Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-10-21
By y. T. he ADLET.

Is ~ liz ID LII
Scott expected that the Mexicans would
resist the landing the troops, and he, there
fore, as soon as the fleet reached its position,
ordered two steamers and five gun boats to be
ranged in line, with their guns commanding
the beach where the debaTkaton was to take
place. Every thing being ready, five thousand
five hundred men were placed in siXty-seyen
surf-boats.
The scene at this moment was indescriba-
bly, beautiful and thrilling. Those sixty
seven boats, laden with men and luttering
with standards, fell back in a semicircIe to-
wards the vessels that were 10 cover them.
while far away glittered in the rays Of the set
ting sun the domes and towers of Vera Cruz,
surmounted by the stern battIement5 of the
castle Of San Juan d'UIl0a. Nearer by
stretched away the low sand-hils of the coast
against which the surf was beating with a
monotonous roar. The spars and rigging of
the foreign ships in the harbor We're covered
with spectators, gazing on the new unWonted
scene. A slight breeze ruhled the surface Of
the water, while the blue sky and an uncIoud-
ed sun, sinking to his evening repose, shed
their light and beauty on sea and land
Scott stood on the deck Of his vessel with
his glass in his hand, now scanning the surf
boats as they swelled away in a graceful
curve from the ships, and now turning an
anxious eye to the distant shore. For a mo-
ment perfect silence reigned throughout the
fleet, and then the loud report Of 4 single can
non Tung over the water. The thunder of
that signal gun had scarce died away, before
the bands struck up a lively air; the sweeps
sunk ia the water. and like a single wave,
those slXty-seven boats swept swiftly and
steadily towards the shore. Scott watched
their progress with the deepest solicitude !;
but at length when he saw the soldiers leap
T.,fy al ! D.
Stars and Stripes a high sand hill without
firing a gun, he felt that the city was h.s.-
At the exciting spectacle the shouts of six
thousand men rolled from ship to ship till
their blended echoes reached the shore and
were answered by still louder hurrahs. The
sun went down on that gallant army, scarce
ly visible amid the sand hills. which every
moment grew DINNER and DINNER in the de-
parting light. \ second and third division
followed, and by ten at night the entire army
Of twelve thousand men stood up In battle
array on the barren waste that surrounds
Vera Cruz. Amid the thunder Of cannon and
explosion Of shells that were hurled from the
city and castle, each division moved to its
assigned post with the same regularity and
accuracy they had been accustomed to move
on parade
Although the investment Of the place was
completed by the 18th, the operations were
suspended on account Of fierce s.norther,''
which prevented the landing of heavy ord
nance, and it was not until the 22d that Scott
sent a summons to the Governor of the town
10 surrender. He at the same time sent safe
guards to foreign consuls and officers. and
with his usual humanity gave free pernis-
sion to remove the women and children
But both and all being rejected, he on the
oath opened his fire. The line of the seige
extended five miles, and on the 18th, from
limit to limit the batteries were in a blaze
The cannOnade was terrific and awful. The
balls Of the twenty-tour Founders and heavy
Paixhan guns dropped with the weight Of
fallen rocks amid the dwellings of Vera Cruz
while the d0mes Of the churches rung with
the conclusion of shot and shells. At night
the scene was fearfuIly grand. The walls of
the city and castle were in a blaze of fire, the
ships in the harbOr stood revealed in the light
of their own broabsides, while for five miles
all through those sand hills it Numbered and
lightenned along the American line in inces-
SAINT explosions. Shells crossing in every di-
rectlon wove their fiery net work over the
heavens. and dropped blazing among the ter
rifed inhabitants within, followed by shrieks
and cries that were borne even to the ears of
those whO tTaveTsed the streets, for the victims
whether men, women, or children were torn
and mangled by the heavy shots and ex-
Piodlng shells Huge gaps appeared in the
walls through which storming parties might
pass, and the morning Of the Goth dawned on
battered, mournful, and doomed city.
From the commencement ofthe siege, near
" one hundred and thirty tuns Of metal had
been hurled againat the town. spreading de-
vastation, ruin and death on every side
The consuls Of foreign powers, who had not
dreamed Of such a terrific siege, sent a request
to Scott for a safe guard for themselves, the
women, and children. The latter replied
that he had fully considered the suffering of
women and children before he had fred
shot, and that the responsibility must now
rest on those who had refused his offer The
town and fortress surrendered and with them
Eve thousand prisoners, and five hundred
pieces Of artillery. The flag of the republic
foated from the top of San Juan D'UIoa.
and the first great blow 20 the Mexican pow
er had fallen