gM88l
iHyyU
7 WO DOLLARS PER
HALF-YEARLY IX ADVANCE-5
AND FAOIVIERS1 AND r.lEG! litf JIGS' HEGISTEO.
vIF NOT PAID WITHIN THK TEAK.
I $Z SO WILL BU CfJARGED.
PRINTED AXD PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY JONATHAN ROW, SOMERSET, SOMERSET COUNTY, PA.
new Series. TUSSDAIT, APRIL 13, 18$7, Vol. 5.-X?o. 22
From the Journal of Commerce.
IRELAND'S APPEAL.
BT XEtS. LYDIA H. SIGOURNET.
P!e Erin toward her rocky strand
la frantic anguish prest.
Ana shrieks of wild, imploring pain
Burst from her laboring breast.
Her children in their vigor fell,
To secret shafts a prey,
Ai l miT'd by famine's plague-spot dire,
la fearful numbers lay.
For all around her mournful realm
The smitten harvest spread.
While sad the furrow'd church-yard told
The planting of the dead.
"Wake!
glorious Nation of the West
ake to ihv sister s woe.
Her earnest hands to thee are spread,
Thy liberal aid bestow.
Bid thy rich harvest load the ware,
Unlock compassion's stream,
And with the surplus of thy wealth
Her misery redeem.
Haste! pluck the poisoned arrow forth
That rankles in her breast,
And win the blessing of the skies.
Oh, fair and fruitful West.
rROM GEL. TAYLOR'S CAMP.
IIeadqc artkrs Armv of Occupation,
Cj.:np o.i the FuUof Bjllit. Eicna V sla,
Mexico, February 24. 1S47.
Sir: I have the honor to report that,
haing boue assured on the 20th inst.
the endi.y had asem'ied in very heavy
force at Encarnacion, thirty miles in front
cf Agua Nteva, with the design of attack
ing my position, I broke up my camp at
ihe latter place on the 21st, and took up
a strong line in front of Buena Vista, sev
en miie3 south of Saltiiio. A cavalry
force left at Agua Nueva for the purpose
f covering the removal of supplies was
driven in daring the night, and on the
mormng
of the 22d the Mexican army
appeared immediately in front of our posi-
ton. At 11 o clock A. 31. a tlag was
seat, bearing from General Santa Anna a
summons of unconditional surrender.
To which I immediately returned a nega
tive reply. The summons and my re
ply are herewith enclosed. The action
was commenced late in the afternoon be
tween the light troops on the left flank,
bat was not seriously engaged until tht
inoraing of the 23 J, when the enemy
made an effort to force the left flick of
our position. An obstinate and sangui
nary confiict was maintained, with short
interval s, throughout the dav, the result
being that the enemy was completely re
pulsed from our lines. An attack of cav
alry upon the raacho of B Jena Vista and
a demonstration upon the city of Saltiiio
itself were likewise handsomely repelled.
Early in the night the enemy withdrew
from his camp and fell hack npon Agua
Nu?va, a distance of twelve miles.
Oar own force engaged at all points in
acmn fed somewhat short 5,400
men. while that of the enemy, from the
statement of General Santa Anna, may
be estimated at 20,000. Oar success a
gainst such great odds is a suSeient en
comium on ths good conduct of our tr xps.
In a more detailed official report I shall
have the satisfaction of bringing to the n-
live oi trie government me conspicuous
gallantry of particular officers and corps.
I mav be permitted here, however, to ac
knowledge my great obligations to Briga-
dier General V ool, the second in com- ;
mind, to ttha I foel nartiejtarlv in.L-hr- l
ed for his valuable services on this occa-
Slon- j
Oar loss has been very severe, and will
not probably fall hort of 700 men. The
.Mexican loss n is neen immense. 1 shall ;
take the earliest opportunity of lorward-
ing a correct list of the casualties of the
ca.y . , J
itk4u.v, jwui u-
(heat servan
Z. TAYLOR,
Mjjor General U. S. A. comraading.
The Adjutant General of tne Army,
Washington.
translation.!
