is any thing but ft
pleasant to march in sand ankle deep ev- C
ery step. Until the surrender, we had TO c
sleep on the sand without sheltes, our
tents being on board Of the ship, from
which we could not get them. For sev Il
eral days and until the mules were land q
ed, all the provisions we got were packed Fl
by the soldiers. G
Mr. Baldwin i. ow 10 better spirits than Il
e has been since he come into the coun- o
ry. He was 10 two of our fights and is f
rave fellow, and rendered himself con' 81
picuous by firing at single man. lie al
,w him fall and asked permission to go to u