Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/73

 

LANDING BELOW VERA CRUZ—STORMING THE SAND HILLS SURROUNDING THE CITY—COL. HARNEY's DRAGOON FIGHT—BOMBARDMENT OF THE CITY—ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT TO SURRENDER THE CITY OF VERA CRUZ—MEXICAN ARMY MARCHING OUT AND STACKING THEIR ARMS—MY FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY—INSPECTION OF ITS FORTS—OUR ARMY OF 10,000 MEN LEFT FOR THE CAPITAL OF MEXICO—AFTER TOILSOME MARCHING ARRIVED AT PLAN DEL RIO—GEN. TWIGGS MEETS THE ENEMY—PREPARING TO STORM THE HEIGHTS—HE IS ORDERED TO TAKE POSSESSION OF A HILL—GEN. SCOTT'S ORDER NO. III FOR THE ATTACK ON CERRO GORDO.

Tuesday, March 9, 1847.—This morning we had orders to pack up and prepare to land. There was great excitement among the soldiers and sailors on board the ships, and much confusion in the fleet, while making preparation for landing, in fact the whole scene was full of wild excitement. The passing of small boats to and fro, the dashing of the oars, the clangor of the officers' sabres and the clinking of-the cables, the sharp clarion voices of order by the officers, and the quick response by the officers and men. The soldiers mingling with the sailors in singing their favorite songs will ever be remembered by those who saw it the longest day of their lives. We were taken off our ship "Statesman" and put on so-called surfboats, after which we were taken and put on board of the United States frigate "Potomac." In fact nearly the whole army was taken from the transport ship to the man-of-war. Some say it is on account of the channel being too narrow for all the ships to anchor, others have it it is to protect the troops when they land in case of an attack. (67)