The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-26

TIE GULF NAVAL BATrT.Et
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

xk20 0OA1 AA DAT VAE
FURTHER PARTICULARS:
A:ssssn. st the Ers.Femr.s-A Boa. from
capture Of the Prisoners-The Siege oi
Vera Cruz, &c.
The U. s. sloop- p-of.war Preble arrived a,
New Orleans. Saturday, with the remainder
of the prisoners taken on the prize steamers
at Vera Cruz. The New Orleans papers OF
Tuesday last bring further accounts of the re-
cent naval engagement In the Gulf The Plea
yune furnishes the following:
The two steamers captured by the United
States sloop. of-war Saratoga, on the Mexican
coast and brought hither Ms prizes sailed from
Havana on the 27,h uit. The Murques de la
fIabana is reported, by the Diario de la Mari
na. to have cleared as a Spanish vessel the
Gen. Miramon Mexican. They both
cleared as merchantmen, nor does it appear
that at the lime Of the clearance they had ma
teriais Of war on board. And this is stated to
us on good authority from Havana, to have
been the fact. The guns, ammunition, stores,
&c, were taken on board afterwards. OF the
former. each steamer had six, twelve and
twenty -four Founders, or twelve In ALL stored
below. As to the amount of stores and am
muniiion we have only general statement that
both vessels were deeply laden.
Both the Marques de la Habana and General
Miramon were old Spanish mail steamers
formerly known AS Correo No. 2. They were
both built, we believe, some here At the North
and one of them is said TO have piled on the
Sound before her purchase by the Spanish
Government, but under what name Is not
sta ed.
OF the actual nationality Of the steamers we
have divers reports. That most generally re-
ceived is that, before fitting ont for this last
expedition, they had been transferred to some
agent of the Miramon Government. The pur-
& = h<p
transmitted through the French Consulate at
Vera Cruz. 1t is somewhat singular, how.
ever, II the transfer was actually made, As re-
por ted, that one Of them at least should be re-
ported cleared as a Spaniard. The Havana
custom-house reports are very formal and
proverbally accurate. Il is also somewhat
singular, ii true, rs reported, that both vessels
carried the Spanish flag as they sailed from
the port OF Havana.
After they had cotton ont to sea, all ac-
counts agree that the Mexican flag was hoisted
and the guns mounted. This Is reported by
the steamship Mexico, which lett them at ST.
sal on the I'd. Com. Thomas Marin was then
IN command OF the expedition, boarded the
Mexico in that capacity, and sent back dis
patches to Havana by her. Both vessels were
then armed as war steamers.
CAPTURE OF THE sTEANERs-rARTICULAR OF
THE ENGAGEMENT.
In the meantime, the Constitutional Gov.
ernment At Vera Cruz had issued a proclama-
ton, declaring Marin q pirate and author.
izing whoever should encounter him or his
vessels, in the waters of Mexico To capture
them, as sailing practically, in violation of the
la Of nations. The steamers made their ap.
pearance off Vera Cruz about noon of the 9th
They were Immediately signaled, from the
castle, AS suspicious vessels, and the news cir
culated rapidly through the town, where it
produced great excitement. In the meantime
the steamers continued under full steam rap
idly to ad vance. They passed behind the castles
OF San Juan de Uina, in the direction Of Sa.
and finally ran into Anton LiZardo
where flag, previously raised by Miramon,
indicated the place of rendezvous. Miramon
was al this time before Vera Cruz.
The steamers bore flags whatever when
they passed the castle. nor did they hoist them
either then or at Sacrificios. though they
were ordered so TO dc, first by a shot from the
fortress, and afterwards by the United States
sloop Savannah. On the contrary. they steam
ed boldly forward. The French, Spanish and
English vessels at Sacrificios did not notice
the suspicious steamers, or at least did not or
der them to show their colors. Capt. Jarvis,
Of the sloop- Of war Savannah, is the senior
United States officer a Vera Cruz. He saw with
his own eyes this contemptuOus violation OF
ehe law of nations-two vessels of war armed
to the teeth, passing coohy by without giving
\ sigual OF hoisIing har coioG when ordered ,
80 to do-and took his course decidedly. He
lmme diately ordered the sloop-of-w war Sara
toga, Capt. Turner, to 20 in pursuit OF the
steamers. The Saratoga, only carrying sail,
was lowed down by the steamers IndianoIa,
Of this port, and the Wave. plying on the Mex
lean coast.
