New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-30
The Vera Cruz Aft
The Vera CRUZ Affair. &
Special DisPa.ch 10 The N. Y. Tribune a.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, March 90, 1860.
The following is the account Of the collision near
Vera Cruz, as rendered to Capt. Jarvis Of the
Savannah by Capt. Turner of the Saratoga:
q. ,. SHIP 5ARATONA,
OYR VERA Cruz. Mexico. March q. iaf

Us
! Or VERA Cruz, Mexico, March 9, iS6o. 5
TO Cdpt JosEPH JARVIS, Commanding US SHIP Savanna
cleaners appeared off the harbor of Vera Cruz with
ont any hsg being hosted, although gun was 6red
|, rom the Castle aud the Mexican flag run up at
the same time to induce them to do 80. They were
evidently confederates as they were hove TO for
time communicating with each other. After several
hours ana after communicating with the Spanish
seis-of-war at SaCrfcos, which cent out boat to
them, they stood down the coast in the direction of
Anton Lzardo. You direc ed me Immediately to place
my ship 10 tow of the small American steamers here,
| 'te Wave and IndisBoa, which were placed at your
din oosa to follow them and to cert ain their charac
| fer. where they were FROM Of what nation, where
,5,y n ted out and what was their object upon this
coast n, to report 10 you the result Of these inquiries
viii ali n, Sccabls Dispatch In obedience to these or
ders eft se about sunset IN tow OF those vessels
| on hoor5 az a. Oh of which | placed detachment of
oSort tbi,tv Eva msn and Marines in they might
co into sbosI ,ya, er where my ship with her large
| dTanoht eonld moi blow aud communicate with them:
| The detachment on b. 'ard the wave was commanded
| by Lieut. Joel r. s. <ennard Of he savannah, ac:
c11mnanied by M,dsbinma u William c. Whittle, jr, of
the PEBBLE That of ibe In danola was commanded by
Lieut. Andrew Bryson of {. e Sorvet.e IreDle accom-
panied by Master Joseph n 'ne[ o. sne came Vs'e s
Lieut.. Andrew L. Hays of the marine S1sra .. sne
Savannah, and Lieut.. Julius f. hleie Vi ne aiNhe
| Guard Of the ship. l proc eeo9d ao"h an. eae
coast, making direct for Anton lzsrdo' hf t,,
miles distant where expected to H. 'u ,nen' ioou.
two large vossels were repor ed at anchor at
Anton Lizardo. stood directly for the nl, hao ul-
rected my pilot TO anchor NE immedlal e{ 9es"oSn
the two vessels AT the moment when Hdu neary
reached this point and the tow was cast Oh ooth the
little steamers being ahead of me- they halieL anu IL
ported that the larger steamer OF the two was t
way and eDdeavoring 20 escape through the sol Ino
passage. hailed and ordered them TO pursue u,inj
and to get on board if possible, | was ordereL 70
communicate with the senior officer, who suppos "a
was on board this vessel. At the same moment a
fred shot ahead of him, bring him TO. AS soon AZ
they got close to him, which was but few moments
TO my extreme astonshmeDt, he opened heavy hre
of great guns and muskery upon them; ana 1t was
reported at the time that the other steamer
was slipping her cable. immediately gave him q |
broadtde as had not the remoest doubt OF HIS be-
ing in completely with and under the orders OF the OIL
Ger of the other steamer; and was afraid he would
90 TO his assistance Iii Which case thoud nave Deen
obliged to recall my vessels 10 have witnessed their
capture or destrctlon and be had had the audacy
to fire into me without any proyosanon "naIever,
was determined to seize him II coaid lie ran up
tieSpansh flag soon as hred. In the meantime
the larger steamer was hoy engaged with the forces
on beard my two little steamers in running light
Finding that he could not get out OF the southern pas
sage he Immediately changed his course, put AIS heao
to the noIthwaId, and passed inside OF me 10 gain the
northern passage, and to keep out OF the way OIL my
| guns followed by NY vessels, warmly engaged with
him all the time. He evidently toofast for and was
gaining upon them. As he shot ahead OF them, got
gun 70 bear upon him, al sio away ms snpk stscA
found now that impossible to 7e without dan'
ger to my vessels, as they were all together. lac
chase WAS continued in the midst of hos lire on either
side could not but ADMIRE at this moment, the dar-
ing galanry of these fine fellows conteAdlng with SO
superior force. They closed in upon and glappled
with him in spite Of his efforts to shake them on. Fnd
ing it impossible to escape, suppose no ran his vessel
Oh shore all events pressed closely ey then sne
grounded which was Lot aware OF at the tme Ibey
were then distant about mile from my shp, apo nay
anxiety was intense for their safety. could Afford
them no possible aid My three largest cutters were
| nboard and before could have manned my boats
and got to them the affair would have been ended
was not however kept long in suspense, for almost
I I'd thraa chparS and informed
| that they were boarding her over the bows, winch
| could he distinctly seen by our glasses.
