Early in the month of March the troops at Lobos were re-embarked, and
dropped down to the roadstead of Anton Lizardo. The American fleet was
already at anchor there, and in a few days above a hundred sail of
transports had joined it.
There is no city, no village, hardly a habitation upon this half-desert
coast. The aspect is an interminable waste of sandy hills, rendered
hirsute and picturesque by the plumed frondage of the palm-tree.
We dared not go ashore, although the smooth white beach tempted us
strongly. A large body of the enemy was encamped behind the adjacent
ridges, and patrols could be seen at intervals galloping along the
beach.
I could not help fancying what must have been the feeling of the
inhabitants in regard to our ships--a strange sight upon this desert
coast, and not a pleasing one to them, knowing that within those dark
hulls were concealed the hosts of their armed invaders. Laocoon looked
not with more dread upon the huge ribs of the Danaic horse than did the
simple peasant of Anahuac upon this fleet of "oak leviathans" that lay
within so short a distance of his shores.
To us the scene possessed an interest of a far different character. We
looked proudly upon these magnificent models of naval architecture--upon
their size, their number, and their admirable adaptation. We viewed
with a changing cheek and kindling eye this noble exhibition of a free
people's strength; and as the broad banner of our country swung out upon
the breeze of the tropics, we could not help exulting in the glory of
that great nation whose uniform we wore around our bodies.
It was no dream. We saw the burnished cannon and the bright epaulette,
the gleaming button and the glancing bayonet. We heard the startling
trumpet, the stirring drum, and the shrill and thrilling fife; and our
souls drank in all those glorious sights and sounds that form at once
the spirit and the witchery of war.
The landing was to take place on the 9th, and the point of debarkation
fixed upon was the beach opposite the island of Sacrificios, just out of
range of the guns of Vera Cruz.
The 9th of March rose like a dream, bright, balmy, and beautiful. The
sea was scarcely stirred by the gentlest breeze of the tropics; but this
breeze, light as it was, blew directly in our favour.
At an early hour I observed a strange movement among the ships composing
the fleet. Signals were changing in quick succession, and boats gliding
rapidly to and fro.
Before daybreak the huge surf-boats had been drawn down from their
moorings, and with long hempen hawsers attached to the ships and
steamers.
The descent was about to be made. The ominous cloud which had hung dark
and threatening over the shores of Mexico was about to burst upon that
devoted land. But where? The enemy could not tell, and were preparing
to receive us on the adjacent shore.
The black cylinder began to smoke, and the murky cloud rolled down upon
the water, half obscuring the fleet. Here and there a broad sail,
freshly unfurled, hung stiffly from the yard; the canvas, escaping from
its gasket fastenings, had not yet been braced round to the breeze.
Soldiers were seen standing along the decks; some in full equipments,
clutching the bright barrels of their muskets, while others were
buckling on their white belts, or cramming their cartouche-boxes.
Officers, in sash and sword, paced the polished quarter-decks, or talked
earnestly in groups, or watched with eager eyes the motions of the
various ships.
Unusual sounds were heard on all sides. The deep-toned chorus of the
sailor, the creaking of the capstan, and the clanking of the iron cogs;
the "heave-ho!" at the windlass, and the grating of the huge
anchor-chain, as link after link rasped through the rusty ring--sounds
that warned us to make ready for a change.
In the midst of these came the brisk rolling of a drum. It was answered
by another, and another, and still another, until all voices were
drowned by the deafening noise. Then followed the mingling shouts of
command, a rushing over the decks, and streams of blue-clad men poured
down the dark sides, and seated themselves in the surf-boats. These
were filled in a twinkling, and all was silent as before. Every voice
was hushed in expectation, and every eye bent upon the little black
steamer which carried the commander-in-chief.
Suddenly a cloud of smoke rose up from her quarter; a sheet of flame
shot out horizontally; and the report of a heavy gun shook the
atmosphere like an earthquake. Before its echoes had subsided, a
deafening cheer ran simultaneously through the fleet; and the ships, all
together, as if impelled by some hidden and supernatural power, broke
from their moorings, and dashed through the water with the velocity of
the wind. Away to the north-west, in an exciting race; away for the
island of Sacrificios!
On struggled the ships, bending to the breeze and cleaving the crystal
water with their bold bows; on the steamers, beating the blue waves into
a milky way, and dragging the laden boats in their foamy track. On
followed the boats through the hissing and frothy caldron. Loud rolled
the drum, loud brayed the bugle, and loud huzzas echoed from the
adjacent shores.
Already the foe was alarmed and alert. Light horsemen with streaming
haste galloped up the coast. Lancers, with gay trappings and long
pennons, appeared through the openings of the hills. Foaming, prancing
steeds flew with light artillery over the naked ridges, dashing madly
down deep defiles, and crushing the cactus with their whirling wheels.
