Litchfield enquirer., 1847-04-15

I The guns of the castle and these of tho city were directed against the advancing coluMns, though with but lii,Ie effect . Several skirmishes took place with the Mexican troops, who were watching the . movements of our army, in which some lives had been lost Our troops are said to have suffered considerably from expo- sure in landing and enramping wi.hou, tents,. eand from the. heat of the sun and scarcity of water. The sisge train had not been landed when the vessel left Vera Cruz. but preparations were in pro- gross to effrct it immediately, when the bombartment would comm ence in earn est. This was expected to take place about the 20h of March. The history ef this important move ment we condense from the various ac~ counts. as follows: Gen. Scott exhibited great tact in land- ing, and evidently out-maneuveredrthe Mexicans. The collection Of his forces and the squadron at Anton Lizarado, a point some nine miles below Vera Cruz, led the Mexicans to suppose that land ing must be attempted in that vicinity. They accordingly despatched large force, to all appearances, most of their available troops to that spot. Meanwhile Gen. Scott accompanied by nearly all the superior officers of the army and na ", made a reconnaissance in small steamer. in which they approached with in mile and half of the castle. The vessel was fired upon from the castle with shells and round shot, but fortunate iy without doing any injury, though the escape was . narrow one. One shell passing over the Petrita (.he vessel em- ployed in ;he reconnoisance) and cnolh CT bursting under her bows, but without effect.
 The reconnaissance was made while the transports and conveys were lying eff Anton Lizarado--after their return, and the least possible delay. transports and conveys weighed anchor and stood to the sou,hward of Sacrificios, bearing in towards he mainland, with fair breeze aud in gallan: style, when they came to anchor, the conveys taking po- sition in such manner as to protect the decentralization of the troops, the first 5000 being landed at o'clock P. M on the 9th and the remainder during the day.,z4The landing is spoken of by those who were eye witnesses, as a scene of magnifcence rarely witnessed more than 1 once in life time. The troops landed amounted 10 the exact number of 12,lOO'
 After the landing had been effected there was an alarm given. The pickel guard had approached that of some Mex ican cavalry, who were watching the movements, and had received one or two shots. About half an hour afterward, 8 detachment of our men fell in with some thirty OF forty cavalry, and several vol. leys were fired, the balls of the enemy falling into our column, bu: seriously iniuring no one. At sunrise Gen. Worth leG off his division in advance, following the beach for some distance toward the city, and then turning inland, came 1T sight of several hundred Mexican caval, ", drawn up about ha!fa mile from the shore. A small howitzer was immedi
 ately drawn up to the top of sand hill and fire was opened, which soon scat
 tered the enemy. The division contin
 ued to penetrate 10 the interior, among
 the sand hills, the Mexicans retrealine
 before them. The Bud and 3rd divisions
 followed close and took positions. Gen
 Patterson sent Gen. Pillows brigade tt the interior and took his position on the left of Gen. Worlh's division. Genera
 Twiggs took his position 10 the rear O Patterstn's. An old cathedral was taker possession of by Gen. Pillow, and soon afterward magazine containing l5( boxes of ammunition. During all this time, the enemy kept up fire of she h. and round shot from the town and castle few reaching the line. Capt. Alburii
 was killed by ball which severed hi
 head from his body.
 Later in the morning, the army moved
 still nearer the town-General Worth
 division on the right, and resting on thu
 sea shore, General Patterson's in the cen
 ter, extending back into the country, ant ] General Twiggs' division on the left, stil :. farther to the interior. They have ap preached considerably within range o the guns in the town. and can be reaches by those in the castle from both of whicl
 a brisk cannonading has been kept ul , during the day. --.~ The line extends across :he railroad , which goes from the town to the maga , zine and the aqueduct which supplies th
 city with water is likewise in our posses !. sion. In short, the city is fairly investe ]. and communication by the main roa