Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/311

Rh there were three officers killed and three wounded, in the debarkation, investment and bombardment, and ten men killed and sixty wounded. Upon occupying the city it was found to be in a most disgusting state of uncleanliness. General Worth ordered the filth to be removed, and took prompt measures to insure good order, and guard against disease. The poorer inhabitants of Vera Cruz were also ascertained to be in a. suffering condition, and ten thousand rations were directed to be issued for their relief; thus presenting a singular feature in warfare — the victors feeding the vanquished, with the stores brought hundreds of miles for their own sustenance and support.

On the 30th instant a detachment of troops under General Quitman left Vera Cruz to co — operate with the squadron under Commodore Perry, in a joint attack upon Alvarado. Lieutenant Hunter was dispatched in advance, with the steamer Scourge, to blockade the port. He arrived off the bar in the afternoon of the 30th, and at once opened a fire upon the forts at the mouth of the river, which were garrisoned by four hundred men. During the night he stood off, but renewed the attack in the morning, when the enemy evacuated their defences. Several government vessels in the harbor were burned, and the guns spiked or buried in the sand before they retired. Leaving a garrison in the fort, Lieutenant Hunter proceeded up the river and succeeded in capturing four schooners. Early in the morning of the 1st of April, he anchored off Thlacotalpan, a city containing near seven thousand