d
the Mexican flotilla and captured all the boats. Two of the prizes had
to be blown up, but the "Champion," a fast river boat, which had run
between Richmond and Norfolk, was taken out and afterward usefully
employed as a despatch-boat. In this expedition there was considerable
fighting and also some losses both of officers and men.

In blockading the port of Tuspan, some 120 miles northwest of Vera
Cruz, the brig "Truxton," Captain Carpenter, was stationed. The ship
was blown ashore and was under the Mexican guns. The Captain sent a
boat to tell the Commodore of the disaster, but before relief could
reach him he surrendered. In doing this he was opposed bitterly by all
his officers, and the quarter-master on duty positively refused to
obey the order to haul down the flag. Lieutenant Bushrod Hunter, who
first went for assistance, reached the squadron off Vera Cruz, as did
also Lieutenant Otway Berryman, with a boat's crew, which left before
the surrender had been effected. The remainder of the crew were taken
to Vera Cruz as prisoners of war. As soon as Commodore Conner heard of
the disaster he sent Captain Engle with the "Princeton" to Tuspan. He
made short work of it. He drove the Mexicans out of the brig, took
what armament was left, and then burned her. The guns taken out of the
"Truxton" were placed in forts erected to protect Tuspan. But these
were captured next year by Commodore Perry and Captain Breese. The
officers and men of the navy had a grudge against Tuspan, and the
landing detachment which carried the works fought as though each man
in it were a demon. It lost three killed, while five officers and six
seamen were wounded.

During the summer of 1847, the men of the squadron operating in the
Gulf suffered severely from yellow fever and also from scurvy brought
on by a lack of fresh food. It was so bad on the "Mississippi" that
she had to been sent to Pensacola. Commodore Perry was himself
stricken, but he refused to leave, and changed his flag to the
"Germantown," which remained. This was after the fall of Vera Cruz,
and when the duty of the naval forces was once again only that of
blockaders. The investment of Vera Cruz was the most considerable
single piece of work performed by the navy during the war. Commodore
Conner had gathered at Vera Cruz all his available forces and
anxiously awaited the coming of General Scott and his army, who were
at Lobos Island, 150 miles north of Vera Cruz. General Taylor,