Official Account Of The Capture Of Vera Cruz

IIeadql'auters of the Akmv, p Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, March 23, 1847. ) Sii : Yesternay, seven of our 10 inch mortars being in battery, and the labors for planting the remainder of our heavy metal being in progrcss, I addressed, at 2 o'clocl:, p. m. a summons to th? Governor of Vera Cruz, and within the hours limited by the bearer of the flag, rpceived the Governor's nnswer. Copies of the two papers, fmarked respective]}', A. and B.) are heresvith enclosed. It will be perceived that the govornor, who, it turns out, s the commander of both places, chose, against the plain lerms of the summons, to suppose me to hnve demanded the s-urrender of the castle and of the city - when in fact, from the nonarrival of our heavy metal - principally mortars - I was in no condition tothreaten the former. On the return of the (lag, with that reply, I at once ordered tlie seven niortars, in battery, to open upon the city. In a t short time the smaller vessels of j dore Ferry's squadron - two steamers and five schooners - iccording to previous arrangement with hiin, approached the city wilhin about a mile and an eighth,vhence, being partially covered from the cistle - an essential condition to their safety - they also opened a brisk fire upon the ! ciiy. This lias boen continued, u ninter ruptedly, by the moriars, and only with a few intermisions, by the vessels, up to nine o'clock this morning. when the commodore, very properly, caJlcd them off from a pesition too daringly nssumed. j Our three remaining mortars are now i (12 o'clock m.) in baitery, and the whole j ten in octivily. To-morro', early, if the city should continue obstinate bi!eries Nos, 4 and 5 will be rcndy to add thei.' tire ; No. 4, consisling of four 24 pouniiersandtwo 8 inch Paixhan guns, and No 5 [naval bnüery] of threc 32 pounders; and three 8 inch Paixlian- the gun?, ofiicers, and sailors landed from the squadron our friends of the navy being unremitting in their zealous co-opcration, in everv mode and forni. So far, we know that our fire mon the city has been highly eflective - particularly from the batteries of 10 inch mortars, planted at about 800 ynrds fi-oni the city. Including tlie preparation and defence of llio batierics, froni the beginning - now many days - and notwithstnndinp tlie hoavy fire of lhe encmy, from the city and castle - we have only had fouror fivc men woumled, and one officerand or.e mnu ktlled, in or near tho trencl es. That ofiicer was John R. VinIon, (f the U. S. nrtillery, onc of the most talented, aecomplished, and eflective members of tlie army, and who washighly distinguished in the brillinnt operations at Monterey. [Ie feil last evening in tho trenches, when he was on duty, as field r.nd commanding officer, universally regreted. l have just atlended his honored remains to asoldiers grave - in full view of the enemy and within rcach ol bis guns. Ttiirteen of the long n?eded mortnrs - leaving twenty-seven besides lieavy gun, behind - have arrivcd, and two of them landed. A heavy norther then set in (at meridiaii) that stopped that operation, and nlso the lnnding of shells. Ilence the fire of our mortar ba'teries has been slackened, since two o'clock, to-day, and cannot be reinvigoratrd ontil we shall ngain have a smootli sea. In the mean time 1 shall leave this report open for iournalizingevents that may occur up to the departure of lhe stesmship of war, the Princeton with Commodore Conner, who, I lenrn, expects to leave tlie anchornge of sacrificios forthe U.Stato, the25th instant. March 14 - The storn having subsided in the night, we commenced this forenoon, as soon as tho sea became a little sinooth,to land shot, shells and mortars. The naval batlery, No. 5, was opened with great activity undor Capt. Aulick, the second in rank of the squadron, at about 10 a. m. Mis fire was continued to 2 o'clock. p. m. a little before he was relieved by Mavo, who landed with a fres h supply of ammunition - Capt. A. having exhausted the upply he had brought with him. Lieut. lïaldwin, slightly hurt. The mortar bat'.eries, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, having fired but languidly during lhe day for the want of shells, which are now going out from the beach. The two reoorts of Col. Bankhcad, chief of artillery, both of this date, copies of which I enclose, give the incidentsof tho-ie three batteries. Battery No. 4, which will mount 24 pounders and two 8 inch Paixhan's guns, has been much delayed in tho hands of the indefatigable engineors by the norlherthnt filled up the work wilh sand near!y as fast as it could be opened by tlie half blinded laborers, It will however, doubtless bc in full activity early to-morrow morning. March 25. - The Princeton being about to start for Philadelphia, I have but n moment to continue this report. All tho batteries, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 nnd 5, are in awful activity this morning. - The efiect U, no doubt very great, and I lliinkllie city cannot hold out beyond to-day. To-morrow morning many of the new morlars wilt be in a position to acid iheir fire, when or after the delay of sonie twelve hours, if no proposition to surrendershould be received, I shall o rganize parties for carrying the city by assault. So far the defenca has been spiritedand obstinate. I endose a copy of a memorial received last night signed by the consuls of Great Bri.ain, France, Spain and Prussin, Wilhlu Vera Cruz, asking me to grant n truce to enable the neutrals together willi Mexiqan women and children, to withdraw from the scone of havoc about them. l shall re)ly, the moment thnt nn opporluniiy may be taken, to sny- 1. That a truce can be granteo only 011 the application of Governor Morales, witli a view to asuiender ; 2. That in sending safeguards to the diflVre-it consuls, beginning e far back as the 13th inst., I distinctly udmormhed them - particularly the Frencli and Spanish consuls - and, of course, through the two, the other consuls - of ihe dnngers that have folloueii. 8. That although, at that dale, I had already refused toallow any person whatsoever to pass the line of investment either wny, jet the blockade had been left open to the consuls to pass out to tlieir respective sliips of war uo to the 22d instant ; and 4th, I shall endose to the memormhtts a copy of my summons to the Governor, to show that I had fullv considered the impending hardships and dislressea of the place, including tliose of tbo worneii and cliildren, befo re one gun had been fired in that direction. The intercourie between the neutral vessels of war, and the city was stoppet' at the last mentioned date by Commodore Perrv, iih my concurrence, whicii I placed on the giound that that intercourse could not fai! to give to the enemy moral aid and cohiforl. lt wil! be eeen Trom the memorial, that our batierirs have already had a terrible effect on the city, (also known through ether sources,) and henee the inference ihal asurrender must soon be proposed. In baste, I havo the honor to remain, sir, with higli respect; your most obedient serva ut. II. ui. Wk. L. Marot, Secretary of War.