Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/463

Rh stragglers, committing depredations on the inhabitants, were killed by the rancheros.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon Scott sent in a summons to General Morales, who was in command of San Juan de Ulúa as well as Vera Cruz, offering to stipulate that if the city capitulated no fire should be directed against the castle unless the latter fired

upon the United States troops with which the former would be garrisoned. Morales peremptorily refused to comply, and on return of the flag the bombardment began.

The Americans had at this time seven 10-inch