CHAPTER V
WAR WITH MEXICO-OPERATIONS ON THE EAST COAST, 1845-1848
Having followed the naval operations on the west coast of Mexico from the beginning to the close of hostilities for the sake of preserving a clearer and more convenient method, we will now, in the same way, consider the services of this arm of the national power in the Gulf and on the east coast of Mexico. In that quarter, our navy found no enemy to contend with on its own element, and was, therefore, principally occupied as an auxiliary to the army. And although its services were not brilliant, they were certainly indispensable.
In July, 1845, the Secretary of the Navy wrote to Commodore Conner, commanding the Home Squadron, that he must now consider Texas as a part of the United States, to be defended as any other portion should be, and that he must hold his force in readiness for any contingency. The Vessels of war embraced in his command at this time were. The frigate Potomac, sloops-of-war Falmouth, Saratoga, St. Mary's, brigs Somers and Lawrence. The steamers Mississippi and Princeton, sloop-of-war John Adams, and the brig Porpoise, were ordered to join his squadron without delay.
During the movement of General Taylor's division to Corpus Christi, and thence on to the north of the Rio Grande, the smaller vessels of the squadron kept it company, and rendered some valuable services. When hostilities actually began and a state of war was declared to exist, instructions were issued to Commodore Conner to employ his command in the blockade of Mexican ports, so far as its force would admit of doing so effectually. The government required that the blockade should be actual and absolute, except against the vessels of war of neutral nations. These orders were issued on the 13th of May, 1846, and that they might be properly carried out, several additional vessels were attached to the squadron. These were the frigate Cumberland, frigate Raritan, and the brigs Perry and Truxton. The sloop-of-war Albany also joined the squadron during the year.
On the 8th of May, the firing of the artillery at the battle of Palo Alto was heard at Point Isabel, where the squadron was lying. Major Munroe, commanding the post, and having under his care the supplies for the army, apprehensive of an attack by the enemy upon so important a point, requested of Commodore Conner a reinforcement of his troops from the squadron. This was promptly granted, 500 seamen and marines, under Captain F. H. Gregory, of the Raritan, being landed and assigned a position behind the defences. But the victories of the 8th and 9th drove the Mexicans across the river, opened the communications between Fort Brown and Point Isabel, and left the latter free from all danger.
On the 18th of May, a detachment of nearly 200 marines and seamen from the Cumberland and Potomac, under Captain J. H. Aulick, sailed up the Rio Grande in the boats of the ships and effected a junction with a detachment of the army at Barita, on the right bank of the river, about 15 miles from its mouth. At this point they established a post without any opposition, and on the same day the army under General Taylor crossed the river and entered Matamoros.
After this, the vessels were despatched to their several stations to enforce the blockade of the ports of Mexico on the Gulf as far south as Alvarado. The changes of the ships on the several stations were necessarily frequent, repairing, as they did, for a time, successively to Pensacola to replenish their supplies. The Somers was sent to Yucatan to ascertain what course that government intended to pursue in the war between the United States and Mexico. The honest neutrality of this province would require a less extent of coast to be guarded, and diminish the resources of Mexico for a prolonged contest. Munitions of war were, however, being introduced into Mexico through this province, so that the necessary neutrality was not maintained, and it became advisable, therefore, in the autumn of this year, to send an expedition to Tabasco, through which city the commerce in the war materials was carried on Tabasco was situated on the river of the same name, about 74 miles from its mouth; and in a southeasterly direction from Vera Cruz. Its seaport, called Frontera, is situated at the mouth of the river. Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was appointed to conduct the expedition. As the harbors of Mexico were inaccessible to most of our ships of war in consequence of sand bars across their entrances, several small steamers and schooners had been purchased and sent to the scene of operations in the Gulf. Of these, Commodore Perry took the steamer Vixen and the schooners Bonita, Reefer and Nonata, besides the steamed McLane and the schooner Forward of the revenue service, as the most available force with which to ascend the river. His own ship was the Mississippi, a Steam frigate, on board which was a detachment of 200 Officers, seamen and marines under the command of Captain French Forrest of the Cumberland. The expedition sailed on the 16th of October and arrived off the mouth of the Tabasco on the 23d. The Mississippi was left at the anchorage outside, while Commodore Perry himself went on board the Vixen. This small steamer then took in tow the Bonita and Forward, with the barges containing the detachment under Captain Forrest, and, crossing the bar, began ascending the river. The Nonata followed under sail. The Reefer, having parted company in a gale, had not as yet rejoined the squadron. The town of Frontera was taken possession of without resistance, together with several vessels in port, and two steamers which were firing up in the hope of escaping up stream. The largest of these steamers, the Petrita, was immediately put in service, the detachment of Captain Forrest embarking in her, and the Nonata and Forward, with the barges, being attached to her to be towed up the river. The Vixen then took the Bonita in tow, and the next morning the command again moved forward, hoping to reach Tabasco before additions could be made to its defences. The rapidity of the current, and the imperfect knowledge of the channel, rendered their progress slow. The next morning, however, they came abreast of a fort which commanded the river at a very difficult point, and from which they looked for opposition to their advance. But they passed it unmolested, the men in charge fleeing at their approach. At noon, Tabasco was reached. Several merchant vessels were secured by the boats, and the squadron anchored in order of battle abreast of the town, within half-musket range.
