ATTACK OF THE MEXICANS
FROM THE CHAPPERAL AT TABASCO

The fourth in Walke's series, this picture depicts a Mexican ambush along the
Grijalva River during the second Tabasco expedition.  The Scorpion is at center,
among the three largest ships, easily identified by its smokestack, paddle boxes and
Commodore Perry's broad pennant.  On the left is shown what is probably the brig Washington and the Vesuvius is to its right.  Smoke at the top of the three large ships indicate that sharpshooters are busy.  Sailors and marines on each vessel are firing their weapons. An officer on the Vesuvius, possibly the artist himself, wrote:

"About sundown we left Frontera, and with an occasional interruption from
overhanging branches sweeping our men verboard, we passed on very gently until
3 o'clock next day, when we captured a canoe with two Indians, from whom we learned that
Bruno [the Mexican commander] lay in ambush. with a large force, at two favorable
positions, at points fifteen and twenty miles further up.  The tops were at once filled
with sharpshooters, and officers were kept aloft on the look-out.
The place designated as the first point of attack being passed without interruption,
we were beginning to feel secure, when a heavy volley opened on us from the banks.
In an instant the fire was returned from the heavy guns of the Scorpion, Washington, and
Vesuvius, and from the small arms on deck and aloft. . .

The awning of the Scorpion I was told was cut up pretty badly.  The Vesuvius's sides
were pretty well peppered; but for the foresight of the Commodore in stationing
sharpshooters aloft we must have suffered severely; but they had heard of our
being armed with revolving rifles, and had a most awful horor of exposing themselves
to their effects.  They were afraid of raising their heads to take aim for fear of showing
themselves to the men aloft and being shot."

Henry Walke.   Toned Lithograph.  Sarony & Major, NY.  1847.

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