ive schooners, according to previous arrangement with him,
approached the city within about a mile and an eighth, whence,
being partially covered from the castle, an essential condition
to their safety, they also opened a brisk fire upon the city.
This has been continued uninterruptedly by the mortars, and only
with a few intermissions, by the vessels, up to 9 o'clock this
morning, when the commodore, very properly, called them off from
a position too daringly assumed.

Our three remaining mortars are now (12 o'clock A.M.) in
battery, and the whole ten in activity. To-morrow, early, if the
city should continue obstinate, batteries Nos. 4 and 5 will be
ready to add their fire; No. 4 consisting of four 24-pounders and
two 8-inch Paixhan guns, and No. 5 (naval battery) of three
32-pounders and three 8-inch Paixhans: the guns, officers, and
sailors, landed from the squadron; our friends of the navy being
unremitting in their zealous co-operation, in every mode and
form.

So far, we know that our fire upon the city has been highly
effective, particularly from the battery of 10-inch mortars,
planted at about 800 yards from the city. Including the
preparation and defence of the batteries, from the beginning, now
many days, and notwithstanding the heavy fire of the enemy, from
city and castle, we have only had four or five men wounded (p. 308)
and one officer and one man killed, in or near the trenches. That
officer was Captain John R. Vinton, of the United States third
Artillery, one of the most talented, accomplished, and effective
members of the army, and who was highly distinguished in the
brilliant operations at Monterey. He fell last evening in the
trenches, where he was on duty as field and commanding officer,
universally regretted. I have just attended his honored remains
to a soldier's grave, in full view of the enemy and within reach
of his guns.

Thirteen of the long needed mortars, leaving twenty-seven,
besides heavy guns, behind, have arrived, and two of them landed.
A heavy norther then set in (at meridian) that stopped that
operation, and also the landing of shells. Hence the fire of our
mortar batteries has been slackened since two o'clock to-day, and
cannot be reinvigorated until we shall again have a smooth sea.
In t