Captain Forrest went directly on shore with a flag and a summons to the governor to surrender. This was answered with bravado and an invitation to Perry to fire as soon as he pleased. The commodore was extremely reluctant to destroy the town and to subject the inhabitants to the miseries of a bombardment merely to gratify the inhuman pride of a man who, safe himself, would not surrender although incapable of making any effectual resistance. However, it was necessary to make some demonstration of our power, and Perry therefore directed the firing to begin from the guns of the Vixen alone, and these to be aimed at the flagstaff. At the third discharge, the flag came down. Captain Forrest being again sent to inquire if they surrendered, was informed that the flag was not struck, but only shot away.
Captain Forrest now landed with his detachment at a point where they were under cover of the guns of the vessels. This movement drew from the enemy a fire of musketry, which was returned by the flotilla and continued till evening. Not considering it safe for the land party to remain on shore through the night, Commodore Perry recalled them. The crews were continued at quarters throughout the night; but the' firing from the flotilla was not resumed. Commodore Perry, knowing that the governor disregarded the wishes of the principal citizens in refusing to capitulate, determined, from motives of humanity, to relinquish any plan of a more complete conquest, and to retire from the place, satisfied with having broken up the obnoxious traffic in munitions of war. But in the morning, the firing was reopened from the town, and consequently it became necessary to reply to it from the flotilla.
A flag of truce finally appeared, which was met by Captain Forrest. The bearer brought a communication from the principal foreign merchants of the place, setting forth that they were great sufferers from the bombardment and that they would be ruined if it continued, and desiring the American commander to spare the town and avert such disastrous results. Commodore Perry in his reply expressed his continued determination not to fire unless fired upon from the shore. He accordingly ordered his prizes to move down the river, while the armed vessels prepared to follow. One of the prizes grounded near the shore, whereupon a large party of Mexicans collected in the houses and streets opposite and began to pour into it a very severe fire. This, of course, made it necessary to attack the town again, in order to relieve the prize. The ships' fire soon silenced that on shore, and Lieutenant W. A. Parker, who Was in charge of the prize, defending himself with great gallantry, succeeded in getting his vessel off with one man killed and tWo ! wounded. Lieutenant Charles W. Morris, while conveying an order in a. boat from the commodore to Lieutenant Parker, received a severe wound in the neck, which a few days' later resulted in his death. The flotilla, with the prizes, now withdrew from before the town and proceeded down the river. Such vessels found in the river as were of little value, were burned, and the rest of the prizes were sent to the main squadron near Vera Cruz: The McLane and the Forward (revenue cutters) were 16ft to 'maintain the blockade of the river, while Commodore Perry and his command rejoined Commodore Conner.
Previous to this successful expedition against Tabasco, some naval movements were in progress which did not have so satisfactory an ending. In August, Commodore Conner planned an expedition against Alvarado, the first town of any importance on the coast to the eastward of Vera Cruz. The expedition failed, however, owing to the fact that none of the vessels were able to cross the bar the small steamers and schooners, which ultimately proved so efficient in operations of this kind, not having been sent out at that time. When they arrived, in October, Commodore Conner made another attempt to, take possession of Alvarado. The defences of the place were by no means insignificant, consisting of several forts and batteries commanding the harbor and its entrance. The steamer Vixen towed in the two schooners Bonita and Reefer, and this division was able to return the fire of the batteries. The Mississippi managed also to reach a position where she did considerable execution with her long, guns. The steamer McLane, however, touched on the bar, and so was unable to bring the second division, consisting of the Nonata, Petrel and Forward, into action. This misfortune frustrated the plan for the first division not being properly supported it became necessary to recall it.