Summons of Santa Anna to Central
Taylor.
Yoa are surrounded by twenty thou-
smd men, and cannot, in any human pro- f
bability, avoid suffering a rout, and being
cut to pieces with your troops; but, as ,
vou deserve consideration and particular
fsieem, I wish to save you fron a catas
trophe, and for that purpose give you this
uotice, in order that yoa may surrender at
discretion, under the assurance that you
win ne ireateu wiui me consiuerauon oe-
locking to the Mexican character, to ! Killed. Adjutant E. M. Vatighan,
which end you will be granted an hoar's Sergeant D. J. Lillard, company A. Pri
tiaie to nnkc up your mind, to com- vates: Lewis Sanders. A J Mirrin. com
mence from the moment when my flag of
tni4-e arrirp iii vour camo.
With das v'ucw, I aesure you of mv
A
t'-ctilar csLL:ra:L?n,
Go! and liberty. Camp atEncantada,
February 22, 1847.
ANT. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
To Gen. Z. Taylor, commanding the
forces of the U. S.
Headquarters Armt or Occupation,
iiiiK uil.m i ista, r enruary ;
Sir: In reply to your note of this date.
summoning me to surrender my forces at
discretion, 1 beg leave to say that I de
cline acceding to your request.
With high respect, I am, sir, your obe
dient servant. Z. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen. U. States Army, commanding.
Senor Gen. D. Ant. Lopez ds Saxta
Anna,
Commander-in-Chief, La Encantada.
IIxadqcarters, Army of Occupation,
Saltiixo, February 25, 1847.
Sir: I have respectfully to report that
the main Mexican force is yet at Agua
Nueva. Our troops hold the positions
which they have so well defended, and
are prepared to receive the enemy, should
he venture another attack.
An arrangement has been made with
General Santa Anna for an exchange of
prisoners, by which we shall receive all,
or nearly all, of those captured from us
at different times, besides the few taken
in the action of the 23d. Our wounded,
as well as those of the Mexicans which
have fallen into our hands, have removed
to this place, and are rendered comforta
ble. Our loss in the recent actions, so far as
ascertained, amounts to 264 ki led. 450
wounded, and 20 missing. One compa
ny of the Kentucky cavalry is not inclu
ded in this statement, its casualties not
being yet reported. I respectfully en
close a list of the commissioned officers
killed and wounded, embracing many
names of the highest merit.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obe
dient sen ant,
Z. TAYLOR,
Maj.Gen'l U. S. Army, commanding.
The Adjutant Gene raj. of the Army,
Washington.
Headquarters, Army of Occupation,
Agua Nueva, March 1, 1847.
Sir: I have the honor to report that
the troops of my command occupied their
original camp at this place on the 27 di of
February, the last of the Mexican army
leaving th morning of that day in the di
rection of San Luis. It is ascertained
that the enemy is in full retreat, and in a
very disorganized condition; the men de
serting and dying of starvation in great
numbers. I dispatch a command this
day as far as Enearnaeion to harrass his
rear, and secure whatever military sup
plies may be found there.
From the statements of Mexican offi
cers, particularly of the medical statT to
succo" the wounded, there seems no
doubt that their loss in the recent sciion
is moderately estimated at 1,500, and may
reach 2,000 men, killed and wounded; be
sides 2,000 or 3.000 deserters. Many
officers of rank were lost. I enclose a
list of the names of our own killed and
wounded, made in complete as prac icable
at this time. One regiment (Kentucky
cavalry) is not included, its return not be
ing rendered.
The enemy had fully reckoned upon
our total rout, and had made arrange
ments to intercept our retreat, and cut off
the army, stationing for that purpose,
corps of cavalry not only immediately in
our rear, but even below Monterey. I
regret to report that they succeeded, near
the villige of Marin, in destroying a
train of supplies and killing a considera
ble number of the escort and teamsters
t Colonel Morgan. 2d Ohio regiment, on
his march from Seralvo to Monterey, was
which he" had several rencountres. but
finaUy dispersed them with small loss on
u:, r . r .... v, , , i r
f . .!. SPrvi. w mortall v woun-
ded in one of these affairs. I have no
,inbt that the defeat of the main armv at
Bu-na Vista will secure our line of com-
munication from further interruption; but
I sliU ?ropose in a few days to change
my headquar ers to Monterey, with a
view to make such further arrangements
a- may 5)e necessrv m that Quarter.
