Daily national Democrat., 1860-04-12
Important from Vera Cruz-.Spanish War
Steamers Captured by the United States
SnuadrOu.

Important from Vera CruZ-sSpanish War
Steamers Captured by the United States
Squadron.
BY the overland mail, we have advices
from st, Louis TO March 22d giving an ao-
cout of fight in the Harbor of Vera Cruz
on the 9th of March, between two United
States STEAMERS and two Spanish steamers in
whi5h the latter were captured. A dispatch
to the Union says:
On the 9th of March, two war steamers
which left Havana under General Marin an
peared before Vera Cruz, passing all the
sqaudrons. and refusing to show their colors
though ordered to do so 10y a shot from th,
castle and other signals.
The English, French and Spanisb vessols
oi war took no notice of the fact.
Commodore Jarvis ordered Commander
iurner, OF the Saratoga, with a detachment
from the Savannah and Preble. on the steam
ers lndianola and Wave, to proceed to the
,, anchorage OF the two steamers off Anton
Lizardo, and ascertain their character
AS the Saratoga approached, one of the
Vessels was seen to move off, when a shot
was hred ahead and brought her too.
according to one account, the Indianola.
according to another account, a boat with n
nag was sent to demand her nationality whom
The steamer, the General Miramon. fred on
the boat accompanied with a vollev of mus
kerry
Al this moment the Saratoga fred broad
side INTO the Miramon, and the action becnm.
general.
Both steamers now hoisted the Spanish flag
plrned engagement ensued, In whicl,
the Americans lost three-wounded one
mortally; the Mexicans about fifteen killed
ana "a, between twenty and thirty wounded.
Ihe result was the capture of the General
Miramon and the MARQUEE, with most of their
men, and General Marin.
both steamers were taken and sent. rs
prizes, to New Orleans. where they now are
Inc Frehle Is expected there in few dnys
with General Marin and some other prison
ers aboard, the remainder having been dis
trlouted between the steamers.
1t Is said there is much excitement at Vera
Cruz. the French and Spanish denouncing the
conduct of our squadron.
lhe two steamers cleared from Havana ns
merchantmen, and hoisted the Mexican fac
alter leaving port; subsequently they mount
ed guns
Miramon paid S55, 900 for the two steamers
Ihe news created Il profound sensation at
Washington, and the particulars were await
ed with great interest.
1t is supposed that the steamers were at
tackled as pirates, and the act on the part Of
our naval force is fully sustained.
The Spanish authorities of Cuba condemn
ed the fitting out of the expedition as an act
against the Constitutional Government,
which the United States recognize.
1t is belie> ed 10y some that they were fitted
out by the Spanish authorities, and sustained
by France.
A dispatch says the refusal of the steamers
to show their colors when asked, is consider
ed sufficient to place them in the position OF
pirates.
In this view the Administration approve
the act of Commodore Jarvis.
Lrtest accounts from New Orleans state
two hundred and fifty men were killed, and
forty wounded. The first engineer of the
Marquee and an American were killed.
The lndianola and Wave had eighty men
each.
1t is stated that the expedition cost $500,
600, and was mostly furnished in Havana by
the Government under a secret article of a
treaty.
Juarez had issued a proclamation declar
ing Marin's expedition piraticul, and author
izing any one to capture it.
MiramOn notified foreign vessels that he
would commence the bombardment of Vera
Cruz on the night of March 18th, and would
not be responsible for the shipping anchored
under the castle.