The blockade of Tuxpan, situated on the coastrabove Vera Cruz, resulted in the loss of one of the vessels of the squadron. On the 15th of August, Commander E. W. Carpender stood in for the town with the brig Truxton. The vessel struck upon the bar and obstinately resisted all efforts to get her off. Her officers and men, with the exception of Lieutenant , C. G. Hunter and a boats crew, were obliged to surrender to the Mexicans. They were, however, subsequently exchanged.
In the autumn of 1846, the plan of a campaign was mapped out which contemplated the reduction of the city of Vera Cruz and its famous castle, and thence the marching of a large army, by the shortest route to the capital of Mexico. It was highly advisable to conceal this plan from the Mexican Government. In order, therefore, to divert attention from the real point of attack, and to provide a convenient place for concentrating troops, orders were sent in October to Commodore Conner to take possession of Tampico. The Raritan, Potomac and, St. Mary's were directed to rendezvous off that port. On the 12th of November, the steamer Mississippi, having on board a detachment of mo marines and seamen from the Cumberland, and towing the Vixen Nonata, Bonita and Reefer, and the steamer Princeton, having in tow the Spitfire and Petrel, left the anchorage of Anton Lizardo. Arrived off the bar of Tampico, on the morning of the 14th, 300 men were placed in the boats of the various vessels, 'which, in connection with the schooners above mentioned, in tow of the steamers spitfire and Vixen, were carried safely over the bar and passed up the river. The defences of the city had been abandoned, so that no resistance was met with. Before reaching the city, a deputation from the government came on board, with whom the terms of a peaceable surrender were arranged. Two merchant vessels and three gunboats were taken in the harbor. A strict blockade of the port continued to be maintained after its capture, and it was also garrisoned for some time by a strong detachment of troops.
From Tampico an expedition was sent under Commander Tattnall, with the steamer Spitfire and the schooner Petrel, to Panuco, situated about 8o miles up the river of the same name, for the purpose of destroying some cannon and other munitions of war which the Mexicans had conveyed from Tampico prior to its surrender. Though the river banks afforded many points from which artillery might have swept the decks of the vessels, the enemy offered no opposition, and on the 19th of November, the town was taken possession of and the military stores destroyed or brought away. In the latter part of November, the frigate Cumberland was sent home for repairs, Captain Forrest transferring his command to the Raritan, while Captain Gregory and his crew went home in the Cumberland.
While the squadron was off Tampico, the brig Somers maintained the blockade at Vera Cruz. The barque Creole, conveying munitions of war to the Mexicans, had violated the blockade, and lay on the night of the 20th of November in supposed security under the guns of the fortress San Juan de Ulloa. In the darkness, a boat from the Somers, containing Lieutenant James L. Parker, Passed Midshipmen R. C. Rogers and J. R. Hynson, and five seamen, quietly approached the barque. The guard was surprised, captured and afterward set on shore, while the vessel was set on fire and burned. The adventurous and gallant party escaped without injury.
On the 5th of December, Passed Midshipman Rogers and Assistant Surgeon J. H. Wright, of the Somers, with one of the crew, went on shore in the vicinity of Vera Cruz for the purpose of making a reconnaissance. They were soon surprised by a party of Mexicans. Dr. Wright managed to escape, but the other two were taken prisoners. And although Midshipman Rogers wore his uniform, and could properly be deemed only a prisoner of war, his fate was for a long time doubtful, the Mexican authorities seeking to convict him as spy. He endured great hardships, and was finally taken to the City of Mexico, whence he escaped before that city was captured by the American arms. He subsequently joined the army of General Scott and served with distinction in the brilliant battles which closed the war. His misfortune in being captured probably saved him from the more melancholy fate of most of his companions on board the Somers.
