Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/90

84 Saturday, March 20, 1847.—This morning we are constantly annoyed with the brisk firing from the Castle and forts of the city, which we are yet too busy to return. At noon a bombshell from the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa fell within fifty feet of Gen. Worth's tent, but fortunately it did not explode. I took a walk to the beach and saw one fellow still busy in landing cannons, mortars, while others are mounting cannons and mortars. Some are hauling cannon balls while others are hauling ordnance stores and provisions for the army and to different batteries. This afternoon our spies came into camp and reported to Gen. Scott that there is a large body of Lancers with cattle in our rear trying to cut their way into the city of Vera Cruz. Gen. Scott sent his old friend Col. Harney with his dragoons in pursuit of them. He sent them scampering in all directions, a great many were unsaddled and driven helter-skelter in every direction, killing several and some wounded. Col. Harney had one man slightly wounded in the Conflict. The French bark that ran the blockade several days ago came out and tried to escape but she was soon hailed by the steamer "Spitfire," but would not stop, so the United States gun-boat "Spitfire" fired into her, sinking her up to the deck; the crew were, however, taken off and made prisoners and put on the flag-ship "Massachusetts" until further orders. I see our engineers are out and trying to select a new position nearer to the city to plant a battery to be styled and called the Volunteer and Naval battery, it is to be built and worked altogether by the volunteers and sailors. The place selected is in the rear of a thicket chaparral not far from our quarters. So there will be more dragging of cannons through the sand, and more sand bags to be filled with sand and carried to construct breastworks. It is rumored this evening that Gen. Scott has sent a flag of truce to the city to different consuls; and together with Mexican women and children a printed passport for them to come out of the city before we commence bombardment, but they refused to take any passes and preferred to stay in the city and take chances. This evening our long-looked for sutler opened his stores; so of course those who have