Year: 1860

anchor at Anton LZardo. stood directly Tor thein-
had directed my pilot to anchor me Immediately be-
tween the two vessels At the moment when had near
y reached this point aud the TOW of both the steamers
being ahead of me- they hailed and reported that the lar
ger steamer of the two was under way and endeaVons
10 escape through the southern passage halted and or
dered them pursue him aud get Oh board him 1t posi-
BILE as was ordered to communicate with the senior Of
fcer, who supposed on board of this vessel At
the same moment, fired shot ahead OF him TO bring
him As they got close to him, which was but
few moments to my extreme astonishment he opened
heavy fire of great guns aud musketry upon them and
il was reported TO the time that the other
steamer slipping her cable.


Immediately gave her a broaiside, as ! had not the
doubt of her being in completely with and under
the orders Of the officer OF the other steamer and was
afraid he would 90 his aSs,auce in which case should
have been obliged to recall my vessels TO have wit
messed their capture and destruction and as he had the
audlcity to fire into without any whatever
was determined to seize him Il could He ran up the
Spanish hag rs soon | fired. In the meantime the
larger steamer hoty engaged with the forces on
board little steamers in running fight Finding
he could get out of the southern passage he mmcd
atey changed his course put his head to the nOrthward
and passed Inside OF me to gain the northern passage and
TO keep OF the way OF my guns, followed by my yes
sels warmly engaged with him all the time lie ev
identity fast for and gaining upon them as he
shot ahead of them got gan 10 bear upon him and
shot away his smoke stack. found now that 1t was I'M
possible tire without danger tony yessela they were
all together The chase was continued and in the midst
of the hot fire either side could not but admire, al
this moment, the daring galautry OF these fine fellows
contcuding with such superior force They closed IN
upon aud grappled with him. in spite OF his Efforts to shake
them off Finding it impossible TO escape, suppose he
ran his vessel shore At all events pressed closely by
them, she grounded, which was nc; aware OF at the
time They then distant about mile from my ship
and nv anxiety intense for their safety could al
ford them 10 possible aid Ny three largest cutters were
on board and before could have manned boats and got
to them, the affair would have been ended was not
however kept long in suspense, for almost Immediately
heard thIee cheers and informed that they were
boarding her the bows, which could be distinctly
seen by our glasses.


now return TO the steamer at anchor close TO me-
! Whilst the engagement continued between the other
vessels and nc the moment they passing this ship
the First Lieutenant who on the poop, called me to
say that this steamer firing muSkery. | directed
again a division of guns to be given him, which was
done | then hailed, and ordered him on board. As he
did not come at once | sent Lieutenant Chapman Oh
board to say if he did instantly come on board,
would send u guard TO bring him. He came on board
and informed me- in answer TO my inquiries, that this
ship was the Marquee OF liayaua that he had been EN-
ployed by Capt Marin who commanded the other ship
TO transport stores and mum ions OF and that he was
Spauish la the meantime had officer TO bring
Capt Marin board. As soon as he reached my cabin
| asked hm how he had dared 10 fire upon my vessel
He replied mhesitatngly, and IN the presence OF a
witness that when he observed my vessels steering into
the harbor he had Informed lis crew that he was sure
/


forbidden them to fire. but that It mixed crew Of
various nations having been but recently taken on board
and not being vet properly disciplined he found 1t I'M
/ possible to control them.


| observed that It great outrage Tor which he
would have TO answer which he pretended most deeply
10 regret all of which knew to be untrue, because du
ring the action he distinctly heard calling upon his
/ men 10 board with him.


Ii only remains for speak of the force and arma
ment of these vessels far have been able to as
certain them. The larger steamer called the Mramon
carries two broadsite, one pivot gun and several hoW
zers with OF about one hundred men. l am not
positive to the calbre OF her guns Supposing she
would follow up Yesterday expected 10 have been
able give minute account OF her, but she Is still
| aground


The Marquee of Havana carries also pivot and two
broadsde guns with about seventy per'Ons on board
Her pivot gun Is heavy twenty-lour FOUNDER The cap
tain Of this last vessel threw overheard quantities Of
muntou much Of which picked phoatng in the har-
Dor by boats in chests and kegs. When he was Ia
ken possession Of hls guns all dsmounted and ly
ing upon the deck beside the carriages, which, have
no doubt done after he found he captured, and
before could get boat on board of him.


He assumes to be an armed vessel and his papers OF
clearance DO speak of his having any guns board
vet his armament is such have reported IT, and there
no doubt but that his vessel equipped at Havana
part Of the force with which Capt Marin was to act
/ on this coast


It now becomes my painful duty speak Of circum-
stance which has occasoued the deepest concern and
About two hOurs alter the engagement DOat
came alongside from the Indianoa, with person very
badly wounded dressed in citizens clothing. Upon in
qury was informed it Gen. Sube OF the Mexican
! army. | Immediately had him taken to my cabin. II
seems bv his account he related it 10 me- that


was about leaving Vera Cruz he sent of to the In
dianola by his government to obtain some information
as to my movements and that in the hurry and confusion
Of getting under way and towing out his boat left him
The officers commanding these yelse had been particu
sry instructed by allow stranger others than
| in IN Ian
engineers and iremen As these all strangers the
officer i'm command could distinguish between them
aud other strange persons on board, and did not know
that he was board until he saw him wounded. lmme'
diately on my arrival sent him COT TO the castle,
where be now is Lieut. Bryson is not to blame; he
knew nothing of his coming on board


On our part am glad be able to report to you the
small loss our vessels have sustained have had but one
man mortaly wounded, who is still alive; seriously
snd several slightly This is the more remarkable the
engagement lasted from half to threequarters of an
hour and the firing incessant during that tme but
it must be remembered it was at night


On the part of these people the loss much more
severe Twelve were brought board my ship severely
wounded three of whom have since died. have sent
all the rest to the hospital The wounds in almost every
case being by MIME rifle bullets, very severe |
should have remained at Anton Lzardo until the Mira
mon got ahoa but the doctor requested me to come
| up al once with the wounded.


cannot close this despatch sir without expressing my
extreme satisfaction with the conduct Of all the officers
and men of the expedition. My own officers and men,
who unfortunately had but small share in the engage
ment by aacrty activity and prompttude to obey and
execute orders taught feel with what confidence
/ could depend upon them il my ship should be at
any time called upon defend the honor OF her tag


have already spoken Of the conduct Of the officers
and men on hoard of the ludanOa and Wave. On their
part it was brilliant affair. have omitted to'statc that
the vessel of Captain Marin called Nramon, did not hoist
her coors at any time before during after the engage
ment and that it brilliant moonlight night, when
he could have easily satisfied himself that the Sara
toga could not possibly have been vessel belonging to
any Mexican party power. | have also omitted TO
state that the clearance papers of the Marquee certify TO
only thrtyhree persons hoard; whereas am inform
ed by the officers in charge of her that after thirty
of them had been removed there remained at least fer
ty on board Of her A this ship seut Immediately
back to assist floating the Miramon, have been unable
to make accurate report of the number OF persons
board of her


About the time the MiramOn taken, boat escap-
ed from her to the shore said contain officers Of Gen.
Mlramon's army.


The statement which have submitted to you OF all
the important details Of this affair will be testified TO by
every officer Of tine expedition.


Very respectfully,


T. TURNER, Commander.