The Somers, On December 8, while seeking, under a press of canvas, to cut off a vessel which was making for the harbor of Vera Cruz, was struck by a " norther " and thrown on her beam-ends. She went down very soon, carrying with her Acting Master H. A. Clemson, Passed Midshipman Hynson,1 and nearly half
1 In the grounds of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, stands a simple marble monument, which bears the two inscriptions:
“To Passed Midshipmen Henry A. Clemson and John R. Hynson, Lost with the U. S. Brig Somers off Vera Cruz, pecember 8, 1846. This monument is erected by the Passed and other Midshipmen of the United States Navy as a token of respect."
and
"To Midshipmen J. W. 'Pillsbury and T. B. Shubrick, killed near Vera Cruz in the discharge of their duties."
her crew of 80 men. The John Adams, which was just then coming down the coast, went to the assistance of the brig, as did also the boats of the British, French mid Spanish ships of war anchored near. By these, some of the officers and men were rescued, while others succeeded in reaching the shore, where they were made prisoners. Gold and silver medals were subsequently presented, by order of Congress, to the officers and then of the foreign vessels who had so nobly and generously risked their own Jives to Save some of their fellow men 'from the wreck of the unfortunate Somers.
Oh the 20th of December, Commodore Perry, with the Mississippi, Vixen, Bonita and Petrel, arrived off the town of Laguna, in the province of Yucatan. Leaving the Mississippi off the bar, he took the schooners and barges' in tow .of the Vixen, and proceeded up to the town. Possession was taken without difficulty, and the military stores were seized. Two forts were occupied, the American flag hoisted upon them, and the guns and carriages destroyed. Commander J. R. Sands, with the Vixen and Petrel, was left in charge of the place. And on returning along the coast Lieut. Commandant T. G. Benham, in the Bonita, was left at Tabasco River to assume the command of the blockading vessels at that point.
The year 1847 opened with very extensive and active preparations for the contemplated attack on Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa. The descent of so large a body of troops as was necessary for the grand plan of this campaign upon an open coast, with the needful but heavy encumbrance of its military supplies was no light work and the aid of the navy was, in all the phases of the undertaking, indispensable. Great activity consequently pervaded this branch of the service. Bomb-ketches and steamers were purchased, equipped, and sent to the Gulf. The ship-of-the-line Ohio, which was preparing for, the Pacific, and the sloops Germantown, Saratoga and Decatur, were rapidly fitted out and ordered to join the squadron. There was soon assembled on the east coast of Mexico, around Vera Cruz as a center, or scattered at various ports on blockade duty, probably the largest force up to that time under, the command of a single American naval officer.
The transports, conveying troops and supplies, were directed to rendezvous at the island of Lobos, which lies about 12 miles off the coast, and some 6o miles below Tampico. At this point many of them assembled during the month of February; and, as the season was advancing, the commander-in-chief decided to effect an immediate landing, notwithstanding the fact that many very necessary supplies had not yet arrived. Surf-boats suitable for landing purposes had been contracted for in the different ports of the United States by the quartermaster's department of the army. These boats were built with both ends alike, so as to steer with an oar at each end, and to stow in nests of three each, the largest one measuring 40 feet in length. One hundred and forty-one boats were contracted for and built. Out of this number, however, only 65 had reached headquarters by the time they were required for the landing of the troops.
The army sailed from the rendezvous at Lobos Island on the 5th of March. In anticipation of the arrival of the transports off Vera Cruz, the frigate -Potomac and the sloops-of-war Albany and John Adams were stationed in the vicinity of Isla Verde (about five miles to seaward of the city), with orders to put an officer on board each vessel as she arrived, to pilot her into the anchorage at Anton Lizardo or, should the number of officers prove inadequate for this duty, to furnish the masters of the transports with such sailing directions as would enable them to pass inside of the Banquilla Reefs to the anchorage. The naval squadron, under the command of Commodore Conner, and the transports having on board the troops and their equipment, under the command of Major General Scott, were thus concentrated at the anchorage between the island of Salmadina and Point, Anton Lizardo, a distance of about to or 12 miles to the eastward of Vera Cruz.
As fast as those transports having on board any of the surfboats arrived, the, boats were launched under the direction of a lieutenant of the squadron, their equipment inspected, and everything belonging to them fully prepared for service, after which they were hauled up on the landward side of the island, and arranged and numbered in divisions; each division consisting of 10 boats, taken from all the different sizes.
