BOMBARDMENT OF VERA CRUZ

This illustration by Carl Nebel was published in George Wilkins Kendall's classic work The War Between the United States and Mexico Illustrated.  In it Kendall states:

"The reasons which induced the artist to select the Navy battery as the point from which to
sketch his picture were numerous ~ among the most important its high and commanding
position, the full view of the city obtained, the importance it had in its reduction, and
to pay a compliment, well-merited if poor, to the spirited officers and sailors of the American Squadron."

To be sure, Nebel relied on a similar work by Walke but is generally accurate.  His depiction of the uniforms of the naval personnel shows some officers wearing the regulation dark blue, long frock coats.  Others, probably midshipmen and enlisted men, wear short blue jackets.  Some appear without jackets, in frocks of white cloth lined with blue cotton cloth.  Some officers and men wear white pantaloons designed for tropical climates, while others wear dark blue, reflecting the discretion commanding officers had over the uniforms of their men.  Head gear is accurate, reflecting the variety then in use: enlisted men wearing flat, black hats; officers either with blue undress cap with gold bands or straw hats.

Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot after Carl Nebel.  Hand-colored lithograph.  Appleton & Co., NY.   1851.

Push your browser's back button to return to the Site Menu.
If this page is in a frame, click below.