The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-04-25

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The seizure of Vera Cruz by thu
! American navy calls to mind the cap
ture of Vera Cruz by General Winfield
Scott on March 20, 1847. Vera Cru,
was taken more easily Tuesday thar
it was 81 years ago, though Genera
SCOTS capture of the city was made II
a manner decidedly expeditions foi
those days.
When the war between the United
a blockade of the gulf ports was or
dered by the navy department. Com
modore Conner, OF the blockading fleet
had under his command 10 warships
with 259 guns. The blockade was de-
clared early in 1886 and continued
until all of the gulf ports were occu-
pied by American soldiers.
Defending Fleet Weak.
The blockade was considered large
| ly paper blockade" and was not eff
fective until after the capture OF Vera
Cruz The gulf storms bothered the
little fleet and forced it to seek shell
| ter back of the island to the south OF
Vera Cruz, making it comparatively
easy for the blockade runners to enter
| the harbor of Vera Cruz by the north
channel. The little fleet lacked the
, Strength necessary for offensive oper-
alton and it's occasional attempts to
shell seaport towns proved disastrous.
Early in 1S47 General Scott con-
ceived a plan of taking Vera Cruz and
opening the gateway to Mexico City
while General Taylor occupied the at
tention of Santa Anna at the Rio
at the Island of Lobos, so miles south
of Tampico, and gathered there an
army of 10000 men. From there he
took the army in 80 transports to
point near Point Anton Lizardo, and on
the afternoon of March 8, 1S47, sue
ceeded in landing $500 men in 67 surf
boats at point three miles south OF
Vera Cruz meeting with practically no
resistance from the defenders OF vera
Cruz. That night he succeeded in land
ing the entire army.
Men Protected from Fire.
The City of Vera Cruz was defended
by 1890 Mexican soldiers, who were
ably assisted by as many more civil
ians, General Juan Morales, the com
mandant of the Vera Cruz garrison,
hoped to be able to hold off the attack
ing army until the spring heat brought
disease and death to the invaders or
until reinforcements might be sent to
relieve the siege. His artillery Kept up
z steady fire on the Americans Whlle
they were intrenching their position.
1t had little effect and failed to draw
a return fire from the Americans until
Vera Cruz was thoroughly invested.
On March 10 Scott began the APP
breaches to the city by line OF
trenches cleverly constructed without
exposing his men to the fire of the
enemy. When the American position
was within 1900 yards of the outer de-
lenses of the city Scott summoned the
city to surrender, but Morales peremp-
torily refused.
Damaged City Surrenders.
The bombardment of the city was be-
gun on March %. American mortars
threw shells and solid shot into the |
city necessarily. The shells tore great
holes in the abode buildings and the
solid shot penetrated the walls as
though they were paper. The blockad-
ing fleet, then under the command OF
Perry took no part in the
attack other than to maintain close
blockade of the harbor.
For three days the bombardment OF
he city was kept up from the batteries
planted by Scott. The destruction was
10 terrific that the foreign consuls IN
he city urged that the city be sur
.ehdered Morales called a council OF
war and all of his leaders advised
surrender. The obstinate general,
however, refused, but before the day
vas over resigned the command TO
General Jose Juan Landero, who i'm
nediately opened negotiations looking
O a surrender. An armistice was ar
anged and on March 20 the city was
ormally surrendered with nearly 40oo
prisoners of war and large quantity
f munitions. The American loss was
,nly II killed and SIS wounded, whlle
l. Axaxionr Loco wae 1000 in killed