While Vera Cruz, the gateway to the heart of the nation, was yet threatened with this hostile movement, the inhabitants received the unpleasant tidings that a revolution had broken out in the capital, and that the troops destined to move to their aid were there employed. It was more interesting fighting each other for individual supremacy than banding against the invaders. The fortifications of Vera Cruz were not in a satisfactory condition, many important points being out of repair, and the armament by no means in serviceable order.[1] Gunpowder also would have been almost entirely wanting but for the opportune arrival of the French bark Anax, which succeeded in running the blockade during a norther with a cargo of that article.[2] Provisions both in the city and in San Juan de Ulúa were scarce at the time of Scott's descent upon the coast, and the government's extraordinary neglect to furnish aid in any form gave rise to bitter reflections and to suspicions of treachery on the part of Santa Anna.[3]
- ↑ Cannons of 24-pound calibre were mounted on carriages for 18-pounders, and 18-pounders on those for 12-pounders. p. 18, of Tributo á la Verdad, Vera Cruz, Julio de 1847, 4°, pp. 72. This short work was written by an anonymous citizen of Vera Cruz, who was evidently present at the siege. The first 20 pages are taken up with political matters, and the writer all through the work makes clear his repugnance to Santa Anna and his party. He then portrays the neglect of the government to take proper precautions for the defence of Vera Cruz, and compares Mexico to a vampire that ever sucks her blood, and abandons her in time of danger to her fate. p. 22. Next follows an account of the patriotic exertions of the garrison and inhabitants to oppose the enemy, of the daily operations during the siege, and of the effect of the bombardment. Santa Anna's proceedings down to the entrance of the Americans into Puebla are then severely criticised, and the conclusion reached that while at Habana he made some compact with the U. S. gov., p. 45-6. The different interests of portions of the Mexican republic are touched upon, and the different effects of the war upon them. In a note the copy of an important document is supplied, namely, Gen. Landero's report of the siege to the minister of war.
- ↑ Though she was lost on the following day, more than 1,000 quintales of powder were saved. Id., 23. Captain Desaché, by decree of May 21, 1852, was awarded $22,000 for running the blockade in January 1847. He was probably master of the Anax. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1832, 122-3.
- ↑ 'Suponiendo. . .que estaba decidido que Vera Cruz corriera la misma suerte que Tampico, y no faltaron estrangeros que decian publicamente, que estos dos puntos y Ulúa estaban ofrecidos en garantia de compromisos hechos en la Habana.' Tributo á la Verdad, 23.
rather less than 12,000 men, but these figures did not include the cavalry which was landed later. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 223.
