Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/506

450 while the vessels should move up and attack it in front. At eleven o’clock the commodore put off for the shore, with 800 men in sixty barges, and eight six-pounder guns. An irregular militia force, under General Bruno, had been organized to defend the approaches to Tabasco, but the landing was not seriously opposed. The Americans sprang up the steep banks of the river, with deafening shouts, dragging the field-pieces after them, and dashed along the road leading to the town, but four miles distant by the land route.

The vessels remained at anchor for about two hours, when they again moved up the river, running over the bar in nine feet water, and turning up some of the piles which formed the chevaux-de-frise. The drums beat to quarters, and the men all took their stations, anticipating a warm reception from the enemy. On turning the bend below Fort Accachappa, its heavy twenty-four-pounders sent forth a thundering peal, which was promptly answered by the long guns of the flotilla, whose shot and shell told with singular precision. Volleys of musketry were also rained incessantly from the bushes, and the carbines of the Americans were soon actively served. In a few moments the Mexican flag was struck; three or four rounds of short-fused shell and grape Were thrown from the Spitfire; and Lieutenant Porter then pulled for the shore with about