the officers and sailors of his squadron,
the army is indebted for great and unceasing assistance, promptly
and cheerfully rendered. Their co-operation is the constant theme
of our gratitude and admiration. A handsome detachment of
marines, under Captain Edson, of that corps, landed with the
first line, and is doing duty with the army.

_March 13th._ The enemy, at intervals, continues the fire of
heavy ordnance, from the city and castle, upon our line of
investment, both by day and night, but with little or no effect.

The norther has ceased, which has renewed our communication (p. 307)
with the storeships at anchor under Sacrificios. We shall
immediately commence landing the few pieces of heavy ordnance,
with ordnance stores, at hand, and hope soon to have the
necessary draught mules to take them to their positions. Any
further delay in the arrival of those means of transportation
will be severely felt in our operations.

I have the honor to remain, Sir, with high respect, your obedient
servant,
Winfield SCOTT.

_____

_General Scott to the Secretary of War._

To the Honorable Headquarters of the Army,
William L. MARCY, Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. March 23, 1847.

Sir: Yesterday, seven of our 10-inch mortars being in battery,
and the labors for planting the remainder of our heavy metal
being in progress, I addressed, at two o'clock P.M., a summons
to the Governor of Vera Cruz, and within the two hours limited by
the bearer of the flag, received the governor's answer. Copies of
the two papers (marked respectively A and B) are herewith
enclosed.

It will be perceived that the Governor, who, it turns out, is the
commander of both places, chose, against the plain terms of the
summons, to suppose me to have demanded the surrender of the
castle and of the city; when, in fact, from the non-arrival of
our heavy metal, principally mortars, I was in no condition to
threaten the former.

On the return of the flag with the reply, I at once ordered the
seven mortars, in battery, to open upon the city. In a short time
the smaller vessels of Commodore Perry's squadron, two steamers
and f