The dispositions made to harrass our
-:.J: . .w i: I f !
defending a position in front of Saftillo. h,uadred ,ms? were l thrown on s ho
where a defeat had thrown the enemy far 0i simultaneously No enemy ap
u t , .u . "vr u 1 a. peared to ofler us the slightest opposition,
back into the interior. No result so de- j .. . , 7 . 7V,,a
iiu . ,t- lLLtii The first line bem landed, the boats, m
cistve cauld have been obtained by hold-
inj Jlonterey, and our communications
would have been constantly in jeopardy.
I am, sir, very respectfully, vour obe-
t A',nnt marmrint T Tl VI fR
Maj. Gen?l U. S. Army, commanding.
The Adjutant General of the Army
Washington.
THE KENTUCKY CAVALRY.
Having been furnished with a list of
! the killed and wounded in this regiment,
11, as toiiows:
panr A. Privet??: J D Miller, B. War-
i ren, company B. rnvates: Jain yitnn.
L. wr M,
John Sander, John Elimgwood, company
i. Corporal J A Jee, company D. Pri-
j rates: D P Rogers, W McCIintock, J. !
''Pomeroy, company D. Privates: A G
Morgan, C Jones, Wm. Tevarts, N Ra- j
; mcy, II Carty, W W Bales, company E. j
j Privates: II Danforth, J C Martin E
Houston, J M Roulin, John Ross, E F
j Lilly, company F. Private Thomas
rignt, company u. U ii 1 hoinpson, f
company II. C B Dempst, company I. f
v ounded. Privates: John alker, B j
Spencer, E W Ruson, Thomas Scand
lett, compeny A. Second Lieutenant Tho
mas Con, company B. Privates: John H
Cluserlan, Samuel Evans, Joseph Mur
phy, Wm. Herndoa, company B. Pri
vates: John Reddish, B F Pierce, J K
Good Ioe.com pan v C. Privates: S nod
grass, J S Bryam, W C Parker, J M
Vanhook. George II Wilson, Jas. War
ford, C II Fowler, company D. Privates:
Charles Shepherd, M C Callahan,
Lerasy, company E. Privates: J S Jack
son, Thomas Brown, S Help, company
F. Second Lieutenant G W Brown; Cor
poral James Schooley, company G. Sec
ond Lieut. J II Merrifield; Sergeant S
Manahan, company II. II E Brady, com
pany I.
FROM OUR SQUADRON OFF VE
RA. CRUZ.
United States Ship Raritax,
OH Sacriricios, March 10, 1847.
Sir: la my last despatch, dated on
the 7th instant, I informed the Depart
ment of the arrival of Major General Scott
at Anton Lizardo. Most of the trans
ports, with troops and the materiel of the
army, having arrived about the same time,
a speedy disembareation was resolved up
on, it being quite important that we
should effect a landing before a norther
should come on, as this would delay u
two or three days. After a joint recon
noissance, made by the General and my
self, in the steamer Petrita, the beach due
west from Sacrificios, one of the points
spoken of in my previous letters, was se
lected as the most suitable for the pur
pose. The anchorage near this place be
ing extremely contracted, it became ne
cessary, in order to avoid crowding it
with an undue number of vessels, to trans
fer most of the troops to the vesssl? of
war for transportation to Sacriticios. Ac
cordingly, on the morning of the 9th, at
daylight, all necessary preparations, sach
as launching and numbering the boit, de
tailing officers, tc, having been previ
ously made, this transfer was commen
ced. The frigates received on board be
tween twenty-five and twenty-eight hun
dred each, with their arms and accoutre
ments, and the sloops and smaller vessels
numbers in proportion. This part of the
movement was completed very success
fully about 11 o'clock A. M., and a few
minutes thereafter the squadron under my
command, accompanied by the command
ing Genera! in the s: anship Massachu
setts, and such of the transports as had
been selected for the purpose, got under
way. The weather was very fine; in
deed, we could not have been more fa
vored in this particular than we were.