now return 10 the steamer anchored ctose 10 mo.
| While the engagement continued between Tue oIher
vessels and at the that they were passing ms
ship the First Lieutenant who was on the poop called
to say that this steamer was liing inaSqoetry.
directed again division OF guns to be gwen aim,
which was done. then hailed aud ordered HIN on
board saying if he did not instantly come On board
would send guard TO bring him. de came on board,
and informed me- in answer to my inquiries, thas ms
| ship was the Marquis Of Habana; that he had been
employed by Capt. Marin, who commanded the other
ship TO transport stores and munitions OF war, and that
| he was Spanish.
In the mean time had sent officer to bring Capt.
| Marin on board. As soon as he reached my cabin
asked him how he had dared to fire upon my vesses
lie replied unhesitatngly and In the presence Oh
witness that when he observed my vesses steauins
into the habor he had informed his that he was
sure they were American vesselsof-war, and posi-
lively forbid them to fire. but that it was mixed crew
Of various nations having been but recently taken on
board and not being yet property disciplined, no found
| il impossible to control them. l observed to him that
| it was great outrage, for which be would have to
answer and which he pretended most deeply to regret
All Of which knew TO be untrue, because during the
action he was distinctly heard calling upon his men to
board with him. You will perceive how AZ this con-
fcts with the accompanying depohtions OF four OF his
| crew. 1t only remains for me 10 speak Of the force
ard armament of these vessels, far as have been
able TO ascertain il. The larger steamer, called the
General Mnamon carried two broadside, one PIVOT ana
| several LowzeTs, with crew OF about lUU men, am
not poeve as to the caliber Of her guns. Surprising
that she would follow Yesterday, expeetsdto have
been able to give nor minute account OF her, but sue
is sti aground. The Marquis Of Habana carries also
one pivot and two broadde guns, with about seventy
persons on board Her pivot gun is heavy 2lponnder
The captain Of this last vessel threw overheard large
| quantities of ammunition, much Of which WIS picked
40 floating in the harbor by my boats, in chests and
| kegs. Wien he was taken possession OF, his gins
| all disnouned and were lying upon the DECK by
the side Of the carriages which have no doubt was
| done after he found he captured, and before
could get boat on board Of him. lie assumes 70 nc
unaTmed vessel and his papers OF clearance, Whicn
| herewith ncose, made out at Havana, do NOT speak
OF hf having any guns board. Yet his armament is
such as have reported it, and there is not doubt
that his vessel was equipped at Havana as part OF the
force with which Capt. Marin was to act on this coast
| 1t now becomes my painful duty TO speak OF cur
cumstance which has occasioned me the deepest con-
Germ and regret. About two hours after the engage
| ment boat came alongside from the lndanoa, with
| a person worry badly wounded. dressed ia citizen
| dress. Upon inquiry, / was informed it was Gen.
| Leave of the Mexican army. immediately had hm
taken 10 my cabin. Ii seems by his own account as
he re lated I to me- that was about leaving Vera
Cpz he was sent off to the Indanola by his Govern
meni, TO obtain some information rs to my movements,
and that in the hurry and confusion in getting and tow
ing ont, his boat left him. The officers commanding
ese vessels had been particularly Instructed by me To
allow no strapgers others than Americans, to re-
main on bOard-nO but their crows, engineers. ana
iIemen. AS these were all Strangers the ofhcer in
| command could not distinguish between them aud