In the meantime, a speedy debarkation was decided upon. Accordingly, the general-in-chief and the commodore of the squadron made a joint reconnaissance in the steamer Petrita, with a view to selecting the most advantageous point for that purpose. The beach near Sacrificios was deemed the most eligible point, and the debarkation was appointed to take place on the 8th of March. The surf-boats were apportioned for use among the men-of-war, and Captain Forrest, commanding the frigate Raritan, was ordered to superintend the whole operation. All the preliminary arrangements were completed on the evening of the 7th, but the next morning there were indications of a " norther," and the Movement was postponed. At sunrise on the morning of the 9th, the officers and men detailed for that duty were sent from the men-of-war to launch and man the surf-boats. Those divisions of boats manned by the Raritan and Princeton were assigned to the transfer of the first line ; and in like manner those divisions manned by the Potomac were assigned to the transfer of the second line, and those by the Albany and St. Mary's to the reserve. Each of the frigates received on board between 2500 and 2800 men, together with their arms and accoutrements. The sloops received about 900 each, and the smaller vessels numbers in proportion.
When all were transferred, the 15 bogs belonging to the Raritan were taken to the steamer Spitfire to be towed to Sacrificios. The steamer Vixen went alongside the Potomac and took in tow the 20 boats belonging to her, the Albany, sent her 10 to the steamer Eudora, the St. Mary's 10 were sent to the steamer Petrita, and the Princeton took in low her own 10. At the same time, the vessels so sending them detailed two lieutenants and two midshipmen to remain on board the towing steamers and look out for their boats, together with two seamen for each boat, who were to remain in them and steer them during the tow. This part of the movement was completed very successfully about 10 o'clock a and a few moments afterwards: the squadron and such of the transports as had been selected for the purpose, got underway for Sacrificios, the general-in-chief on board the steamer Massachusetts, and the commodore in the Raritan.
The passage to Sacrificios took between two and three hours. Each vessel came in and anchored in the small space previously allotted to her without the slightest disorder or confusion, the anchorage being still very much crowded, notwithstanding the number of transports that had been left behind. The debarkation began on the instant. Each vessel, reclaiming her surf-boats from the steamer which had towed them up, sent them to receive the first line. The Princeton was ordered to take a position abreast the landing-place and as near the shore as possible, and the surf-boats were directed, after receiving their quota of soldiers, to rendezvous astern of her, and to form there in a double line ahead, according to regiments and companies, and in prescribed order of battle, the two head boats holding on to each quarter of the Princeton, the next two holding on to them, and so on, with the regimental flag flying in the head boat of each regiment.
While this work of transfer and arrangement was going on, the steamers Spitfire and Vixen, and the five gunboats Petrel, Bonita, Reefer, Falcon and Tampico were ordered to anchor in a line parallel with and as close in to the beach as they could get, to cover the landing with their guns, if necessary. These vessels were armed chiefly with 32-pounder shell guns and were of such light draft (from five to eight feet) that they were able to take positions within good grape-shot range of the shore.
When everything was ready, the boats cast off from the Princeton and from each other, squared away in line abreast, and pulled in together to the beach, where the troops landed without the slightest opposition. The boats immediately returned to the vessels for the second line of the army, and then for the reserve; and without waiting to form again in order of battle, they continued to land the troops upon the beach, in successive trips, as fast as they could come and go. At some places, the loaded boats grounded on the bar some 20 yards from dry land, and the troops had to wade waist-deep through the water to get ashore. This occurred in comparatively few instances, however; and aside from the inconvenience of these few wettings, not an accident of any kind occurred throughout the whole operation. No enemy appeared to dispute the ground; and General Worth had the satisfaction of forming his command on the neighboring sandhills just before sunset. The landing had begun about the middle of the after noon, and before 10 o'clock that night upwards Of 10,000 men, with stores and provisions for several days, were safely deposited on the beach.
The steamer New Orleans, with the Louisiana regiment of volunteers, arrived at Anton Lizardo just as the squadron had been put in motion for Sacrificios. She joined the other vessels, and her troops, together with the 'marines of the squadron, who formed a battalion under the command of Captain Alvin Edson, of the marine corps, were landed with the others. Other troop ships came in subsequently. On the 24th of March, the field return showed a total of 12,603 men. In the meantime, also, the transports were ordered up successively from Anton Lizardo, and whenever the weather would permit, the surf-boats, still manned and officered from the squadron, were constantly employed in landing artillery, horses, provisions and stores.