We had a fresh and yet gende breeze
from the southeast, and a perfecdy smooth
sea. The passage to Sacrificios occupi
ed us between two and three hours. Each
ship came in and anchored without the
slightest disorder or confusion in the small
space allotted to her the harbor being
still very much crowded, notwithstand
ing the number of transports we had left
behind. The disembareation commen
ced on the instant. Whilst we were
transferring the troops from the ahips to
the surf-boats, (sixty-five in number,) I
directed the steamers Spitfire and Vixen,
and the five gun-boats, to form in a line
parallel with and close in to the reach, to
cover the landing. This order was prompt
ly executed, and these small ressels, from
the lightness o! thejr draught
were ena-
I bled to take positions within good grape
ranze of the shore. As the boats sever-
received their complements of troops.
they assembled, in a line abreast, between
the fleet and the gun-boats; and when all
were ready they pulled in together, under
the guidance of a number of the officers
of the squadron, who had been detailed
for this purpose. Gen. Worth comman
ded this, the first line of the army, and
had the satisfaction of forming his com
mand on the beach & neighboring heights
1U
Si Otrlure SUH5CI. i. UUI uiuuJtuu v.ii
r successive inps, reueveu uie raen-oi-war.
' and transports of their remaining troops
! by ten o'clock P. M. The whole army,
save a few strangling companies, consist
ing of upwards of 10,000 men, were thus
' safely deposited on shore without the
I slightest accident of any kind. The cf
1 ficers and seamen under my command
! Tied with each other on this occasion, in
a zealous and energetic performance of
their duty. I cannot but express to the
Department the great satisfaction I have
uenvea iroa wr.ac3ins ukh cuuiu
to
contribute all ia their power to the suc
cess of their more fortunate brethem of
the army. The weather
still continuing
to-day, we are engaged in landing the ar
tillrv. horses, orovisions, ana
other ina-
w ' S. .
f teriel. The steamer New Orleans, with
the Looisi:
Louisiana tegiment of retoeers, 600
strong, arrived most opportunely at Anton
Lizardo, juit as we had put ourselves in
motion. She joined us, and her throops
were landed with the rest. Another
transport arrived at this anchorage to-day.
Her troops have also been landed. Gen,
Scott has now with him upwards of 11,-
uuu men. At fits request, 1 permitted
the marines of the squadron, under Capt.
Edson, to join him as a part of the 3d re-
giment of artillery. The general-in-chief
landed this morning, and the army put
itself in motion at an early hour, to form
its line around the city. There has been
some distant firing of shot and shells from
the town and casde upon the troops as
they advanced, but without result. I am
still of the opinion, expressed in my pre
vious communications, as to the inability
of the enemy to hold out for any length
of time. The casde has, at most, but
four or five weeks provisions, and the
town about enough to last for the same
time.
I am, very respectfully, &c.
D. CONNOR,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. J. Y. Mason, Secretary of the
Navy, Washington.
IMPORTANT NEWS
gffi-oig yaaa
Successful Landing of American Forces.
lValer and Supplies cut off from
the Enemy.
Reconnoisance Landing of the Ameri
can Forces Carrying Redoubts Loss
of Capt. Alburtis and seven men In
vestment of Vera Cruz Rescue of Mid
shipman Rogers The Squadron, tc.,
&c.
By the arrival at New Orleans on the
15ih inst., of the schooner Portia, Cap
tain Powell, which left Sacrificios on the
15th instant, the Delta is in receipt of the
following hirrhlv interesting intelligence
from the forces co-operating against Vera
Cruz. For the facts detaded they are in
debted to their correspondence and con
versations with passengers.
