The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-10

II,
from cruise OF fourteen months in the Gulf OF Mexico.
during which she performed The most aTduous and i'm
port2nt services.
Owing 10 her small size, light draught of water and
carbohydrates a sea boat she selected by Com
modore Perry, during the with Mexico, 10 transport
The marines from one point TO another the coast
up the rivers, where their services were deemed
necessary by hm 10 convey fugitive enemies, the
Yacaiecos when pursued 10 the coast by the In
dians 10 places OF safety under the protection OF our
guns; TO bear ms dispatches and orders along the extend
ed line OF his operations; 10 survey the Mexican coasts
rom Vera Cruz down TO Campeachy; 10 explore the
Avara ado the Usamaslna, and other rivers, for miles
bearer OF his flag, when hs own noble steamer
able, from her greater draught OF water convey him
up the rivers. or to land him on the coast.
During her cruise in the Gulf the Water Witch encoun-
tered many very heavy storms, and proved herself,
every occasion, TO be SAFE buoyan and powerful little
steamer.
AT the close of the war, she was sent by the Commo-
dore 10 New Orleans with the bearer OF the treaty of
peace between the United States and Mexico The fol-
lowing notice of the voyage is taken from letter writ
ten by one OF her young seamen, under date OF June y
lS47:
"We have justeas anchor off the great Crescent City,
you know New Orleans is called. You WILL doubt, be
Prsed myself We left Vera Cruz On the ist nstint at IL
m precisely, and have made the run in six days which
great difficulty that we have in keeping up steam enough
70 supply the engine. we were detained at least one
Vera Cruz, with Major Graham Of topograp hics eng.
neers on board, bearer of dispatches The ma or has
", morning Washington.
Major Dashiells Of the qnartemasiers Department and
Lieutenant Harley, OF the lth Infantry also up with
glad that have had opportunity of visiting New o..
leans, as may again have that pleasure The
had before witnessed. lave had also opportunity OF
seeing pana,ion-one OF those things which was always
on our way were laid out in the regular form OF city
The negro hnts were very fine buildings; and think If
the blacks are treated down here, they would change their
notes"
On her voyage back to Vera Cruz, the Water Witch
was in the most imminent peril during one of the &c.
verest noiheIs OF that very stormy The young
Who wrote the above gave the following acco uni
Of il in a letter dated ''of Vera Cruz, June IS -
You have, doubt, wondered why we were so long in
coming down here from New Orleans. When eir the
mouth Of the Mississippi river, it blowing quite
fresh breeze which, before we had been Out long, in-
creased TO gale; and II right ahead caused
le steamer TO feel somewhat uneasy, to make but
ttle Roadway The rain fell al the time In manner such
As had never before seen IT, and hope ne yer again 10
see it, The second day out the mounains-high,
he trough Of II, which had nearly cost all lives.
one OF our boats that hung lust forward OF the guards
~ The sarboard side, filed with water owing to our
-olling so deep, and was carried away The other
boat hled also but owing TO Our working smarty, we
rSs her ana ss Mo a
he of AT time, however began
he igest and found The good wanting 10y some ounces
We arrived Vera Cruz, III O'Clock, the night OF the
oln Inc Conm9ioTe was very glad to see a IN TIE
which sailed from New Odrans two days before US p"
The Water Witch remained duty in the Gulf OF
Mexico about one month alter all the other vessels of
he squadron had returned home; and on her way 10
PENSACOLA, homeward bound passed through OF the
ongest and most terrific OF the storms which the Gulf
II Mexico is liable in the hurricane The fol-
owing particulars OF II taken from a letter written
~ the young who wrote the preceding, dated
Pensacola, October 18th" He says 1--WE arrived here
yesterday, after long and very dlsag reeabe passage
rom Ssal. We sailed from Laguua the I'd instant
ouched al Campeachy, where we remained bu, short
ine then proceeded 10 Sisa at which place stopped
'u few hours, and then started for Pensacola. We
earned al Ssa that there had been very heavy blow
side and calculated, therefore, having very
mooth time. But alas doomed 10 severe disaE-
for the second night out, began TO blow
ue fresh from the northwest, and gradually increased
hauling all the tune round 10 the southwark and eastward
Until Sunday night the Sh, when if blew regular hur
icane IRON the southeast the little vessel rolling and
'chlng all the Time, II every moment was TO be her
asst, until about l2h p. m when we had the awful news
conveyed that she bad lost her rudder and
hat there way OF keeping her head TO The
,ngine stopped working nearly al the time so
hat lay the water like log! Just about this
shipped sea, which made the little vessel trem
Die from her head to her keel She remained IN this
state for some tlme-tbe wind and rising all the
" bile, until il blew double hurricane, and the sea
Mountains high. We had now become somewhat used
IT, having set little sail forward which made her lay
much easier and kept her nearly head 10 By this
lime, however, although the vessel was much snugger
we found that she leaked very badiyso much that
/ required the exeriions OF all hands to keep her clear
During these trials, had kept up the spirits OF the
men by giving them as much liquor as they could
stand Luck being against us, we found That our
breaker, which contained the whlskey, had sprung a
eak having got adrt and the salt water mixing with
H. caused II to be unfit for All the hqaor that then
omalned was few gallons of rum, which gave
out, and with II several OF the But by this time
fortune seemed 10 smile on more, the wind
began gradually to abae, so that by the 18th
able to make start When we essayed to find out
where were however, found that the chro-
nometer had stopped, the chronomeer box being
filed with water We had, therefore, to 60 BY
guess work altogether; and, coal nearly
put steered for New Orleans, supposng that be the
nearest port But there we were again disappointed
for the night OF the 14th, when anXiously
cooking out for the light off the Balize, fell in 18th
Hamburg barque, and from her obtained longi
ude, which was So deg 20 MN that oil New Orleans
being 90 deg s min that made upwards of 300 miles
we had 10 of longitude, with some go OF latitude
Still seemed TO be luck, for the longitude of this
,lace is 81 deg II min, which made less than 100
miles off SO Immediately steered for Pensacola, and
arrived of the bar the night OF the 18th instant, after
having fired up with oil the rood had board our
,uitodrks included! We sent boat in report con-
iton and the steamer General Taylor was immediately
sent out to tow US
Thus end our disasters, so far We are now "
ne alongside the wharf, repairing for voyage home
where hope we shall arrive safe.
"The barometer fell during the gale, from 80 deg
min. as low IS deg. IS mn, which the lowest !
nave ever seen The 'od salts say that the wind blew
harder and longer than they before knew do"
Notwithstanding the officers and OF the Water
Witch greatly exposed 10 the vicsstudes of climate
Ind to malaria the coast and the rivers OF Mexico
a of yellow fever occurred among them during
he whole term OF their service and but few OF
Common remittent fever. Not a man died board OF
he vessel and only one of her died shore, OF
sease contracted at the hospital. These facts speak
most favorably OF the good discipline that prevailed
oard OF herof the watchfu care that was al all times
manifested for the men by her accomplished commander
md his worthy the