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The New York Herald
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Report from Mazatlan, Dec. 27, 1847, on tense war situation: US naval protection amid Mexican hostility; Lt. Lewis's successful night raid killing 8; insurrections in Lower California; tariff woes risking loss of Californias; Portsmouth heads home.
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Hunting up a Fight.—Sailor Battle on Shore, &c.
The times are exciting here, and although we are now at Mazatlan, and have for our protection the frigates Congress and Independence, and are consequently safe, yet but a little back of the town all are enemies, and all are hostile. This tends to depress business, as the town and the country are no way connected.
Lieut. Montgomery Lewis took a party of sailors and went out a few nights since, but a little distance, and surprised and routed one hundred and fifty Mexicans, killing eight, among them a colonel. I saw a gentleman, to-day, who said that a captain of cavalry had sent by him to ask Lieut. Lewis if he would not be kind enough to return him an order of three hundred dollars from his coat pocket, which he (Lewis) had taken in the affray. Lieut. Lewis said, in my presence, to the gentleman, 'most certainly, and his coat also, as I only took it to protect me from the cold.' The truth was, Lewis charged in a dark night upon them, and those that were not killed fled, leaving every thing, and, as he said, he put this coat on to protect him from the cold, and in it, after arriving at Mazatlan, found the paper sent for.
This was all done between sunset and sunrise, and by this you see those who wish a fight have not a great distance to ride to hunt one up. Indeed the enemy have been in sight of the town, but such attacks have caused them to retreat a little. California is quiet about San Francisco, but they anticipate trouble at the 'City of the Angels,' and Lower California is in a state of insurrection at this time. They have had more fighting within a month at St. Joseph's and La Paz, in Lower California, than all the others since the war commenced; and yet the Californians keep the field in large numbers.
The tariff gives great dissatisfaction, and will cause the loss of the Californias to the United States unless repealed, as they are unlike Mexico, and have all surrendered, and should be protected and not oppressed. But the rulers will never learn until too late, I fear.
The sloop-of-war Portsmouth sailed on or about Dec. 20, for the United States, and will be home probably in April or May.
R. G.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Mazatlan
Event Date
Dec. 27, 1847
Key Persons
Outcome
killed eight mexicans, including a colonel; routed 150 mexicans; californians keep the field in large numbers despite fighting; tariff dissatisfaction may cause loss of californias
Event Details
In Mazatlan, protected by frigates Congress and Independence amid hostile surroundings depressing business. Lieut. Montgomery Lewis led sailors on a night raid, surprising and routing 150 Mexicans, killing eight including a colonel, and taking a coat with a $300 order which was returned. Enemies retreat after attacks. California quiet near San Francisco but trouble anticipated at City of the Angels; Lower California in insurrection with recent fighting at St. Joseph's and La Paz. Sloop-of-war Portsmouth sailed around Dec. 20 for United States.