The perfect success of the entire operation is sufficiently evident from the foregoing, without further demonstration. It only remains to add a few words from the reports of the two commanding officers, expressive of their gratification. Commodore Conner said: "The officers and men under my command vied with each other, on that occasion, in a zealous and energetic performance of their duty. I cannot but express to the department the great satisfaction I have derived from witnessing their efforts to contribute all in their power to the success of their more fortunate brethren of the army." And General Scott wrote that "To Commodore Conner and the officers and sailors of his command, the army is indebted for great and unceasing assistance, promptly and cheerfully rendered. Their co-operation is the constant theme of our gratitude and admiration.”2
Pending the bombardment of Vera Cruz, Commodore Conner, who had now been in command of the Home Squadron more than three years, and whose health had become seriously impaired.
2 The above account of the debarkation of the army of Major General Scott at Vera Cruz is derived mainly from the memoir of Passed Midshipman William G. Temple, who, about the year 1851-1852, with the sanction of the Secretary of the Navy, prepared it from original sources and placed it among the archives of the Navy Department with a view to preserving to the service a record of the transaction which it describes. It was incorporated in Cooper's "History of the Navy," edition of 1856, and 40 years later printed in full in P. S. P. Conner's "The Home Squadron under Commodore Conner in the War with Mexico."
was relieved, on the 21st of March, by Commodore M. C. Perry, and returned home in the-Princeton. On the 22d, the investment of the city was completed and some of the batteries constructed, whereupon the governor was called upon to surrender. This being declined, in the afternoon of that day the tiring was begun from the trenches, and was returned from both the city and the castle. At the same time, the two small steamers Spitfire and Vixen and five gunboats, led by Commander Tattnall, took a position near the shore, from which their heavy shot could reach the city. Their position was gallantly maintained and the fire kept up with rapidity and steadiness until late in the evening. They were supplied with ammunition during the night, and on the morning of the 24th moved to a still nearer and more favorable position, whence the firing was resumed: It soon became apparent, however, that the flotilla was in a position inconsistent with its safety, and it was therefore recalled.
It being the earnest desire of the officers and men of the navy to take some active part in the siege, General Scott generously assigned them a place in the trenches. Three 8-inch Paixhan guns and three long 32-pounders were landed from the squadron and after vast labor in dragging them through the sand, in which duty the sailors were aided by detachments from the army, the guns were mounted in battery, under the superintendence of Commander A. S. Mackenzie. This battery was served by different detachments from the various vessels, composed of lieutenants and other officers, with an adequate number of seamen, all under the command of a captain. Each detachment was on duty 24 hours.
The battery opened its fire on the 24th under charge of Captain John H. Aulick, of the Potomac: As soon as discovered, it drew upon itself an exceedingly severe fire from the enemy's guns, which was returned deliberately and with marked effect for about four hours, when the supply of ammunition failed. The loss in this detachment was five seamen killed and one officer and four men wounded. The relief party arrived in the afternoon under the command of Captain Isaac Mayo, of the Mississippi. The breastworks being much shattered, the night was spent in repairing them. Early on the morning of the 25th, the fire of four of the Mexican batteries was concentrated upon this work. An active cannonade was kept up in return until half-past two in the afternoon, when the enemy's guns were silenced. Two other batteries then directed their fire upon our naval battery, but they also were soon rendered ineffective. During this day, Midshipman T. B. Shubrick, while pointing a gun, was killed. One seaman was killed, and three were slightly wounded. Captain Mayo was relieved toward the close of the day by Captain S. L. Breese, of the Albany; and the cannonade of the day gave employment for the night in restoring the dilapidated defences.
In the morning, a storm so filled the air with dust, that it was impossible to sight the guns, and soon an order arrived from the commander-in-chief that the firing need not be resumed, as negotiations for a surrender were in progress. In the commission for the settlement of the terms of capitulation, Captain Aulick represented the navy. On the 29th of March, the combined forces of the army and navy took possession of the city and castle, while the American flag was hoisted over both amid a grand salute from the squadron and the batteries. During the siege, the naval battery threw 1000 Paixhan shells and 800 round shot into the enemy's walls and forts.