The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-11-19

commenced Tor the bcsiegiug Of Vera
Cruz Councils of war were held amono
the principal officers of the army and
navy, and the following mode Of proce-
dure Was at length decided upon
IL MAS determined that the ,roops
should all be transferred from the trans
ports /" tie men Of war, which at u pre-
concerted signal, we're to get under wciri
and convey tho army down abreas, Of
Vera Cruz, where they were to bc landed
| by means of suif boats.
These surf boats were huge, clumsy af
hairs, but admirably adapted 20 the sprvic.
they were intended ,o perform, being Of,
light draft q! water. They had been huIt
toy contractors, under order from the War
Department. and were each capable of
conveying from sixty ~ one hundred
mcm.
Many racv little incid"i.t occurred
while the fleet Of transports were lying "a,
Anton L'Zardo, one OF which will relate
Just ahrcas, of The place where we were
anchored, about two miles distant, was
an old limckiin, which the MeNicans oc-
cip!ed rs II fort, and on which ,hry had
planted II lew small pieces Of cannon, and
manncI with some two hundred Iancers.
On the ninth o! March, party of
twelve OF fourteen oi Col. Burnet's New
l"rk regiment al Volunteers, (nmon-
which Tor All know 10 the contrary,
might have been the reduubtable Mayne
Rec'l,) no, hay;rg the fear Of guupow.
der before their probably from the
tact OF their not AS yet having srneIt it
took boat and proceeded on shore, As
they sail, ~ "ha,c u look ut the Mcxi
caus.'
We watched them rs they pulled leis
urciy ashore, "hcachcd" then boat, and
then commenced slowly marching to.
war'Is the little fort, their Lrigh, muske,s
flashing III the sunbrnm..
All WAS very well thus far but sudden.
~ We observed strange commo,ioD
"rHDng The ranks of the brave rolun.
teer>." They had evidently had their
wish, amd = had II look al he Mcxicans,"
fur they turned and made tracks for their
boat in "dUuLle qu.ck time"
All at once, aputf of white smoke asose
from the old limekiln, followed by the
SHARP, rafting report of u field piece, and
the loud hwZzIS Of he MeNicanS. Away
went ,l,c "N"t"rans,' the old Mex take
the hn'lrrmosr," nor did they stop to look
owe, their shoulders, in ordar IT, ascertain
II the red silmS were in pursuit Of ,heu,
hut tunhIc'l into their boat psIl mcIl, and
sent her away from the shore Ike rock
e.. This was what is called induIying
the b'hoy, with II look nj ,lonny Mexican.
Vt li,sI, all the necessary preparations
were completed, auu rs the red Streaks Of
dawn began 10 appear III the eaNsIn hoI.
Hon, on tie morning ut the 10th of March
Il tuIi land of music on board the steamer
tha, con,ninsd the commander in.chief,
stsuck np ilall Columbls, and rs the las,
'sAtrs M ll,at stirring mir died away over
the distant hills Of Mexico, the water was
seen alive with sur. boats, filled deep as
they could swim, with eager troops re-
paIrimg Oh loard the men Uf.war, for a
passage to the field ii y!o;y."
Ga SoaSd the Albany. We received the
sccond ,egiRgpt OF infantry, under the
command Of the gallant Riley, then the
military governor Of the new Edorado,
and the regiment Of mounted riicmen,
under the command Of General Persifcr +.
Smith--in ali, near two thousand.
The reader may we'll imagine that this
was pretty close stowagc Co. q little sloop
Of war. LTesy thing now reminded me
OF the multitude ut the Tawcr Gf Bablc,
for all were talking nj once, and as the
majority of people do no, require to be
informed that the ranks of the army are
filled 10y representatives from every nation
on the face Of the globe, il may readily
be imagined that the jaLber was most uu-
ceasing.
| at once repaired TO the !oro-top, " here
my eye could take in At n gla ,ce every
thing ,iia. .ssn-pired, and where could
Also be tree from the motley crowds that
thronged the decks below, aud watched
every movement that was made during
The remainder Of that syeptful day.
SO soon as the :wo regspegia above
mentioned had arrived on board, the surf
boats iu which they had been conveyed,
we've dropped sstern IN II single line, in
order that they might he employed in dis
embarking the troops on their arrival at
Very Cruz, aud the signal was immedi.
ately made from the flag ship to get un.
derweigh. All the other ships OF the
squadron had taken. ip soldiers, the mum.
Der varying according to their size and
capacity Tor carrying, and the surf boats
hat had been used IN Transporting them
had been dropped as,ern, as had been
the case with those Of the Albany, when,
" ten minutes before eleven, the top-sails
were loosed, sheeted home and hoisted,
the anchor hove to the bows, and, the
whole fleet bris,ling with armed men, at
once commenced moving in graceful ma.
jesiy over ths resound waters, for the
scene Of conflict and death.
II was mot beautiful sight. Situated
as was, upon my lofty porch, could bee
distinctly every thing ths, passed, aud
Watched every movement with the most
intense and eager interest.
Tho higatcs and large ships led of,
their white canvas shining in The rays Of
the warm sun fur the dsy much tsem-