"Andela! Andela!" was their cry. In vain they urged their horses, in
vain they drove the spur deep and bloody into their smoking sides. The
elements were against them, and in favour of their foes.
The earth and the water were their impediments, while the air and the
water were the allies of their enemies. _They_ clung and sweltered
through the hot and yielding sand or sank in the marshy borders of the
Mandinga and the Medellin, while steam and the wind drove the ships of
their adversaries like arrows through the water.
The alarm spread up the coast. Bugles were sounding, and horsemen
galloped through the streets of Vera Cruz. The alarm-drum beat in the
plaza, and the long roll echoed in every _cuartel_.
Signal rockets shot up from San Juan, and were answered by others from
Santiago and Concepcion.
Thousands of dark forms clustered upon the roofs of the city and the
ramparts of the castle; and thousands of pale lips whispered in accents
of terror, "They come! they come!"
As yet they knew not how the attack was to be made, or where to look for
our descent.
They imagined that we were about to bombard their proud fortress of San
Juan, and expected soon to see the ships of these rash invaders
shattered and sunk before its walls.
The fleet was almost within long range, the black buoyant hulls bounded
fearlessly over the water. The eager crowd thickened upon the walls.
The artillerists of Santiago had gathered around their guns, silent and
waiting orders. Already the burning fuse was sending forth its
sulphurous smell, and the dry powder lay temptingly on the touch, when a
quick, sharp cry was heard along the walls and battlements, a cry of
mingled rage, disappointment, and dismay.
The foremost ship had swerved suddenly from the track; and bearing
sharply to the left, under the _manege_ of a skilful helmsman, was
running down under the shelter of Sacrificios.
The next ship followed her guide, and the next, and the next; and,
before the astonished multitude recovered from their surprise, the whole
fleet had come to within pistol-shot of the island!
The enemy now, for the first time, perceived the _ruse_, and began to
calculate its results. Those giant ships, that but a moment ago seemed
rushing to destruction, had rounded to at a safe distance, and were
preparing, with the speed and skilfulness of a perfect discipline, to
pour a hostile host upon the defenceless shores. In vain the cavalry
bugle called their horsemen to the saddle; in vain the artillery car
rattled along the streets; both would be too late!
Meanwhile, the ships let fall their anchors, with a plunge, and a
rasping, and a rattle. The sails came down upon the yards; and sailors
swung themselves into the great surf-boats, and mixed with the soldiers,
and seized the oars.
Then the blades were suddenly and simultaneously dropped on the surface
of the wave, a naval officer in each boat directing the movements of the
oarsmen.
And the boats pulled out nearer, and by an echelon movement took their
places in line.
Light ships of war were thrown upon our flanks, to cover the descent by
a cross fire. No enemy had yet appeared, and all eyes were turned
landward with fiery expectation. Bounding hearts waited impatiently for
the signal.
The report of a single gun was at length heard from the ship of the
commander-in-chief; and, as if by one impulse, a thousand oars struck
the water, and flung up the spray upon their broad blades. A hundred
boats leaped forward simultaneously. The powerful stroke was repeated,
and propelled them with lightning speed. Now was the exciting race, the
regatta of war! The Dardan rowers would have been distanced here.
On! on! with the velocity of the wind, over the blue waves, through the
snowy surf--on!
And now we neared the shore, and officers sprang to their feet, and
stood with their swords drawn; and soldiers half sat, half crouched,
clutching their muskets. And the keels gritted upon the gravelly bed;
and, at the signal, a thousand men, in one plunge, flung themselves into
the water, and dashed madly through the surf. Thousands followed,
holding their cartridge-boxes breast-high; and blades were glancing, and
bayonets gleaming, and banners waving; and under glancing blades, and
gleaming bayonets, and waving banners, the dark mass rushed high upon
the beach.
Then came a cheer, loud, long, and exulting. It pealed along the whole
line, uttered from five thousand throats, and answered by twice that
number from the anchored ships. It echoed along the shores, and back
from the distant battlements.
A colour-sergeant, springing forward, rushed up the steep sides of a
sand-hill, and planted his flag upon its snowy ridge.
As the well-known banner swung out upon the breeze, another cheer, wild
and thrilling, ran along the line; a hundred answering flags were hauled
up through the fleet; the ships of war saluted with full broadsides; and
the guns of San Juan, now for the first time waking from their lethargic
silence, poured forth their loudest thunder.
The sun was just setting as our column commenced its advance inward.
After winding for a short distance through the defiles of the
sand-hills, we halted for the night, our left wing resting upon the
beach.
The soldiers bivouacked without tents--sleeping upon their arms, with
the soft sand for their couch and the cartridge-box for their pillow.
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Note. Cuartel is the quarter of the city.