Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/70

64 in almost every soldier's face. The noble ship "Statesman" is now gliding along like a thing of life. The fleet is nearly all out of sight. The weather is pleasant and fair and most all the soldiers are on deck and in the rigging talking about the gala day of yesterday, and are also straining their eyes to get an early view of the city of Vera Cruz, the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa, &c. Quiet to-night.

Friday, March 5, 1847.—This morning nearly all the vessels that started on the 3d were out of sight which again made everything look lonesome and tiresome. At 11 o'clock,, our ship "Statesman" ran on a coral reef. The ship's captain and his crew tried all they could to keep the ship off, but all in vain, as the wind was against him. The captain then ran the flag up with the Union down as a signal of distress, but the vessels passing near by paid no attention to it, and every time the ship struck up came large pieces split off her keel. The sailors took out the chain anchors and by adding a cable around the windlass we succeeded in getting her off after hard work. The captain of the ship ordered up a barrel of whiskey to be distributed among the soldiers who assisted in getting the ship off, &c. During this little accident some of the soldiers got frightened, and one of Co. C, named Simon Schaffer, was seen in the hold of the ship with his knees upon his knapsack praying aloud for God's sake to save the ship and all the souls on board. To-night some of the soldiers looked as if they felt the whiskey.

Saturday, March 6, 1847.—This morning we were in full view of Anton Lisardo, and it was not long till we got right in the midst, and anchored in the midst of over two hundred sails; in fact, it looks more like a wilderness of dead pine trees than so many spars and rigging of ships. Nearly all the men-of-war ships now in the employ of our Government are stationed here to protect the unarmed vessels, as well as the soldiers and ordnances on board. This afternoon several more ships arrived. General Scott, with Commodore Connor, on board the steamboat "Spitfire," were seen reconnoitering