Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-27
The New Orleans Plcayune of Wednesday last con
ans many interesting particulars concerning the capture
of the two Miramon steamers. We copy as follows:
srAryvFNT mr. PRISONERS

months pay on their arrival the Mexican coast and
! free passage back again to Havana.
They sailed from Havana the 26th of February under
the Spanish flag. After they got outside, however the
Mexican flag raised The crew now demanded their
pay advance according promise, but did not get it,
The next two days nothing of Importance occurred
The third day the Marquee de la Habana broke down,
and they Obliged put into Ssal Here was that
they fell in with the Spanish mail steamer Mexico from
Vera Cruz and bound to Havana Signals were eXchang
ed and when the vessels approached nearer, they all
! shouted "Ilurrah for MiramOn."
This say the prisoners was the first ntmation they
had OF the character Of the expedition. They did not
even know that they carried materials OF The
nons small arms ammunition, &c, we're stored away be-
! low, out of sight
The next day, however the guns were mounted, and
both steamers perfectly fitted up MS men-oi-war New
clothing also distributed among the crew, bearing
the name of Gen. Miramon, in gold leaf Some of the
first refused TO change but all finally yielded per
| force
The expedition then continued its voyage. On their
approach Vera Cruz they fell in with vessel from
which they learned that the city was besegd cannon
aiding had been heard the morning before The guns
were now charged and manned, and orders issued 10
lower the Mexican flag At first the prisoners say they
thought the English cOlOrs TO be raised instead
they had been several times during the late iete in the
harbOr Of Havana. This of cours, was not done Both
made their appearance before Vera Cruz be-
fore stated, without any cOors whatever The captain
said il was not necessary.
THs EXPEDITION BEFORE VERA CRUZ.
The steamers sight of Vera Cruz little before
noon on the morning of the 9th At II NJ. they were
sgnaed from the castle suspicious steamers They APP
preached the town from the sea- and as If from the north
and passed directly under the castle shot from the
iorress ordered them TO and show their coors
! They gave il no heed. The L. s. soOp of Savan-
nah then anchored the castle She also signal
ed The steamers TO show their coors They gave
heed her. however, than they did TO the castle but
pursued their course past SACRIFICES direct Anton Lii
zirdo At the former place, the French, Spanish and
English of were all anchored but there seems
have been communication with them, nor indeed
/ did they appear 10 notice the suspicious vessels.
PURSUIT or STEAMERS.
A before stated Captain Jarvis Immediately ordered
Capt. Turner Of the Saratoga, TO 90 in pursuit The
steamer got under way hapast eight in the evening
She towed down by Gen. Goicourias steamship In
danola Capt Flanders from this port, and the steamer
Wave also American vessel but for time past
in the service Of the Jutrez government, coast
steamer Each Of them had two guns and some eighty
men board. portion Of these were United States
miriues ordered thereon from the Savannah aud PEBBLE
| for the occasion.
PARTICULARS OF THE WHOLE ENGAGEMENT.
The three vessels arrived at Anton Lizardo lte be-
fore midnight. Here Mramon had previously boi-.ed a
flag TO indicate the place OF rendezvous Both steamers
still had steam up and seemed 10 have taken position
make good their escape if pursued On the arrival
however Oft Saratoga, they buy engaged com
muuicatiug with the shore, and though the moon was
shining clear day. did not her approach until too
late. They dreadluy frightened and did seem
to be decided az first what course 10 pursue. In the
meantime, the Saratoga sent out small boat 10 demand
their nationality. They fired upon il twice as before
stated The Saratoga then opened brOadside upon the
Gen. Mramon, on board Of which Com. Marin, aud
came sinking her at the first shot The steamer re-
turned the shot but in the meantime got underway ma
turay anxious to get out Of so hot place The India
noa pursued and soon came up with her The MiramOn
showed fight, but the lndanoIa returned her fire. and
an,lly boarded her az the po nj Of the bayone It
10 this engagement that the lndanoa had her pilot house
carried carried away bya cannon shot She also
ed other slight damage but nothing TO in any way dsa-
bic her.
