The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-04-04
CAPTURE OF THE MARIN EXPEDITION
Particulars or the H-hoEs .aRasr.


+ We give additional particulars of the naval
engagement near Vera Cruz, from tho New
Orleans Pcayune- of the latest date received
| 2 -Four of the prisoners, Robert Dantz, Leon
Aubri, Arthur Comby and Jean Durand, all
Frenchmen, have madea statement Of the whole
affair. They testify that they shipped at Ha.
yana on board the steamer Gen. Miramon, then
known as Correo No. I, on the Goth of Febru-
ary. They were to have months 3 pay in ad-
vance, another months pay on their arrival on
the coast, ana q free passage baekaganto Ha-
vana. - - -
They sailed from Havana on the 26thp Of
February, under the Spanish flag. After they
got outside however, the Mexican flag was
raised. She crew now demanded their pay in
advance, according to premise, but did not
get it. The next two days nothing import
ance occurred The third day the Marques dc
la Habana broke down, and they were obliged
to put into Sisal. Here it was that they fell
in with the Spanish mail steamer Mexico, from
Vera Cruz, and bound to Havana. Signals
were exchanged, and when the vessels apprach-
ed nearer, they all shouted, aHurrah for Hi
raman." ~ IS a-s ali7tsz
This. say the prisoners, was the first intima-
ton they had of the character of the expedi-
ton. They did not even know that they car
ried materials of war. The cannons, small
arms, ammunition, &c., were slowed away be-
low, out of sight. e6kz ~
The next day, however, the guns were noun
ted, and both steamers perfectly fitted up an
men-ofwar. New clothing was also .distribu.
ted among the crew, bearing the name Of Gen.
Miramon in gold leaf Some of the crew at
first refused to change, bus all finally yielded
per force. -1a IL 9a1..-,s - 5f5oggsuolisa5ss
The expedition then continued its VOYAGE
| Th9 steamers came in sight Vera CrnE
little before noon the morning of the i6thap7At
II NJ. they were signalled from the Castle as
suspicious steamers. They approached the
town from the sea, as if from the north, and
passed directly under the castle. A shot from
the fortress ordered them to come to and show
their. colers. They gave it no heed. The u.
ST., sloop-ofwar Savannah was then anchored
near the Castle. She also signalled the steam
ers to show their lolors. They gave no heed
to her, however, then they did to the Castle,
but pursued their course, passed SACRIFICES,
direct to Anton Lizardo. At the former place,
the French, Spanish and English nen-ofWar
were all anchored; but there seems TO have
been no communication with them, nor in.
deed did they appear to notice the suspicious
vessels. t-fs{ aa. sfts,4 -.-e4tg : tff-
AS before stated, Capt. Jarvis immediately
ordered Capt. Turner, of the Saratoga, to go in
pursuit The Saratoga got under way at half
East eight in the evening. She was towed
down by Gen. -Goicouria's steamship Indianola,
| Capt. Flanders, from New Orleans, and the
steamer Wave, also an American vessel, but
| for some time past in the service Of the Juares
government as q coast steamer. 65ffr7
The three vessels arrived at Anton Lizardo
little before midnight This is very safe
harbor, some Is miles below Vera Cruz, and
well protected by reefs every eds. Here
Miramon had previously hoisted IA to indi-
cate the place Of rendezvous. Both steamers
still bad steam up, and seemed TO have taken
position as if to make good their escape if pur-
| sued. On the arrival, however, of the Sarato-
ga, they were busily engaged communicating
with the shore, and, though the moon was shi.
ming as bright as day, did not see her approach
till too late. They were dreadfully frighten-
ed and did not seem 10 be decided, at first,
what course to pursue. In the meantime, the
Saratoga sent out small boat TO demand their
nationality. They fred upon il twice, as be-
fore stated. ,s7saic as7 80 -a-1FoA 2 ~ ~
The French prisoners above men toned de-
clare that the resistance on board both the cap
tured steamers was done principally by the OFF,
GERS IN command. They charged and discharg-
ed the cannon with their own hands and did
most of the fighting. In this, however, they
had the assstaece of six OF eight orther officers,
who came on board the steamers immediately
after they made harbor These last, as indeed
all the officers, are said 20 have clustered con.
siderably at frs, parading themselves on deck
with drawn swords, but finally TO have foughk
bravely. Marin, in particular, fought like
tiger. r $3.50,
The number Of killed and wounded was 40.
The former are said to have been thrown over
! boad at once. The latter were first taken on
board the Saratoga, and afterwards to Vera
| Cruz Of the $50 men, three .fourhs at least
are believed to be Spaniards. The rest were
French, Portuguese, Americans, and Coolies
from Manila. ss4 aa f s'7
g, Among the prisoners more particularly mem
toned are Sr. Rafael and the Able Chandron,
well known at Vera Cruz The all imporant
captive, however, is commodore Marin himself
I When Marin came on board the Saratoga,
Capt. Turner asked him why he had thus fred
upon the American vessels, without any prov.
ocation whatever, and in violence of every
rule of honorable warfare.
Marin replied that his men were composed
of all sorts of people, had been but recently
shipped, were badly disciplined and could mot
be controlled He confessed that le knew, the
he understood all her signals, but protested
that he did not order shot to be fred.
He declared moreover, that he gave contrary
orders but could not control his men. I'D
Capt Turner listened TO these protesta-
tions in silence and then added: "You have
been guilty of great outrage You alone are.
responsible. for this unhappy affair, and upon
YOU rests the responsibility" -
Marin responded meekly, thrt he regretted
it very much, whereupon Capt Turner left
him to his sorrow, and turned away.
Marin is said to have lived at Havana, while
the expedition was being fitted out, in the
house Of the Captain of the Port; and. all tho
prisoners declare that the arms, munitions and
stores were put on board with the knowledge
Of the government.
A very large portion Of the captured steam.