Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/92

86 battery, although they have fired several shots in that direction.

Monday, March 22, 1847.—This morning; it is reported that Gen. Worth's battery is finished, and is ready to open on the city at any moment. This battery is composed of seven ten inch mortars and is in command of the regular officers and artillerists. As stated before, the Mexicans don't know the whereabouts or anything about the location of this battery. It is built behind a thicket of chaparrals. Also another battery of two eight-inch Howitzers, four twenty-four pounders and four mortars are stationed near the cemetery, still a little closer to the city.

At noon Gen. Scott sent a flag of truce into the city of Vera Cruz with a summons for the surrender of the city and Castle of San Juan de Ulloa with the understanding that if this summons is rejected an attack on the city would immediately follow, and no quarters or safeguards would be given or granted to the citizens until it surrenders. The flag of truce soon returned with a message from Gov. Morales, of the city, and Gen. Landora commanding the forces of the city and Castle. The summons and proposition was most emphatically rejected; asking for no quarters, safeguards or any favor from the Yankee. That they are ready to contest the fight at any moment.

About 4 o'clock,, Gen. Scott ordered Gen. Worth to open his batteries on the doomed city as fast as his mortars would permit. The chaparrals in front of these batteries were soon cut away, when, for the first time, the enemy was much surprised when they saw several batteries within about eight hundred yards from the walls of the city. The moment the Mexicans espied our batteries they instantly changed the position of their big guns, and opened a heavy fire on Gen. Worth's batteries, the balls striking the sand bags, and clouds of dust were flying in the air.

Gen. Worth has now got the range of his guns on the enemy, and has commenced firing in earnest, and I tell you the way