While MI this was going on, the Saratoga was paying
her respects to the Mrquese de Ia abana This was the
vessel which cleared from Havana as a Spanard. She
did not offer much resistance. single shot from the
Sarasga brought her TO- and then for the first time she
hosted The Spanish flag.
This affair finished the Wave until now in attendance
on the Saratoga, the aid OF the Indanola from
which the General MiramOn making desperate eff
fort to escape after being boarded In her flight
however she ran aground and after few shots finally
surrendered without resistance. She gotten off
however till two DAYS afterwards, and then only by the
aid ofhe- cOnsort the Marquese de la Habana She
finally towed into Vera Cruz by the ndianoa while the
Maquese de Ia Habana had the unexpected honor of
turning the compliment by towing back the Saratoga.
WHO BID THE FIGHTING.
The French prisoners above mentioned declare that
the resistance board both the captured steamers
done principally by the officers in command They charg
ed aud discharged the with their own hands and
did of the fighting In this however, they had the
assistance Of six eight other officers, who came on
board the steamers Immediately after they made the har
Dor. These last Indeed all the officers, said to
have clustered considerably at first paradng themselves
the deck with drawn sword but finally to have fought
bravely Marin, in particular fought ike tiger.
KILLED WOUNDED AND PRISONERS
The number of killed and wounded about 40 The
former said 10 have been thrown overload at
The latter first taken board the Saratoga after
wards TO Vera Cruz OF the $50 men threeourths at
least are believed be 'pnard- The French
Portuguese, Americans aud Coolies from Manila They
were OF them doubtless Ignorant of the real nature
of the expedition The first engineer Of the Marques de
Ia Hsbaua was an American. lie was killed by shot
from the Saratoga.
The first engineer of the General Miramon was
Frenchman. He was also killed The second engineer
also Frenchman last accounts still a. bis post
out under the command of an American engineer
Among the prisoners more particularly mentioned are
Sr Rafael Rafael and the Able Chandren, well known
at Vera Cruz. The alimpotant captive, however, is
Com Marin himself
CAPT. turner's INTERVIEW WITH MARIN
When Marin board the Saratoga, Capt. Tur
ner asked him why he had thus fred upon American
sells without any proyocaion whItever, and in violation
of every rule OF honorable warfare. Marin replied thai
his men were composed of all sorts of people had been
but recently shipped were badly disciplined and could
not be oiled. He confessed that lie knew the Sara
toga be an American vessel and that he understood
all her signals but he protested that he did not order
shot 70 be fired He declared moreover, that he gave
the contrary orders, but could not control his men
Capt Turner listened TO these protestaons IN silence
and then added: "You have been guilty OF great out
rage You alone responsible for this unhappy affair
and upon you rests the responsibility warm respond
ed meekly that he regretted il very much, whereupor
Capt Turner left him his SORROWS and turned away
Marin is said TO have lived at Havana, While the expe
don was being fitted out in the house of the Captain
the Port aud all the prisoners declare that the arms mu
nous and stores put board with the knowedgt
OF the Government.
THE VALUE OF THE PR2Fs.
The Trait dUnlon says that the cargo of the two steam
ers consisted of 1000 fourteen pound bomb shells two
bronze morars 1000 small arms and more than $1,000
raons 1t is further stated that the total expenditure
Of the expedition amounted to notess than sSOOuOo h'
greater part of which money furnished by the gov
vernment at Havana in conformity with secret article
Of the Almonte treaty.
b POWDER THROWN OVERHEARD.
very large portion of the captured steamers cargo
is said to have been powder During the melee at An
ton Izardo much of this was thrown overb oard Ohe
stores also thrown into the when it was seer
they would inevitably fall into the hands oil the Amer
| cans.
DEFENCE OF VERA Cruz.
The city of Vera Cruz is entirely deserted except hy
the solderly, who sleep nightly on their arms Never
theless most perfect confidence would seem everyw
prevail in the ability of the city TO make successful
defence
Vera Cruz of the strongest places in the world
and of the most difficult to take Its works OF DE
fence may be enumerated among the wonders OF tn
world.
The whole exposed line of the city on the inlan'
side il only about 600 wards and this s protected b.