Arrival at Vera Cruz

"Is the rigging clear of the guns, sir?", demanded the First Lieutenant of the gunner.  "All clear sir," was the reply.

"Let the men stand clear of the guns, then, sir," continued the officer, placing the trumpet to his mouth; and now giving forth the order in a yet louder tone:

"Ready, sir!"

"Starboard -- fire!"

"Larboard -- fire!"

"Starboard -- fire!"

"Larboard -- fire!"

This order was repeated, until thirteen cannon alternately, from each side of the ship, spoke loudly over the sea, and told the Commodore, whose squadron we came to join, that we were near, and saluted him.   The Commodore's ship soon opened, and returned the fire, in acknowledgement of the compliment.  The frigate still stood in directly for a French man-o-war, which lay nearest to the berth which our own ship was to take; and it seemed as if our frigate designed to run the Frenchman down, with the wind pressing us directly astern; and the danger of doing it, whether we designed it or no, seemed, at this moment, not to be inconsiderable.  Yet, the heavy anchor from the starboard bows was let go in good time, and the pressure of the stopper upon the links of the clanking iron chain, as it continued to run out, finally checked the frigate; when the spanker was hauled out, and the ship came up gracefully into her position, and rested, side by side, near the French ship, and added another not inconsiderable force to the American squadron, among which, as the chief of their number, the Cumberland now took her place.

. . .Captain Dulany having reported to Commodore Conner, who holds the command of this squadron, the Commodore indicated his purpose to make the Cumberland his Flag Ship; and, agreeably to expectation, the Commodore, on the Thursday succeeding our arrival, came on board -- hoisted his Broad Pennant -- and the stopper was broken, a salute was fired -- the officers being on deck, in full uniform, to receive the Commodore -- and thus, as anticipated, our frigate became the Flag Ship of the Home Squadron.

The Broad Pennant.  A Cruise in the United States Flag Ship of the Gulf Squadron, During the Mexican Difficulties Together With Sketches of the Mexican War. Rev. Fitch W. Taylor, A. M., USN.    Leavitt, Tron & Co., New York.  1848.  pp 51-57

Introduction | Alvarado | Lt. Hunter | Tabasco | Tuxpan | Siege of Vera Cruz | Return to Main Menu

Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.