useless effusion of blood, and its peaceful inhabitants—­women and children inclusive—­from the inevitable horrors of a triumphant assault, addresses this summons to the intelligence, the gallantry, the patriotism, no less than the humanity, of his Excellency the governor and commander in chief of Vera Cruz.  The undersigned is not accurately informed whether both the city and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa be under the command of his Excellency, or whether each place has its own independent commander; but the undersigned, moved by the considerations adverted to above, may be willing to stipulate that if the city should by capitulation be garrisoned by a part of his troops no missile shall be fired from within the city or from its bastions or walls upon the castle, unless the castle should previously fire upon the city.  The undersigned has the honor to tender his distinguished opponent, his Excellency the general and commander in chief of Vera Cruz, the assurance of the high respect and consideration of the undersigned, WINFIELD SCOTT.”

To which he received the following reply: 

“GOD AND LIBERTY!”

“VERA CRUZ, March 22, 1847.

“TO MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT:  The undersigned, commanding general of the free and sovereign State of Vera Cruz, has informed himself of the contents of the note which Major-General Scott, general in chief of the forces of the United States, has addressed to him under date of to-day, demanding the surrender of this place and castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and in answer has to say that the above-named fortress as well as the city depends on his authority; and it being his principal duty, in order to prove worthy of the confidence placed in him by the Government of the nation, to defend both points at all cost, to which he counts upon necessary elements, and will make it good to the last, therefore his Excellency can commence his operations of war in a manner which he may consider most advantageous.  The undersigned has the honor to return to the general in chief of the forces of the United States the demonstrations of esteem he may be pleased to honor him with.

“JUAN MORALES.”

The city was garrisoned by a force of three thousand three hundred and sixty officers and men, and the castle had a force of one thousand and thirty, making a total of four thousand three hundred and ninety.  It was certainly a brave determination 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.