Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-09-23
The Ernsualinn Of Vera Cfnz.


The Picayune publishes the following spirile,
account of the evacuation of Vera Cruz by tho
American forces, written by passenger the
Alabama
The lst of August was the day appointed for the
final surrender OF the city of Vera Cruz into the
hands ofthe MeXicanS, aud at o'clock, A. NJ, the
plaza was filled with miXed crowd Of bo:h races,
anxious 10 witness the ceremony of pulling down
the American stars and stripes, and hosting The
Mexican tri-coor. In the first part ofthi expec-
tation they were disappointed. as tho American
flag was not 10 be seen lying where in lhe city
aud tho flag s:atfs were perfectly bare. The lst
Artillery were drawn.up in line 10 the plaza, and
abou ut half-past Il company OF the Qua rdia Ma
cional marched past on their way to the castle -
Their uniform was grey coat with red facings.
whiIe pantaloons and blue cloth cap, without
brim. They had no other music than a drum. but
marched well. and looked near aud soldier-Hke.--
About O'Clock another company of the Guards
marched into the pla "a and halted under the por-
tails Of the Palace, when the officers appointed TO
take charge of The city came forward and were pre-
sened to General Smith. They were Coils. Lue-
mo, Tayme, and Govines and Maj. Zamora
Soon afterwards Gen. Smith aud staff the Mex
lcan officers and the Isl Artillery. took their sta
tions in front of The Palace. and the Mexican fag
red, white and green, with the eagle and serpent
embroidered on the whle--was hoisted on the ltg
staff Of Ihe Palace, when the officers saIuled aud
the soldiers presented arms. The band of the Isl
Artillery struck up. but was perfectly inaudbe for
tho first five minutes, in consequence OF the intola
rabe cIa,ter kept by the bells of the Did Cathedral
This was stopped by one of the Mexican officers
and the band allowed TO proceed. Sllules were
then fired from the Forts Santiago ani Conception
and from the Castle of San Juan de Uoa but al.
though the tops Of the houses and the larger por-
ton ofthe square were crowded with Mexicans not
Il single shout or cheer was heard when their com.
try's flag was flung to the breeze aud had it not
been for the church bells and the American band
the silence would have been profouni. After tins
ceremony was performed the American troops left
the plaza and marched to the mole, whence they
shortly after embarked ON board the ships Iowa
and Massachusetts,, for New York. Tno Iegiment
is under the command OF Captain Norman.
According TO a suggestion from Gen. Smith tho
ayuutamen:o issued order that all the liquor
shops should be closed AMI imposed a ine of Sl5
for each and every glass of liquor sold that day
The consequences OF this wise precauion were that
90 Disturbances occurred during the day, notwil.-
standing the large number Of qIar.crmasters men
were TO sail on the New Orleans.
About + O'Clock in the evening the Alabama left
the harbor of Vera Cruz with Gen. Smith 9n board.
As she passed the u. s. sloop-of war Germ,ntown
lying near the island Of San Juan, the latter rel
salute of eleven guns and certainly more beau,i.
fu sight was never iha she presented al that
moment. The guns were fired with such ruplltv
that, Notwithstanding there was a stiff breeze. the
vessel was completely cnvelopcd in smoke, but the
instant the firing ceased the Smoke blew away, and
there lay the beautiful vessel with her decks as
white as snow, and crew gathered in groups about
the decks, ali dressed in tacir neatesl attire while
the officers stood upon the quuror-deck. The whole
fosmeda tout ensemble rarely Witnessed. and when
the boatswain's whistle was hoard, In an in
slant the groups were dispersed through tho rig
gng and from .he top of the lists to the deck, her
shroudS presented n mass Of men who gayo three
sonoro cheers for the hero of Contrcras. All
hands on the Alabama now rushed aft. and. rs we
were rapidly leaving the sIoop-o! war; gave the gal
liant tars three hearty cheers az ever ema I'D
from the freeoans throat. An hour more and The
vesse! and town gradually faded from our sight !;
and so ended the last day Of American roie in Ve-
ra Cruz.