Report of Henry L. Thompson, August 29, 1837

circumstances would admit and still became more
infatuated with its delightful situation and the
salubrious trade wind which blows without cessation.

              This connected with the beautiful roadstead
and anchorage and the richest of soils which produces
the finest kind of timber and that of a variety induces
me to think, not only think but am well convinced
that it will be one of the greatest acquisitions to our
beloved country that the Admiral aloft could have
bestowed on us. I hoisted the Star spangled Banner
at the height of forty five feet with acclamations both
from the inhabitants of the Island and our small
patriotic band, the crews of our two vessels. We then
filled our water and made sail on our homeward
bound passage, passed the Island of Mujeres, fell in
with and chased, some of which we could not come
up with on account of our dull sailing vessels—which
I can with an open heart aprise [sic] you is not nor never
was what they have been cracked up to be, or we would
have taken many more valuable prizes. For be assured
no exertions on the part of our officers [were] wanting. The
course I pursued from thence westerly until we got off
Telchac on the Yucatan coast, where we received a
rascally reception from a squad of cavalry who rushed
from behind the sand hills with their ____ [?] pistols
and cutlasses and fired on Judge Fisher and Capt. Boylan
of the Brutus who went on shore unarmed with the exception
of a pair of pistols which Judge Fisher had taken with him,
and which the Judge nobly discharged amongst
their cavalry and fortunately hit one of the riders, who fell
forward on his horse’s neck and from that to the ground.

              Previous to this we had acted with every degree of
humanity towards our enemy but from that time our feel-
ings became excited and I gave an order to this effect—
To burn, sink and destroy every thing  we came athwart,