Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/75

three hours, and the vessels were anchored without confusion. Gen. Scott ordered the landing to be commenced immediately, ordering the steamers Spitfire and Vixen, and five gun-boats, to form a line parallel with and near the beach, in order to cover the landing of our men in the surf-boats. As the boats, 65 in number, received the troops, they assembled in a line, abreast, between the fleet and the gun-boats and pulled for the shore, all at once, landing without resistance. General Worth commanded this first line of the army and formed his men, 4,500 strong, on the beach and neighboring heights just before sunset, and by 10 P. M. an army of 10,000 men were on shore, without any accident occurring. All but a few companies had landed. The next day the artillery, horses, provisions, and other materials were landed, and the remaining troops, making more than eleven thousand men. General Scott landed early in the morning, and preparations were immediately made to surround the city. As our men advanced, some shot and shells were fired from the town and castle, but without effect. At 2 o'clock, March 10th, a brisk fire from the enemy commenced. One of our men had his thigh broken, and two others were wounded. A small detachment was sent out under Captain Gordon to reconnoitre. He found himself, after going two or three hundred yards, near a body of men and hailed them. They answered in English, and soon answered again by a volley of bullets, which was returned by the detachment, and the Mexicans were obliged to retire into the town. At sunrise, the steamer Spitfire, Capt. Tatnall, took position in front of the city and castle, and commenced firing. She continued for an hour, and the city and castle returned the compliment. Soon after the Spitfire opened her fire, the 1st and 2d divisions moved up the beach towards the city about a mile and commenced