.. Troops were latulat!, afier a rocoonoi-
sance on the 7th, by Generals Scott, Pat
terson, Worth, Pillow, Quitman, and
Twiggs, with their Aids and the Topo
graphical corps, which approached near
the shore, towards the direction of the
Castle, the guns from San Juan tie Ulua
opening fire upon the party, throwing
shell and round shot, but without doing
any damage to the reconnoitenng party
the round-shot either passing over or fall
ing short, and the shell, although thrown
Willi precision, bursting at a considerable
elevation, doing no harm. Oae shell pas-
sinT over the steamer Petnta, (the vessel
employed in the reconnoisance,) and an-
other bursting under her bow, without do-
in her any injury.
. ,
the transports and convoys were lying off
Anton Lizardo, after their return, and the
least possible delay, the transports and
convovs weighed anchor and stood to the
southward of Sacrificios, bearing in to
wards the main land, with a fair breeze
and in gallant style, when- they came to
anchor, the convoys taking position in
such a manner as to protect the disem
barkation of the troops, the first 6,000
being landed at 2 o'clock, P. M., on the
9th and the remainder during the day.
The landing is spoken of by persons who
were eye witnesses, as a scene of magni
ficence, rarely witnessed more than once
in a lifetime. The troops landed amoun
ted to the exact nuaiber of 12,100.
After the landing, the different columns
took up their line of march for the posi
tions assigned to thorn in the important
action and siege of Vera Cruz.
The steamers Vixen and Spitfire, lay
ing under Punta de Hornos, opened on
the citv across the point and in the direc
tion of the Casde, widi shell and round
shot, which was returned by the Casde,
but without effect
Gen. Worth's division, which it is said
has been assigned to the division O"! die
left flank of the city, from the locaii of
the landing on the South and under Pun- j
la ue iiornus, nan iievcasaruv iu muc iu
iuha'!.n trt 1V10 rctr n-t tf riiT?it in nr. i
cer to gain ms proper position in wis j
the
execution of which it became necessary
to attack and lake possession of two re-
doubts thrown up bv the enemv, on one
, , . . v ' r .-ii
of which was a piece of artillery, and
piece
both filled with infantry.
The redoubts were attacked, charged,
and taken, a spirited resistance being made
by the enemv, who lost several in kilteu,
wounded, and prisoners our loss some
seven killed anl several wounded. Cap-
tain Alburtis, of the 2d infan'ry, was kill-
ed by a round shot, supposed to be from
the Casde: the bail severed his head from
his body, the same shot taking off trie
arm of a drnmmer (a boy) and wounding
a private. Captain Alburtis was a Vir
ginian, and formerly conducted a newspa
per in Martinsburg. Col. Dixoa was
wounded in the breast by a mnsket shot, j
ru -i. : - l. : U I
Th feirmihmr was. however, no
check to the advancing column, which 1 some distance towards the city, and then ;
passed steadily forward to the position turning inland, came iasig.it of several f The steam-r Tom Metrafe' was-rccnf-S3
lb? lift d rear cf ths city, where it hundred Me xlcsa ralry, drawn up a- y rzsX in tV OM V t p ?h3 In.
f sa lb? I
j halted and commenced the work of en-
i trenchment
j The pipes used for the purpose of sup-
j plying the city with fresh water, have
been discovered and broken up, complete-
j ly raiting off the supply from the tanks,
which are situated some short distance
irom me cuy.
uunng me advance upon the rear ot and took positions. Gen. Patterson sent
the city, passed midshipman Rogers, who Gen. Pillow's brigade to the interior, aa4
had not yet been sent from Vera Cruz, took his position on the left of General
was bound on a cart and ordered to be Worth's division. Gen. Twiggs took,
conveyed, under a guard to the prison at his position to the rear of Patterson's.
