Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-08-23

other, attracted the eyes Of soldiers and sailors.
Warmed by feelings Of patriotic admiration of
the hero in command, and fired by the enthu-
slasm which the occasion and the scene were
so well calculated to inspire, they gave vent to
their emotions in one spontaneous cheer that
burst simultaneously from every vessel. and
echoed and rang along the whole liue Bril-
antly deeked with flags. and covered with an
animated host whose arms flashed in the sun.
the ships seemed to move in exulting conscious
ness of their burden; and finging the spray
from their brows. CALAMITY dashed forward to
the point Of debarkalion.
LANDING At VERA CRUZ.
The feet having arrived before Vera Cruz.
and all preparations being completed, on tho
9th of March. little before sunset. the land.
ing Of this armament, destined for the reJuc-
ton of one of the most formidable defences in
the world commenced. With such admira-
bic judgment had the enterprise been planned,
and with such consummate skill was it execu.
ted. under the immediate superintendence Of
the commander,in.chief,t that before 10 o'clock
ut night, the troops had all been landed in per-
feet safety, with all their arms and accoutre.
ments. without tho slightest accident or tho
loss Of single life; an achievement almost un-
parallced in military operation Of such mag
nitude.
SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ AND THE
CASTLE OF SAN JUAN DE ULLoA
In three days the army and the feet had ta-
ken up their positions, and invested both the
city and the castle, preparatory TO their bonn
bardment and siege. Our lines of fcircumvalla-
tien were FIVE miles in length and surround.
ed the city. On the night of the 18th ofMarch
the trenches were opened and tho army gradu-
Il al "a n..1
more fatal embrace. On the 22d, Gen. Scott
having now completed his preparations for his
attack, and having offered n free conduct out
Of the city Of all non combatanis, sent his sum-
mons to the governor Of Vera Cruz to surren-
der. The governor refused, and the batteries
opened their destructive fire upon the devoted
city; while the ships commenced their fearful
broadsides upon tho castle. The scene was
magnificent and terrible. During three days
and nights an ncessant discharge from the bpa-
zen mouths Of mortars and cannon, was kept
up with unlagging zeal and irresistible power.
Our heavy Paixhan guns sped their crushing
masses Of metal upon the enemy with over
whelming energy The mortars and howit-
zers vomited forth its deadly missiles with des-
olating fury. An iron tempest covered sea
and land. Dts ravages were pitiless, its fierce
grasp unrelenting. Night heightened the
scene. Tho darkness was illuminated by blaz-
ing shells filling the air. The sea cleaned
with the broadsides of the ships. Fired with
extraordinary skill, the bombs converged upon
the besiegcd town with n horrd accuracy
The heavy fall of the descending shot and
shells was heard along our lines. The domes
Of the churches reyerbcratea beneath explo-
sions that shook the ground, and lighted up the
heavens with fierce glare. The full power
of modern military skill, and the destructive
arts of war, were here exhibited in all their
potency, without intermission, during three
days and nights On the 26tb. an application
for a truce was made by the enemy. which
was refused and a surrender demanded. Ac-
cordingly, on the following morning. govertures
for surrender wero made, and the city and
fortress fell into our hands. The stars and
stripes Aoated in triumph, for the first time. on
the ba,tlements of the castle of San Juan do
Ulloa, and waved their victorious folds over
The walls of Vera Cruz. Among tho fruits OF
this victory were 5000 prisoners, and 500
pieces ef artillery. Our loss was but six killed
and sixty wounded.
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