The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-08
TIL E u MON.

the landing, should that point be selected Just before
doubling Cresion, she could the gaes had secured
their berhs The Independence, in her majestic length
just swinging round showing her gun-deck tier OF lights
and her stern almost in the rollers presented most i'm
posing spectacle causing astonishment and dsmay in the
town-a ship never having anchored there before The
Erie. Lieutenant Com. Watson which had separated
from the squadron in fog, and had not stopped at San
Jose, found, in her station of Creston 10 repeat sig
nails H. B. NJ brig Spy was the only vessel in the
harbor. The in which the ships took up their
positions and thus invested the town, elected encomum
from given TO mplmentng the country of the
stars and stripes.
Early on the morning of the II III November Mazat-
Ian summoned to surrender, Captain Lavaette bear
ing the message from Commodore Shubrick What
passed is not precisely remembered the military
mandan made reply, and is said to have torn up the
summons The civil authority was ready TO deliver up
the town the garrison still there, and their
doubtful. Immediate orders given to prepare to
land and the hour of IL fixed upon. The surf outside
too high, and the usual landing place designated.
The boats from the Independence, Congress- and Erie,
on entering the harbor, joined by those of the
Cyane and this ship had her boadside sprung to
the disseminating if necessary.
There three lines OF boats, headed by the
handing officers of the ships the COMMANDMENTS chief
being in dvance of all A division of the Congress
der Lieutenant Livingston had the artillery fine pieces
captured in Upper California, and mounted on board
that ship. Passing two points without see
ing foe, from which most serious opposition might
have been made, 1t became probable none would
be attempted. Yet the heights the landings
the streets and houses with terraces warned that pre-
caution should be neglected The on shore in
twinkling, and the companies formed while the arl
lery landinga work of labor, but successfully
compshed The whole force about six hundred strong
marched through the town to the Quartet, situated
mound in its rear overlooking the surrounding country
nf which nd
ence salutng with twenty guns. There were no
laurels eaped but the capture not the less import
ant and it brought home to the lmpraccable Mexican
that his commercial emporium in the west had shared
the fate of the in the east while the American flag
waved the national palace in his capital the squad
ron having just heard of the entrance into it by
glorious army.
Measures were Immediately taken for the defence and
holding of Mazatlan, and for its municipal government
Capt avaetfe made governor and garrison OF four
hundred seamen and marines established commission
consisting of Commander Du Pont, Lieut. Chatard, Pur.
ser X. Nj. Price, and Mr. Thomas Miller, arranged with
the municipal unta the terms of occupation The frgaes
moved into the harbor The custom house was opened
and organized, and under the control and business expe
rience of Mr. H. W. Greene purser Of the Independence
assisted by Mr. Speden, of the Congress, upwards of
two hundred thousand dollars duties collected in
five months The commander in chief, having given an
order with respect to vessels dischaging at points the
coast, was fast sending the commerce 10 Mazallan
Moreover, the Lexington, Lieut. Commanding Bailey,
on her arrival from Upper California, despatched
blockade the port of San Bias and the American barque
Wilton, chartered and manned, under Lieut. Chatad,
that OF Mansanlla On her way down. the Wilton
called in at San Bias with the Lexington. An expedition
from both ships landed, and brought off from the upper
town couple OF cannon, which completed the armament
of the Wilton. Al Mansana, Lieut.. Chatard landed
again with fifteen men, and spiked five guns; the enemy,
two hundred we close N the yicinitv
The Mexican forces however, had retired but short
distance from Maza,lan, and were intercepng all sup
plies coming into town. An expedition OF boats, with
two companies from the Cyane and Independence under
Leutenans Rowan Wise, and Higgins, Midshipmen
Vanderhors and Allmand, pulling up at night through
the four miles, landed at TREAS, surprised
and drove in outpost while another force Of
from the Independence Congress, and Cyane, Ga part of
the garrison,) under Lieutenans Seden Stanley, Carter,
McRae and Halleck, (engineers,) Passed Midshipmen
Baldwin, Austin, and Others left the Quartet at midnight
had bush fight three miles out, and, forming junction
with the force from the estero stormed the headquarters OF
the ex- captain of the port piratca German, who, with
detachment of soldiers and strong band of matrcua.
dos (enroled saos,) obstructng the roads, cutting
off provisions and robbng the mails They were routed
in all directions, and this blow, Xpectedy struck fol
lowed up by bold scouting at night in smaller parties
under Leutenants Lewis Stanley, McRae, and others,
eecualy cleared the for the admission of sup
plies.
This expedition, however, suffered some loss one man
of the Independence killed, with twenty wounded
from the different shps-some very severely
Mazaan being liable to coup de main at any time
from large force, the labor the Notifications was
pressed forward under the direction of Lieut. Haeck
engineer. This gentleman was, besides, filling the func-
tons of lieutenant governor and his services were al
ways freely rendered TO the officers in their expedi
tons and scouting parties, in the most important of which
he participated But the breaking of new earth, the
strong miasmata from the eeros and marsas, hot sun
by day and scouting by night brought fever among
the crews Those at the outer post in particular where
the works. under the unrng energy of Lieut. Thigh
man. had been prosecuted with the utmost vgor suffered
most. The frgaes having sixty cases each at on.
me and the Cyane thirty the Congress- gun-deck seem
ed hospital.
At this very period news reached Mazaan of an out
break in Lower California. Lieut. Haywood, at San
Jose, had repulsed well planned attack upon him. bu
the leader of the Mexcans, Spaniard by birth, being
killed, the enemy driven back he outnumbered the
garrison six one. The Portsmouth was sent over to
strengthen that post.
At La Paz Lieut. Col. Burton had resisted an attempt
dsodge him, but at the last accounts was surrounded
and fighting. The Cyane Immediately despatched to
his support Getting board her and officers from
the Cuarte her quota OF the garrison, but leaving he
marines, and with thirty the sick ST. she left Maza
Ian the cd December, and arrived La Paz on the
7th The ship passed up the channel and anchored close
to the town; for, among her many admirable qualities
though carrying heavy guns, she has light draugh OF
water. Lieut. Col Burton with his command, consist.