Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08
may be in the vaults Of the Treasury 70

driven from the field and our entered the Cudad de
los Angeles without further resistance By these energetic
the instruction queled and by subsequent
capitalization all hostles in California ceased and have not
been since renewed In this unprecedented march OF the
Sailors of than hundred and fifty miles inland and
in their encounters with the enemy they are reported
to Wed with their brethren of the army in steady disc
pine and daring courage They have in the emergencies
in which the country placed before The arrival OF troops,
served in the most credable as infantry artillery, and
Dragons
From the latest dispatches received from the squadron
happy state that every thing tranquil in Upper and
Lower California, the military possession complete and I'M
disturbed trade carried without interruptions and the civil
in successful operation feel authorized to
press the confident belief that Mazalan, San Bias and Aca
puco have before this time been captured by Com Shubck
and held by the squadron under his command open to the
trade of neutal under the conditions other Mexican
ports in the military occupation OF the United States These
measures with the blockade of Guaymas will eiectuaiy
cude from the west coast of Mexico all contraband trade
With view to mask the contemplated combined attack
Vera Cruz and the CASTLE orders given in October,
1885, to Commodore Conner commanding our naval forces
in the Gulf OF Mexico to capture and occupy Tampco.
These orders calamity executed in November following,
and preparations made with the greatest activity to
bic the navy have its proper part in this interesting military
operation Bombketches and steamers were purchased,
armed anden forward the ship ohe line Ohio destined for
the Pacific ordered to the Gulf; the soops Germantown,
Saratoga and Decatur fitted and sent down and all the
necessary at the command OF the Department put
requson make the cooperation OF the naval forces
efficient possible cannot exaGgerate my admiration Of
the conduct Of the officers of every grade who, waving
all privileges Of rank and considerations of personal comfort
eagerly sought service in the expeditions and OF the gaany
with which their duty performed by those who
fortunate receive orders for the service The combined
operations conducted with the highest skill and courage,
and the city of Vera Cruz with formidable defences gar
soned with more than five thousand men, and armed with
than four hundred cannon, after resistance OF barely
five days. capituaed with total loss to tho ASSISTANTS Of
twelve killed. of whom six belonged to the navy and six
the Amy. The entire operations from the landing OF the
troops, which effected from the ships of war; the
pto
contact, and the courage and skill displayed
honorable TO both than the perfect harmony which prevailed
The conduct of the officers and men OF the squadron, wheh
shpboad the battery shore, received from the
the highest commendaon while the former enthusiast
caly appauded the gaany and skill of their fortunate
brethren OF the army On the 2lst day OF March, Commo
doe Conner who had been in command of the home squad
ron for more than three years. and whose health had greatly
suffered from the long and honorable service which be had
formed in unfavorabe climate, after the landing of the
troops and pending the attack Vera Cruz transferred the
command to Commodore Perry This gallant officer has
Quoted the operations Of this command with distinguished
judgment and Alvarado, Tuspan, Laguna, From
the mouth of the Coatzacoacos and the city of Tabasc
eighty miles in the INTERIOR the capital of Of the richest
and fertile of the Mexican States successfully cap
tured and occupied by naval forces In many of the ope
raons which led these results the service arduou the
exposure unhealthy influences great and the localities gave
to the enemy OF successful resistance yet
with an ndomtab@ courage and fotude the officers and
met and all difficulties, and still hold these inn
portant points, except the Of Tabasco, which voun-
with vigorous health and robust constitution the Commo
dore has person the haisps and exposure
which those under his command have been subjected and
those high qualities have been exhibited by the squadron
both in the Pacific and in the Gulf which give that
the navy would have covered itself with the aues with
which grateful country will armies if the
opportunity of distinguished service had been afforded.
OF the which occurred in the Gulf Of Mexico during
the past year. have excited higher degree sympathy
and admiration than the loss Of hebrave officers and men
who persisted with the brig Someshe heroic and romantic
generosity evnced by many of them, when in the i'm
mnent peril and the noble efforts made TO them by the
officers and of the British French and Spanish ships
ofwar anchored in view Of the wreck II has afforded
the highest satisfaction take under your direction, the
cessary carry into effect the joint resolution of
Congress of the 81 of March last which made it the duty Of
the President suitable gold and silver medals to be
prepared and presented the officers and attached the
foreign shpsowar who calamity, and the imminent
peril Of their lives aided in rescuing from waery grave
many Of the officers AMI of the United States brig Som
ers have instructed Commodore Perry to procure the
Of the brave and generous who entitled this
distinguished mark Of nations gratitude. He he's promptly
undertaken the grateful duty and he shall have
obtained and communicated the necessary information the
medals will he prepared and presented.
During the past season, regtet TO state, sickness has
prevailed with much yrulence in the Gulf squadron and at
the places occupied by naval forces along the Many
valuable officers and have fallen under the ravages Of
fever But it OF great satisfaction that the
Der of deaths has been very small in proportion the
Of Of yellow fever and Of fever Of other malignant
type class Of officers has suffered greater proporonae
loss than the medical corps Of the navy Their heroic deyo-
ton TO their professional duties has received, deserved
the and grateful commentator Of their commanding
officer and while their skill and attention rescued from death
unprecedentedy large proportion Of their patients their
anxiety and exposure incident their aduous duties left them
without the strength resist the disease when themselves at
tackled Some Of the accomplished Of their highly
norous corps have fallen victims the disease Of the
respectfully urge that the increase OF the number Of
geon and Of assistant surgeons RECOMMENDED IN the
panyng report Of the Chief OF the Bureau Of Medicine and
Surgery, I've authorized by law The unusually large number
Of vessels in commission makes this increase matter Of
gent necessity.
Immediately after the capture and occupation Of Tampico
and Vera Cruz the Gulf and Of Monterey San Francis.
and San Diego the Pacific, the commanding officers of
the and nayy respectively established and collected du
ties Under your direction the instructions
from this Department have enoined the commanders of
squadros the consderae regard for the
Of American citizens and Of ncua and the smallest posi-
bic Interference with lawful trade compatible with the
ul maintenance Of bclgerent rights This liberal
Of pcy has been carried by officers, and justly APP
precatcd by neutral nations In all its Details the Of
duties prescribed and enforced BY the officers right of
military occupation far below the duties levied by
the Mexicans Bat there want Of uniformity and,
by your direction, the month Of March last system
dgsed aud instructions given TO conform TO IT at the several
ports or places held y land naval forces by military
conquest.
such notifications have been adopted experience Of the
pacucai working the system suggested The right de-
nsed from he law q nations, the result Of successful bel
gerent operation and The duty Of collection at places held