ation of the Mexicans with this force to
resist the formidable foe who had invested them and were ready to
attack.

On March 22d, at 4.15 P.M., the mortar batteries opened fire,
and from that time the firing was continued without ceasing until the
23d, when it was suspended for a few hours. The fire was returned from
the batteries. Fire was also opened on the city from the vessels.
Heavy guns having arrived, preparations were made for getting them
ashore, but it was prevented by a heavy norther. The norther having
subsided on the 23d, six heavy guns and a detachment from the navy
were landed. On Commodore Matthew C. Perry's request a place in the
trenches was assigned to the navy. On the 24th, Colonel Persifor F.
Smith moved out to a small stream called the San Pedro and attacked
and drove off a force of the enemy.

On the night of the 24th General Scott received a communication,
signed by the British, French, Spanish, and Prussian consuls in Vera
Cruz, asking time to permit the neutrals and women and children to
withdraw from the city; to which he replied that up to the 23d the
communication between the neutrals in Vera Cruz and the neutral ships
of war lying off Sacrificios was left open to allow them an exit, and
that he had given notice to the consuls. He therefore declined to
grant the request unless it was made by the governor and commander in
chief of Vera Cruz, accompanied with a proposition to surrender. On
the 25th, the six heavy guns, the navy battery, and all the mortars
opened fire. General Scott had determined that, if no proposition for
surrender was made by the 26th, he would assault the works.

The command of the city having been turned over by General Morales to
General Landero, the latter, on the 26th, addressed General Scott as
follows:

"I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency the exposition
which has this moment been made to me by the senores consuls of
England, France, Spain, and Prussia, in which they solicit that
hostilities may be suspended while the innocent families in this
place who are suffering the ravages of war be enabled to leave the
city, which solicitude claims my support; and considering it in
accordance with the rights of afflicted humanity, I have not
hesitated to invite your Excellency to enter into an honorable
accommodation with the garrison, in which case you will please name
three commissioners who may meet at some intermediate point to tre