The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-03-03
LANCASTER H. SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. MARCH 1853

property, and it is clearly understood
tha, no private building, or property, is
to Oe taken or used by the forces Of the
United States without previous arrange.
Eent with the owners, for fair equjva.
lent.
8. Absolute freedom Of religious wor.
ship and ceremonies is solemnly guarau-
tied.
(Signed in duplicate)
, w. }. WORTH, BrIgad,er General.
GID. }. PILLOW, Brigadier General.
JOS. &. TOTEM, Col. and Chief Engineer,
}. GUTIERREZ DE VILLANEUNA,
PEDRO MANUEL IIERERRk,
MANUEL ROBLLS.
So fell We're Cruz and the castle Of Vi.
Ioa. On our paIt it was brilliant feat
OF arms, and splendid triumph Of military
science. 1t had exercised the highest
virtues of the esoldier,-endurance pa.
tience, passive courage. 1t might have
been rendered more tragic, and in the
view OF some, more brilliant by the quick
er but vastly more sanguinary plan-au
assault by storm. Some persons see in
war nothing but the shock OF physical
forces, and recognize no laur"ls except
those crmsoned in the blood Of hecatomL>
Of :he fallen brave. In their view a VIC.
tory is estimated ouly 10y the quantity Of
blood which purchased ii.
Vera Cruz was worth the loss Of fva
thousand men-it WAS won with the loss
q only seventy men. M"Iiuo Del Ray
was not worth the sacrifice Of dozen
men. and 1t was won 10y tie sacrifice Of
SIC OF the flower of the army. The lov
ers Of slaughter, the reveIcrS IN blood Will
consider Molino the greater victory. The
military critic will find no language Rde
quate to the euIogv Of the one, or the
condemnation Of the other.
Vera Cruz IS the only walled city IN
Mexico. 1t is compassed by brick wal
about ten feet high, and two foot thick
1t would present considerable obstacle
IN an assault, and yet it could have been
taken by escalade, A. mte rivals Of three.
or four hundred yards it was defended Ly
line Of forts and batteries. These f.r;,
were twelve in number and mounted 100
guns. DISTINCTIONS were thrown M ont.
side the walls, by system Of troux de
loups. The walls Were musket proof, ana
scatt'IdeG for infantry. The house adia
cent being fat rooted were also safe
and commanding position for the dct,"d
erS OF the city. A thousand yards from
the wall was the base OF The sand hills
~ = - d" :, ''-.''--a- n n q. n.An- l9-al
the military critic that place so Gefcn.
ded and having a garrison Of 5000 men,
though it might indeed have been taken
by force double in number, yet II would
have been done at fearful sacrifice Of
men, and had it been done, might ncv.
er have lived to write the history Of its
fall. Foreign cities whose mental vision.
is gangrened hy jealousy, Lave in listed
that it should have been assaulted, instead
Of the bombardmcnt, unon considerations
of humanity. But such view Is pat
ent absur'lity. The loss of life on both
sides would have been greater in an as.
sault And it would have beer a crirni
nal and reckless conduct in Gen. Scott TO
sacrifice one fourth Of his army 10 accom-
plish An object, which on a few days de-
lay rendered certain, withou, any loss
He is twice victor, who gains a battle,
and save, his own men. An assault III
the first instance was a blundcr no. ever
to be thought, but it WAS planned AS the
finale Of the siege. Under cover OF our
batteries, we could sap, and mine, AMI
push our way to the very walls, and with
their batteries si,enced or weakened, and
wide breaches made in the walls, we could
have stormed their MaIakotis a la the
allies at SevastOpo'.