Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-05
PROM the NATIONAL Ia.sIliesueer March 81.

s 1t appears from letter of the Secretary
OF the Navy. amongst these papers. that mo
instructions have been given 10 any officers
of the United States by which, in any event,
the naval force oil the United States, or any |
part thereof, were to take part in the civil |
war now existing in Mexico" Orders have |
been given. however, "to cur naval forces |
on the coast to protect the persons and |
property Of citizens of the United States;u |
and the President has directed Mr. McLane |
If ..hostiie force should approach Vera |
Cruz and be should consider the American |
citizens there in danger from its operations.
10 request the commanding officer of the
United States vessels of war upon that
coast TO land such forces as may be needed
and can be spared from indispensable duties.
and 70 employ them for tie protection of our
citizens whose persons property he may
believe to be in danger" Capt. Jarvis was
directed TO comply with any request that
might lie made by Mr.. McLane under these
Instructions, and was further directed not
TO recognise any blockade of Vera Cruz by
the Miramon Government. As regards the
course of Capt. Jarvis and Commander TuT-
ner, in the capture of Miramon's steamers,
the Secretary says that. upon the facts stated
in their reports, "the Department approves
of the conduct of both these gallant officers
and the men under their command"
We have room only for so much OF the des-
patch of Commander Turner. of the ship
Saratoga. to Captain Jarvis. of the ship Sd
vannah. dat ed off Vera Cruz. March 9Th, as
gives narrative of the purs nit and capture
of the steamers. Ii is as follows:
On the morning of the 9th instant two
large steamers appeared off the barbor Of
Vera CrnZ without any flag being hoisted.
although Gun was fired from the Castle. aud
the Mexican flag run up at the same time to
induce them to do They were evidently
nf,da how a. for
| time, C mmuuicating with each other. After
several h.urs, and alter communicating with
the Spanish vessels If war at SACRIFICES.
which sent out boat TO them. they stood
down in the direction of Anton Lizardo.
You directed me Immediately to place my
ship in tow of two American steamers here,
the Wave and Indianola, which were placed
| at your disposal, TO follow them, to ascertain
their character, whore they were from, of
what nation. where they fitted out, and what
was their object upon this coast, and to re-
port 10 you the re.ult of these inquiries with
all pos slulc dispatch.
Ia obedience to these orders, left here
about sunset, in tow of those vessels, on
board of each OF which 1 placed d :tach
ment of about thirty five men and marines.
in case they might go into shoal water, where
icy ship, with her large draft, could not fol-
| low and communicate with them. The de-
tachment OF board of the Wave was COM
manded by Lieut.. Jorl S. Kcnnard, Of the
Savannah, accompanied by Midshlpman
| WhitIle of the Prrble. That of the Indian
ola was commanded by Lieut.. Bryson, of the
Preble, accompanied by Mr.. Joseph Miller,
| of the same vessel; Lieut.. Hayes, of the ma
rine guard of the ayannah, and Lieut.
Neiere, of The marine guard of this ship.
| pr ceeded down the coast. making Alton
| LizarlO, fifteen miles distant. where | ex-
| pected TO find them about midnight.
Two large vessels were reported at anchor
| at Anton Lizarrio. | stood directly for them
had directed my pilot to anchor Inc imme-
! diaiely between The two vessels. At the mo-
| ment when had nearly reached this point,
! and the tow off, both The little steamers being
| ahead of me, they hailed and reported that
the larger steamer of the two was under way
aud eudeavoring to escape through the south
ern passage. l hailed. and ordered them to
| pursue him and get on board him il possible.
| as | was ordered to communicate with the
senior officer, who / supposed was on board
| of this vessel. At the same moment l fired
shot ahead of him to bring him to. As
soon as they got close TO him. which was but
u few moments. TO my extreme establishment
| he opened IL heavy fire of great guns and
musketry upon them, and it was reported to
me at The same time that the other steamer
| was slipping her cable. i Immediately gave
| him broadside. as / had not the remOtest
| doubt of his bring in completely with aud
| under the orders of ihe officer of the other
| steamer. aud | was afraid he would 60 to his
assistance. in which case | should have been
| obliged to recall my vessels or TO have wit
messed their capture and destruction and as
be had the audacity to fire into me without
any provocation whatever, was determined
to seize him if could. lie rau up the span
| lsh Tag as soon as Tired.
In the mean time the larger steamer was
| holly engaged with the forces on board my
! two little steamers in running fight. Find
! ing be could not get out OF the sou hern pas
sage, he Immediately changed his course. put
his head to The nOrihward and passed Inside
| of me 10 gain the northern passage and to
keep out OF the way of my guns. followed by
my vessels, warmly engaged with him all
the time lie was evidently too fast for and
was gaining upon them As he shot ahead
| of them got gun TO bear upon him and
shot away his smoke stack. | found now
| that il was Impossible Ia tire without danger
to my vessels, as they were all together.
! The chase was continued, aud In tue midst
of the hot fire on either side l could not but
admire, at this moment, The daring gallantry
of these fine fellows, coutending with such a
superior force. They clCAd IN upon and
grappled with him. in spite of his efforts 10
shake them off. Finding it impossible to es-
cape, suppose he ran his vessel on shore; al
all events, pressed closely by them. she
| grounded, which | was not aware of at the
time. They were then distant about mile
from my ship, and my anxiety was intense
Tor their safety. | could afford them no pos
sibie aid. Ny three largest cutters were on
board and before could have manned my
boats and got to them the affair would have
been ended was not, however. kept long
in supp, nse, for almost immediately heard
three cheers, and was informed that they
were boarding her over the bows, which could
he distinctly seen by our GLASSES.
now return To tue steamer at anchor close
to me. Whilst the eGga cement continued
between tue other vessels, and atthe moment
they were passing this ship, the first iicuien-
ant. who was on the poop, called me to say
that this steamer was firing musketry. / di-
rected again division oil guns TO toe given
him, which was done. | lien hailed and or.
deI ed him on board. As he did not come Al
once sent Lieut.. Chapman on board Ia say
# be did not Instantly come on board would
send a guard 10 bring bin. He came on
'oard and informed nle, in answer To my in
iluiries, that bis ship was the Marquee of Ha.
ana; that he had been employed by Captain
larin. who commanded The other ship, "a
transport stores aud munitions of war, and
uat he was Spanish.
! la the mean time had sent an officer 70
ring Captain Marin on board. As soen as
e reached my cabin / asked him how he had
Jared 10 fire npon my vessels. He replied
unhe>itaiinsly, aud in the presence Of a wit
aess, that when he observed my vessels steer
ing Into the harbur he bad informed his crew
that he vas sure they were American vessels
of war. and positively had forbidden them tC
IRE. bat that IL was mixed crew al various
nations, having bern but recently taken or
board, and not being yet properly disciplit
Ell, he found il impossible To control them.
observed that IL was n great outrage TO-
which he would have TO answer, Which b.
pretended most deeply to regret. all OF whiel
knew rs be untrue, because during the &C
ton be vas distinctly heard calling upon hi