The men had also to sustain the burden of carrying their provisions and munitions of war, and were besides annoyed oy incessant attacks from skirmishing parties of the enemy, who, repeatedly driven back at one point, reappeared at another, and kept the Mounted Rifles, under the command of the gallant Major Sumner, 2d dragoons, continually on the alert.

The enemy lost two commissioned officers, and it was during these operations that Brevet Captain Alburtis, an officer highly distinguished in the Florida war, was killed by a cannon-bal: from the city.

On the 13th the line of investment was complete, and from this time until the 18th, when the trenches were opened, the men were kept constantly busy in throwing up breastworks, erecting batteries, planting mortars, landing supplies, and beating off the light troops of the enemy.

Commodore Perry, who on the 21st succeeded to the command of the Home Squadron, rendered efficient aid to General Scott. On the 22d, simultaneously with the opening of the batteries in the rear of Vera Cruz, he directed the fire of his flotilla of steamers and gun-boats upon the city with good effect. By permission of the General-in-chief, he also established under the direction of Captain Aulick a marine battery, of three Paixhan guns, and three long thirty-two pounders, which bore an important part in the demolition of the city.

From the 18th, until the final surrender, the progress of events is best marked by the following official despatches.

"HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, March 23, 1347.

"SIR-Yesterday, seven of our 10-inch mortars being in battery, and the labours 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 that 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 five 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 nine 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 batteries of 10-inch mortars, planted at about 800 yards from the city. Including the preparation and defence of the batteries, from the beginning-now