Perote, but fortunately they were encoun- An old cathedral was taken possession of
tered by our forces and Mr. Rogers was by Gen. Pillow and soon afterwards a
rescued and is now on board hi ship. magazine containing 150 boxes of ammu-
Thecity is now completely surrounded nition. During allihis time the enemy
by our troops, each division having taken kept up a fire of shell and round sho;
a strong and advantageous position, with from the town and castle, few of which,
entrenchments, completely cutting ofl all reached our line, and those doing no harm,
communication by sea or land, and, at At 8 o'clock, A. M., ihe little U. S.
the same time, are safe from the fire of steamer Spitfire ran in close to the town
the casde. The posiuons of divisions and fired a number of shells into the
were established, on the 13ih, extending place, receiving a fire from the castle ia
from Punta de Hornos, on the right, to return.
Punt de la Catita. on the left, ia one un- I This morning our army moved still
broken line, and active preparations were nearer the town -Worth's division on
on foot for the immediate subjugation of the right, and resting on the sea shore;
this formidable place. f Gen. Patterson's in the centre extending
So closely 13 Vera Cruz now besieged, back into the country, and Gen. Twigg'j
and so entirely are every means of com- division on the left, sail further into the
munication cut off, uhat, in a very few interior. They have approached consid
days, the news must reach us that both erably within range of the guns in the
the city and the casde are occupied by towu, and can be reached by those in the
our victorious troops. S casde, from both of which a biisk can-
The general impression seems to be nonading has been kept up durin- Lb.3
that the city will surrender in the course . day.
of ten days or two weeks. No doubt is The line extends across the railroad
expressed of the successful termination which goes from the town to the rnaa
of the enterprize. ! zine, and the aqueduct which supplies
The Portia was delayed from the 13th the city with water, is likewise in our
to the 1 5th by the prevalence of a Nor
ther, during which time the discharge of
heavy ordinance was frequently heard.
which doubdess proceeded from the Cas- j marked out, (and will be worked on to-tle-
j night,) which are near enough to the walls
The vessels belonging to the squadron ' to render oar heavy guns effective
employed in the service as convoys, and Tbese guns have not been taken ashore,
for the covering the landing of the troops Steptoe's light battery with the hones,
below Punta de Hornos, are: Flagship have been landed, with several pieces of
Raritan; frigates Potomac and Princeton; r larger calibre. Neither Duncan's or Tav-
s-m m sit 1 VI I a -
sloops 5t. .Marys, AiDany, anu Jonnlors battery has arrived, nor has Col.
k i i or.tf i ti ...
auams; steamers lxrn aim optuire; gun
boats Reefer, Petrel, Bonita, and Bell.
The gunboats carry medium 32s.
Arrived at S. W. Pas on 20th. pilot
boat Frolic, dpt. J. J. SuShvan, 17 days
from Holmes' Hole; reports having been
passed by steamer Mississippi on the
19th, in lat. 31 8, long. 76 1!, steering
South.
TCorrespondence of the N. O. Delta.
Off Anton Lizardo, March 7, 1847,
On board LT. S. steamer Petrita. $
Eds. Delta On the 6th March, 1947,
at 9 A. M., we nt under way to recon
noitre the city of Vera Cruz and the cas
de i'with the Petrita bearing Com. D.
I - .
Connor, m company wua v.ens. acou.
Worth. Patterson and Pillow, with their
aids and topograph c l enjv.eer. At 2
P- M- stJ between the caste and
j Blanequilla, within a mue and a ha.f of
the casde. Atter passing Blanequuin, we
came
fired
within reach of their guns, they
at us seven shells and four round
shot; some of which went over us and
some
fell short It was pretty warm
wors. 1 leu vou. lor we nau oa oouru an
t . 1 1 I I I -I?
the chief commanders ef both the army
and squadron. We returned to Anton
Lizardo at about 4 P. M., and all the of
ficers returned to their vessels.
A memorandum furnished to the Pica
yune by Captain Powers, of the Portia,
sjys:
"Immediately after an organization ot
the American forces on the beach, they
Uok up a lice of m;irch over the sand
hills, to the attack of the enemy's out
posts and fortification, situated from one
to three miles from the castle and forts of
the city. They carried every one by
storm, not, however, without losing se
venteen men.
On the 11th and 12th, the American
forces were employed in throwing up
breastworks and digging entrenchmeuts.
