Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-10-31

! Dut IL dld not spread beyond the regl-
nent Where it originated, and only two or
| three died of it. - strs,
difficulty occurred on Lobos between
the Colonels ofseyeral of the regiments, on
| the point of rank and command. Colonel
Butler claimed to be the oldest Colonel on
the Island, aud of. course claimed the com
maud. The Pennsylvania Colonel, Wyn-
koop, and probably others, disputed the
claim. 1t was agreed however, that mes
senScr should be sent to Gen Scott who
was at Tanpico, and the matter referred to
him. Lit Jno. B. Morangne was sent as
the messenger, aud returned in q few DAYS
with Gen. Scott's decision in favor of the
| seniority of Col. Wynkoop.
Gen. Scott arrived at Lobos on the 21st
of February Several thousands of troops
wore already there, and others were arriv-
ing daily. 1t was evident now, that in
, few days We would quit the Island, and
spread all sails for Vera Cruz. Gen. Scott
had left Gen. Worth at the Brazos to SUI
pcrintcnd the cmbarkation of the troops
! taken from Gen. Taylor. They were all
expected to arrive at Lobos by the 1st day
of March, and the troops on. the Island were
ordered to the ships, to be ready to sail on
that day. High winds however delayed us
until the 3D. Of March, when the signal for
starting was given by the steamer Massa-
chusctts, on which Gen, Scott had his
head quarters. In a few minutes seventy
vessels spread all their canvas, aud before a
stiff breeze we started for "cra Cruz This
time j was on the old Alhambra, not a re-
gal palace as its name indicates, but mis-
cradle, unwicldly, old bulk, undera Captain
and crew grossly ignorant of scientific nav
| igation. The cooks ON the Alhambia were
two yellow skinned "cclestials," Cinnamon
BY unskilful management when the an
chor was raised, an undercurrent bore tho
Alhambra on the very verge of the break
ers. She narrowly escape being smashed
to pieces on the rocks.
The whole horizon was dotted with white
sails. The distance to Vera. Cruz was only
sixty miles, and ought to have been run in
eight or ten hours, but norther scattered
the feet, and the Alhambra went kiting
a hundred miles or so down into the Carib-
ian sea. She hauled up however, and
came to the rendezvous on the third OF
! fourth day The rendezvous was opposite
the promontory of Anton Lizardo, about
ten miles south of Vera Cruz.
1t is my object in this narrative, to con
fine myself generally to simple narrative
of facts, avoiding the speculative and the
! controversial, but in few instances Il must
depart from my plan. Before commencing
the narrative of the siege of Vera Cruz,
there are several things to be considered,
and some arrears to be brought up. One
chapter will be sufficient for this purpose,
and | propose to devote the next chapter
to.a general circumspection OF affairs con-
nected with the siege of Vera Cruz.
NEW sERIEs-No. NINE,
The beginning of the war with Mexico
found her greatest and most renowned mil
itary chief an exile, in banishment from his
country. Ofcoursc | mean Gen. Santa
Anna. In one OF the frequent tumutuary
revolutions in Mexico, he was outwttcd or
overborne, and was driven into exile. lie
had been about two years in exile when the
war commenced. The tickle Nlexicans had
tried one after another of their military
chiefs, and had lost confidence in all of
them. Arista and Ampudia had been de-
iaNtcd and disgraccd, and there were none
of her military men, who were willing to
\ risk their laurels in an encounter with our
army. There was but one man in whose
genius, rs soldier, the nation had conf
dence, That man WIS Santa Anna. The
decree of punishment against him was re-
yoked, and he was invited to return. He
was then in the island Of Jamaica. Our
government was also anxious for the ercturn
Of Santa Anna to NIo&ico, and wisely so--
for two reasons. First he declared him
self to our govcrnmcnt,in favor OF making
peace; and second, he WAS the only manin
Mexico who could unite all the energies
aud bring out all the resources of the ma
tiom,into a great and vigorous resistance
What our government desired was TO find
an enemy in the field, conscious of our pow
er TO beat them in. any numbers they might
array, on any field. bIoxico was distracted
and parolyzcd by the feuds and riYalries of
ambitious men, seeking to turn tho distrcs-
ses of the countryto their own profit. Pa
mic, terror and despair had settled upon the
minds Of the people, The war seemed to
be falling into feeble guerilla warfare,
| promising no glory'to our arms, and vast
ing our energies in prolonged state of
qnasiwar, without any adequate results. 1t
was, therefore, great object to have in
Mexico some man who could wage war
worthy Of the namc.
Impressed with these views, our govern
mcht gave Gen. Santa Anna a pass, by
which he was allowed to pass our blockad-
ing squadron at Vera Cruz, lie embarked
ON the British mail steamer at IIayana, and
Handed at Vera Cruz, IN August, 1885,