Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24
WAR WITH MEyrc0

4 Moonlight Engagement bctpeen the u. S. Nara
Forces and Niramoa's HdcdRa Expeditions
Three dmericdas woaRded--One mortaiiy.-N ex.
iran LossI : Killed, 30 rounded.
As has been before stated, Miramon com.
menccd the siege of Vera Cruz on the sth OF
March.
On the next day two steamers appeared be-
fore the city, showing no colors.
The United States sloop-of-war Saratoga
with detachments from the Savannah and Pre-.
Bile, on 'hc steamers lndianola and Wave, were
ordered to proceed to the anchorage of the
steamers, and ascertain their character.
Upon nearing their anchorage off Anton Id
| 1ardo, one of the vessels moved off, A shot
was fired to bring her to, and tho Indianola
sent to overhaul her
| Tho Indianola's hail was answered by shot
| from the steamer by General Miramons guns
followed by volley of musketry, whereupon
the Saratoga fired broadside into her, and the
action became general, but was soon decided in
favor of the Americans. The engagement was
a spirited one.
Another despatch says aCapt. Turner sent
a boat with Il flag, to demand the nationality
of the steamers, when the boat was fired upon
twice. The engagement then commenced.
Com. Miramon and his men were taken pris-
oners, and placed on board the U. S. sloop-of-
war Preble.
The Mexican steamers made every exerton to
escape.
They had passed by all the foreign squad
rons and the Castle, without hosting their flag,
although ordered to do so by shot from the
Castle and other signals.
The English, French, and Spanish fleets did
not seem to notice this fact
The Saratoga, being towed by the lndianola,
took Marin by surprise in opening fire upon his
vessel.
In this engagement, three Americans were
wounded, one MORALLY.
The Mexican loss is reported to have been 8
killed and so wounded
When the action commenced Marin hoiited
the Spanish flag.
The prisoners corroborate the report in rela-
ton to the steamers having cleared from Ia
yana as merchantmen and hoisted the Mexican
flag only after they left Havana. They after
wards mounted six guns each
It is stated that Miramon had paid $4,000
Tor the two steamers,
SECOND DESPATCH.
New ORLEANS, March 2l.--The following adj
dtional particulars of the action on the Gulf
have been obtained from eye witnesses:
Marins steamers returned the Saratoga's
fire, and tried to escape.
The steamer Indianola pursued the Mir,lmon,
and the latter fired on her.
The lndianola returned the fire and boarded
the Miramon at the point of the bayonent.
A portion of the lndianola's deck-load was
carried away by the shot from the Miramon.
The latter was run aground.
The Saratoga brought the steamer Marquee
to.
The Pcdyunc is informed by the French
prisoners aboard the prizes, that the fighting
was done principally by the officers aboard the
Mexican steamers who were obliged to charge
and fire the guns, assisted only by the Mexican
officers from the shore
The two steamers had $50 men aboard, forty
Of whom were killed and wounded-the former
having been thrown overheard.
The steamers lndianola and Wave had eighty
men each.
The first engineer Of the Marquee IAN Amer
cam was killed.
Captain Turner, of the Saratoga asked Com
mandcr Marin why he fired on the American
vessels without provocaton.
Marin replied that his men could not be cone
trolled. Thev knew the nationality of tho Sa-
ratosa and understood the signals and the
men fired contrary to his orders.
Captain Turner replied lyon are entrel. Y
responsible for the outrage
Marin further stated that the expedition cost
100000, which was mostly furnished in lIa-
rana, by the Government, in accordance with
secret article of the Almonte treaty.
The Deita publishes the details of the ncgo-
tations between the British and Mexican Gov
ernments.
Lord John Russell proposes an armistice-a
general amncsty-and religious federation. If
the proposition was declined, England must
demand from both parties full indemnity for
the claims due British subjects.
| Miramons proposed terms of armistice slip
ulatc that England, France, Spain, Prussia,
and the United States, shall be mediators for
the establishment Of peace. In the meantime
the custom-house duties shall be divided be-
tween the two parties etc.
Juarez returned Miramon's communication
on the Sd instant, with the declaration that its
propositions were absurd and inadmissible.