Year: 1871

Gloomy torebodlngs pervaded the
American squadron stationed off Vera
Cruz, at the time the battle of BuenG
Vista was reported to be in favor Of
General Santa. 1t was about dusk III
the evening when this news, so joyful
to the Mexicans, was made known with
in the walls Of Vera Cruz


The firing Of cannon, the blaze Of
rockets bursting in mid air, the rolling
of drums, displaying of flags from ev.
cry prominent point, and the loud huz
zas Of the people, struck dsmay among
the brave tars composing our navy.
These rejoicings Of the Mexicans, how
ever, were to perish by the rising north
ern blast, like budding flowers which
sometimes fall before they ripen to per-
fiction of beauty in early spring time.
For, whilst rejoicings were progressing,
speck much winter than the crested
wave appeared tossing up and down in
the far distance. The glasses were soon
brought into requisition, and the little
speck was magnihed into a sail, above
which foated in triumph the stars and
stripes Of America, The fierce northeI
freshened every moment, and the foam,
inc pillows succeed each other in mad
and powerful array.


Great solicitation vas felt by every
one in the squadron for the safety OF the
frail craft which bore aloft the fag Of
our country. Now she was seen, and
then to disappear; presently she arose
"once more upon the waters " and came
dashing proudly on.


She soon became an object of univer-
sal attraction. The bright galaxy Of
stars, shedding their lustrc from an
"enormous flag at her mast head,
cast so much light upon the char
acter of the little skipper Of the seas,
that the attention of the Mexicans was
alarmingly attracted. Sounds of re joic-
ings within the walls seemed to cease,
and a big gun was elevated in the Cast
lie of San Juan de Ulloa, to give the
stranger rather a warm reception. As
she came dashing through the spray cv-
cry heart in our squadron beat quicker
and quicker with indescribable emotion;
all was breathless attention and anxiety;
it was, 50 to speak, like the calm which
is the usual precursor Of the storm.


The news must be of a cheering M
ture, thought they on board our gallant
navy; or such an enormous flag would
not be unfurled to the breeze, and did
not deviate from a given point, inside
the vessels To have gone to leeward
she never could have made the vessels.
Her course was straight, and when
within three hundred yards Of the Cas-.
tie, Immediately in front, another can
non much larger than its predecessor,
was fred but it only gave the crew a
good drenching, which, however, they
had become familiar with, by this time.
So far the little craft escaped, and the
valiant heroes at the castle determined
to sink her. They fired another great
gun, but its huge messenger Of death
fell harmless 1t was the parting gun,
The launch soon hauled up alongside
the flagship of our navy, and gave the
joyful news that General Taylor had
had rough and ready fight with Santa
Anna, and had put old wooden LEG and
his army to hight!' What a glorious
reaction Immediately took place among
our brave officers and seamen. The
good news was spread through the
squadron by the means Of the naval tele-
graph, and every stripe Of bunting was
flung to the breeze, every sailor manned
the rigging, and such hearty cheering
was never heard before, 1t was now
our turn; long toms were brought out,
which sent the news Of the glorious
victory of the American eagles into the
very heart of Mexico.


One word in conclusion. That little
launch was manned only by two men
and a small boy, all of whom hail from
Texas. One of the men was born in
Massachusetts, the other somewhere in
Maine and the boy in Texas. The lit
tie fellow had the helm at the time Of
the firing from the Castle, and his steady
and devoted attention to the commands
of the two men is such that reflects the
highest honor upon his heart. We on
ly regret that we have not the names Of
the gallant little crew to haod down
to posterity