Occasional skirmishing took place with
the enemy, who were throwing showers
of bombs and round shot from the casde
and the city, but without much effect.
During this time the seamen were I ;n Jing
provisions and ammunition from the trans-
- ,,
t A letter from
Mr. Haile. of the Pica
Messrs. Laumsden and
't yone, who, with
; Keaddll are oa &e spot Mirch n
; . . , , ..
after describing the landing, savs:
j c?
About 2 o'clock the next morning there
was an alarm in the line which extended
; along the beach.
The troops cheered.
and those who ha
had fallen into a doze up-
on the sand banks sprang suddenly to
their arms. Our picket guard had ap-
t proached that of some Mexican cavalry
; who were watching our movements, and
had received one or two shots. About
half an hour afterwards a detachment of
our mea fell m with some thirty or forty
cavalry, and several volleys were fired,
the balls of the enemy falling into our
column, but seriously injuring no one.
At sunrise. Gen. Worth led off his di-
t-isirm in advauce, foaowing Uie uearn lor
bout half a mile from the shore. A small
j howitzer was immediate!- drawn up to
! the top of a sand hill and a fire was
opened, which soon scattered the enemv.
The division continued to penetrate to
' the interior among the sand hills, tha
Meiicans retreating before thra
j The 2d and 3d divisions followed close
possession. In short, the city is fairly
invested, and communication by the main
road cut off. Entrenchments have beea
Harnev reached here with the 2nd Dra
goons. A number of vessels with troops
and ordinance, which were due a week
ago. have not been heanl rJ"
There has been considerable skirmish
ing tolay, and some twenty of our mea
wounded, among them Lieut. Col. Dick
son, of the South Carolina regimen?, but
not dangerously. Fifteen or twenty of
the Mexican cavalry have been taken pri
soners, horses and men, and some fifty
killed. It is said that theis are only about
4500 troops in Vera Cruz and the Cas
tle. March 13. Yesterday was a boister
ous day. A heavy northfr sprang up ia
the morning and continued ail day.
There was no firing on shore, but I sus
pect cur people were busy preparing th
entrenchments.
The bark Tamaroo has jest been tam
ed to a position convenient for landing
the siege guns with which she is loaded.
The 2d Drcgoons have not arrived, nor
have the light batteries cf Duncan and
j Taylor. The Alabama goes out to Tarn-
t p1Co to-night and I will send this bv her.
hoping it may reach yea early. II.
A letter from Mr. Kendall, dated at the
Camp ground near Vera Cruz, on the
12th ult, sav3:
I do not think, from all that I can see
and ham, that Gen. Scott will be able to
plant his batteries for several davs to
come; and until he can make a good show
he will not open upon the town at all.
When the bombardment does commence
it wdl be in earnest"
On the morning of the 13th, at the mo
ment of the starting of the Portia, he
again writes as follows:
"At half-past three o'clock this morn
ing the enemy opened with round shot
and shell, not only from the batteries a
round the town but from the casde.
Rockets were also thrown, and the sky at
times wa3 completely lit up bv them; vet
a large portion of them fell far short. Ia
( the mean time our men are compelled to
remain quiet and take this fire the har
i dest dnty a soldier has to perform. All
are anxious to strike bacx, and they wia
be gratified in the course of a few days.
Ia haste, G. W. K."
Wife for Tom Thumb. There was
bora at Wallacetown, Scotland, recently,
a beautiful female child, 13 oz. weight. 7
inches around the chest feel 1 one-eathi
0f aa inch.
! A Parisian robber, who was
seize'! ia
- the actcf stealing in me shop of atob-c-
eonist br wav of excusing himself, ail
j that h? had never heard of a law
i forbade a man to ta.k sn.ft.
DfcAlil 151 J,II1I iNl?,G.
j A correspondent informs es, that a mm
inamel M. Carpmter, vho was at work,
on the farm uf Mr J, W, Reeves, near
; Woodbury, , J, vrith two horse.
ins land p killed crj. Friday morning, at
aoout 11 O cJock Cy lighting.