The Somerset Herald And Farmers' And Mechanics' Register

The Mexican officers say that their government have no more guns or ammunition, and that peace must speedily ensue.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPTURE OF TUXPAN.

UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MISSISSIPPI, at Sea, off Vera Cruz, APRIL 24, 1847.

SIR: Tuxpan being the only fortified place of importance, situated on the Gulf coast, not in our possession, and conceiving it to be a point of honor, as well as duty. to reclaim the guns taken by the enemy from the wreck of the Truxton, and mounted with others for the defence of the river and town, I determined on attacking it. and left Sacrificios in this ship for that purpose on the 12th instant, having in tow the steamers Spitfire, Vixen, and Scourge, and the gun boats Bonita. Petrel. and Reefer, with a detachment of three hundred officers. and marines from the Ohio. distributed in this and the smaller vessels. On the following day we arrived at Lobos, the appointed place of rendezvous. The Raritan with a detachment of one hundred and eighty officers. seamen; and marines. from the Potomac, added to her own complement. The Albany, John Adams, and Germantown, with the bomb-vessels Vesuvius. Etna, and Hecla, had been previously dispatched for Lobos, where they arrived in good time, and were subsequently joined by the Decatur.

On the 15th all the vessels left Lobos. for the anchorage under Tuxpan reef, but were separated during the night by a norther. Having again concentrated on the morning of the 17th, the whole of that day was employed in lightening the small vessels, in sounding and buoying the channel of the bar, and in other preparations for ascending the river.

The following morning (the 18th) the bar was safely crossed by the steamers and gun boats, with about thirty barges filled with detachments from the different vessels at anchor outside, having with them four pieces of artillery.

After crossing the bar I hoisted my flag on board the Spitfire, and immediately led up the river to the attack; the steam-ers having the gun boats and barges in tow, until we got into the range of fire of the enemy, when I ordered them to cast off; the gun-boats to followed up the river under sail, and the detachments in the barges to land with the artillery and storm the forts and town. These orders were executed with extraordinary rapidity, while the flotilla continued its course up the river. and driving, by its well-directed fire, the enemy from his defences.

The dispositions of the enemy for defence were judicious; they consisted of two forts on the right, and one on the left bank of the river. with positions well selected for commanding the reaches of the stream. They had seven guns mounted and detachments of infantry firing from the forts and the thick chaparral along the margin of the left bank.

General Cos. chief of the Winward military division of the Mexican army. was in command, and had with him, as is believed from the evidence of his order book. about 650 rank and file.

But if the dispositions for defence were judicious. the defence itself was feeble: though, had it been more obstinate. the results would have been the same, or I cannot exaggerate the intrepidity of our officers and men, or say too much of the spirit that animated them.

The Truxton's guns were brought off, and the others destroyed; the forts were also destroyed.

Our loss in the attack has been small fourteen killed and wounded.

The Albany and Reefer had been left to watch Tuxpan; the Hecla is ordered to blockade Soto de la Marina; the Etna to occupy the river Tabasco; and the Vesuvius and Porpoise the port of Laguna, while the Germantown is scouring the coast north of Lobos.

I am, sir with great respect, your most ob't serv't,

M. C. PERRY.
Commanding Home Squadron.

The Hon. John Y. Mason,
Sec'y of the Navy. Washington.

The Killed in the assault were Lewis Clayton, Antonio Francis, and John Griffin, all seamen; and the wounded were Commander Tatnall, Commander Mackenzie, (accidentally,) Lieut. James L. Parker, Lieut. Whittle, Lieut. Hartstone, and seamen James McCann, Hiram Townsend, Andrew Sweeny, Henry O. Hart. James McCullen, and John Monroe.