St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-30

mencement of hostilities, the provinces
of New Mexico, California, Chihuahua,
Durango, New Leon and TamaulipaS,
embracing more than One-third of the
geographical area of the Mexican re-
public, were either virtually conquered
or in actual possession of the American
forces.
In November. 1916, Gen. Scott was
ordered to the Rio Grande for the pur-
pose CT conducting an expedition against
Vera Cruz. The city had long been
celebrated both for its commercial i'm
portance and its commanding position
at the terminus on the Gulf of Mexico
10 the sea coast. 1t was surrounded by
a wall of stone, and had strong towers
or forts at irregular intervals. The two
most powerful of these were Santiago
and Conception. The chief feature of
the defences of Vera Cruz was the
famous castle of San Juan de Ulua, the
reduction of which was the great object
of the expedition under Gen. Scott. Its
construction was commenced as far
back as 1882. Nearly $40, 100000 was eX-
pended OH the work. 1t was entirely
surrounded by water, as can be seen by
visiting the accurate reproduction now
i'll place at the Exposition amphi-
theater. When Gen. Scott landed there
were between two hundred and fifty and
three hundred cannOns in the city and
castle. A gun fired from the steamer
Massachusetts was the signal to ''give
away" The landing was effected with
out opposition from the enemy. Great
credit was awarded to Commodore Con-
ner, who. in small boat, personally
superintendent the movement.
In the afternoon of the 22d the bonn
bardment began.
A Vigorous CannOnade
was opened upon the trenches and flo
tIlia from the city and castle, which was
warmly and still more effectively re-
turned. The topping walls and blazing
roofs marked where the booming shot
and flaming shell had fallen, and when
night came it was illumined by the red
glare which flashed up increasingly
city of Vera Cruz the effect of the
American fire was terrible and de-
Structive in the extreme. WailingS and
lamentations were heard in every quar-
ter of the Inflated city. Fathers
were stricken down upon their own
threshold, and mothers Smitten at the
fireside as they leaned over the helpless
offspring who chung to them in vain for
protection. Stout manhood and de-
crepid age, the weak and the strong. fell
dead together. All this suffering had
been foreseen by the American com
mander; the Inhabitants had been fore
warned and the blockade had been left
open to the latest hour to allow neutrals
to withdraw. The opportunity had not
been improved.
The terrible strife continued. Day
after day and night after night the con-
slant din of musketry, the Kissing of
bombs and the roar of the cannonading
went on. New batteries were con-
stantly being added and these were
creating fresh destruction all around.
Vera Cruz was in flames. and the nights
there were nights of horror.
At O'Clock on the morning of the Goth
day of February, 1S47, the American
batteries ceased playing, and the articles
of capitulatlon were signed next day.
The surrender of the city took place on
the Goth. A grand national salute was
fired from the squadron, and the bands
of the fleets played THE Star Spangled
Banner" as the American flag rose
above the plaza of Vera Cruz, and
fioated in triumph over the rampartS of
San Juan de Ullua, the Gibraltar Of
Mexico.