Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-03-24


all. cannot be worth much less that $50 Zoo,
putting the steamers at their lowest valua-
ton. The Gen. Miramon, however, is said
to be very badly injured. The Saratoga's
frs; broadside completely riddled her, and
in her attempt to escape she afterwards run
aground 1t was two days before she was
gotten of, and on her passage up she again
broke down and had TO be towed inside The
bar. --- --
STATEMENT OF PRIsoSERs-DETAILED HISTORY
OF THE EXPEDITION.
Four Of Che prisoners, Robert DANTE, Leon
Aubri. Arthur Comfy and Jean Durand, all
FrenchmeB, have made q statement OF the
whole affair. They testify that they shipped
at Havena Oh board the steamer Gen. Mira
mon, then known as Correo No. i, on the
goth of February. They were 10 have
months pay in advance, another months
pay on their arrival on the Mexican coast
and a free passage back again to Havana.
They sailed from Havana the 26th OF Feb
ruary, under the Spanish flag. After they
got outside, however, the Mexican flag was
raised. The crew now demanded their pay
in advance according to promise. but did not
get il. The next two days nothing Of imDor-
lance occurred. The third day the MARQUES
de la Habana broke down, and they were OBJ
lighed TO put into Sisal. Here it was that
they fell in with the Spanish mail steamer
Mexico, from Vera Cruz, and bound to Ha-
vana. Signals were exchanged, aud when
the vessels approached nearer, they all
shouted, "Hurah for Miramon."
This, say the prisoners, was the first inti-
nation they had of the character of The ex-
petition. They did not even know that they
carried materials of war. The cannois.
small arms, ammunition, DC, were stored
away below, out of s ght.
The next day. however, the guns were
mounted, and both steamers perfectly fitted
up as men-of-war. New clothing was also
distributed among the crew, bearing the
name oil Gen. Miramon, in gold leaf. Some
of the crew at first refused 10 change. but all
finally yielded per force.
The expedition then continued its voyage.
On their approach to Vera Cruz they fell in
with vessel from which they learned that
the city was besieged. Cannouadicg had
been beard the morning before. The CUES
were now charged and manned, and orders
issued TO lower the Mexican flag. AT first,
the prisoners say, they thought tue English
colOrs were TO be raised Instead, as they had
been several times. during the late fete, in
the barbor of Havana. This, of course, was
no, done. Both steamers made their APP
pearance before Vera Cruz, as before stated,
without any eolOrs whatever. The captain
said it was not necessary.
THE EXPEDITION BEFORE VERA CRUZ.
The steamers came in sight OF Vera Cruz
little before noon the morning of the 9th. AT
IL N. they were signaled from the castle as
suspicious steamers. They approached the
town from the sea. and as if from the north,
and passed directly under the castle. A
shot from the fortress ordered them to come
TO and show their cOlors. They gave it no
heed. The U. 5. sloop of war Savannah was
then anchored near the castle. She also sig
-.l. 4 .l.1v -
They gave no more heed to her, however,
than they did to the castle, but pursued their
course, past SACRIFICES, direct 10 Anton Lii
zardO. At the former place, the French,
Spanish and English men-Of-war were all
anchored: but there seems to have been no
Communication with them, nor, indeed, did
they appear to notice the suspicious vessels.
PURSUIT OF THE STEAMERS.
As before stated, Capt. Jarvis Immediately
ordered Capt. Turner, of the Saratoga, to go
in pursuit. The Saratoga got under way at
half-past eight in the evening. She was towed
down by Gen. Goicouria's steamship Indian
ola, Capt. Flanders, from this port, and the
steamer Wave, also an American vessel, but
for some time past in the service of the Juarez
Government, as coast steamer. Each of
them had two guns and some eighty men on
board. A portion of these were United
States marines, ordered thereon, from the
Savannah aud Preble, for the occasion.
ARRIVAL AT ANTON IIzARDo-PARTICUI.ARs OF
THE WHOLE ENGAGEMENT.
The three vessels arrived at Anton Lizardo a
little before midnight. This is very safe
harbor, some fifteen miles below Vera Cruz,
and well protected by reefs on every side.
Here MiramOn bad previously hoisted flag
to Indicate the place of Rendezvous. Both
steamers still had steam up, and seemtd to
have taken position as if 10 make good their
escape, IL pursued. On the arrival, however,
of the Saratoga, they were busily engaged
communicating with the shore aud though the
moon was shining clear day, did not see
her approach till too late. They were
dreadiully frightened and did not seem to be
decided at first what course 10 pursue. In the
meantime, the Saratoga sent out small boat
10 demand their nationality. They fired upon
il twice, as before stated. The Saratoga then
opened a brOadside upon the Gen. Miramon,
on board % which was Com. Marin, and came
near sinking her at the first shot. The steam
er returned the shot, but in the meantime got
under way, naturally anxious to get out OF
so hot place. The lndianola pursued and
soon came up with her. The Miramon show
ed fight. but the Indianola returned her fire,
aud finally boarded her at the point OF the
bayoDet. IL was in this engagement that the
Iudianola had her pilot house carried away
by a cannoa shot. She also received other
slight damages, but nothing to in any way |
disable her. Nor does any one on board ap- |
pear to have been wounded, except General |
who received slight wound on |
one of his hands
While all this was going on, the Saratoga |
was paying her respects TO the Marques de la |
Habana. This was the vessel which cleared |
from Havana as Spaniard. She did not |
offer much resistance. A single shot from the |
Saratoga brought her to, aud then for the
first time she hoisted the Spanish flag.
This affair finished, the Wave, until now in |
attendance on the Saratoga, went to the aid |
Of the ludianola, from which the Gen. Mira
non was making desperate effort to escape,
after once being boarded. Ia her flight, how
ever. she ran aground. and after "A few shots.
inally surrendered without resistance. She
was not gotten of, however, till two days al
erwards, and then only by the aid OF her
;onsort, the Marques de la Habana. She
vas finally lowed into Vera Cruz, by the To-
iianola. while the Marques de la Habana had
he unexpected honor OF returning the com
piiment, by towing tack the Saratoga.
WHO DID THE FIGHTING.
The French prisoners above mentioned de-
,lare that the resistance on board both the
;apturen STEAMERS was done principally by |
he officers in command. They charged aud
discharged the cannon with their own hands
nd did most Of the lighting. In this, how
,vvr, they had the assistance of six or eight
,ther officers, who came on board the steam
rs immediately after they made the harbor.
These last, as indeed all the officers, are said
o have clustered considerably az irst, pa
aiding themselves On the deck with drawn
words, but iiEally To have fought hravsly
Harm, in Particular, fought Ike tiger.
KILLED. MOUNTED And PKIsoSEKs.-CAP-
AIN TUKSER's ISrERyiEw WITH AARIS.-The
lumber OF prisoners eapturrd is not stated,
nd bat few OF their names ere given. The