The Marin steamers had just cast anchor at
Anton LiZardo, when tthe Saratoga came up
with them. They still had steam up. hoWey.
ar, and seemed to have taken a position as if
10 put at once to sea in case of being over
hauled: The Saratoga, however, seems to have
aiken them unaWares, though the moon was
shining brightly, and at once took position
20 cut Off all retreat. Marin then prepaI ed as
f TO give fight. In the meantime, Capt. Tur-
ler dispatched small boat to the steamers,
h r1nrx IA a thatN rrA1;
rim fired upon it. The boat, however, contin-
aed its course; Marin fired upon it the second
time. The Saratoga then launched a broad
side upon the steamer, commanded in person
BY Marin. This was the Gen. Miramols, and
seemed best armed. She was piloted by a man
named Flores, well known at Vera Cruz. The
other steamer was commanded by one Capt.
formerly of the Mexican war steam.
sr Democratic, which he betrayed.
Ii was two or three O'Clock in the morning
before Marin surrendered. He was taken on
board the Saratoga. Nearly all the officers and
.reWs of both steamers were also captured
,ither by the Indianola or Wave, and taken |
lp TO Vera Cruz, where they were distribu ted |
,etween the Savannah, Saratoga and Prebie. |
The number of the wounded on board the |
wo steamers was about thirty. They were |
AIKEN on board the Saratoga, and their wounds |
dressed. Among the wounded was !
apt. Flores, who has since had his arm am
'utated at Vera Cruz. The number OF Amer |
cans wounded was three-one morally. We |
he Prehle.
A few OF Marin's men made good their es.
ape to the shore, but a number Of Miramon's !
nen, who had already gone on board the |
were captured. Among these last |
aptures wos Miramon's principal agent, who |
said to have hid himself in an obscure cor |
er when the firing begun, but had the mis- |
or,une after all to be badly wounded.
The Gen. Miramon was very badly injured |
y the Saratoga's broadside, and was only
often afloat with difficulty. The lndianola
lsO receiv ed several shots, but they did her no |
erious injury. So soon rs the action com
,enced. the two steamers hois.ed the Spanish
ag. After their arrival in Vera Cruz, sew
raj OF the prisoners made public statement,
a which they detailed the history CT the
1hOle tx pediiion. IL does not differ from the |
bove. They all testify that the Mexican nag
,as not raised until after both steamers lett
ne port Of Havana.
THE ATTACK ON VERA CRUZ.
While the firing was going on III Anton Lii
ardo, the enemy encamped before Vera Cruz
semed to have caught the spirit and sailed out
several small parties in the direction Of the
,wn. They had, during the whole day and |
vening, been riding about on the sand hills,
% ly surveying the city.
About midnight, they made descent upon |
AZ first and second lines. between the rail-
Dad and Huaca, where they were received
18th good cannOnading, and after about
venty minutes retired.
They seem TO have had only few small
eces with them, nor was the mum Der Of men |
reat. 1t appears to have been only union
several small scouting parties, who caught
le spirit Of the cannonad.ng in tlle distance,
i'd thought they would see what they could
, before the town. L
ACTUAL STATE OF THINGS AT VERA Cruz. !
Al last accounts MiramOn was still encamp. |
before the city, and had served npon the
reign representatives the usual notices Of
. Intention to lombard II. Whether, how
'er, he has now the means, since the capture
his steamers, seems q matter Of doubt. All
,ree, however, that up 10 the latest advices
still threatened the city. NOone, however,
f<Ah ho tai MiHamAD hA