CHAPTER VII
Operations Subsequent to the Mexican War, 1854-1870
For nearly six years after the close of the war with Mexico nothing of note occurred in the operations of our navy in the region of Mexico. During the year 1854, however, the sloop-of- war Albany, Commander J. T. Gerry, of the home squadron, while cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, put in at the ports of Yucatan, and contributed much to the encouragement and protection of our citizens engaged in commerce in that quarter. From this cruise the Albany never returned, being lost, with all on board, somewhere among the West Indies. The steamer Fulton, of the same squadron, left Norfolk on May 17 of that year, under the command of Lieutenant J. K. Mitchell, for the purpose of conveying to Vera Cruz the Hon. James Gadsden, our minister to Mexico, who was also the bearer of the treaty which had shortly before been concluded between the United States and Mexico. The Fulton remained at Vera Cruz until the treaty was ratified, and then returned with it to Washington.
On the west coast the attention of the Pacific squadron was also turned to Mexico in the course of this year. Our government having received sufficient intelligence to impress it with the apprehension that an unlawful expedition had left, or was about leaving, San Francisco for the purpose of taking possession of territory belonging to Mexico, instructions were sent to Commander T. A. Dornin, of the sloop Portsmouth, to render prompt and efficient aid in assisting to arrest and suppress any such unlawful expedition as might be set on foot within the jurisdiction of the United States, and to exercise all lawful means to prevent the violation of law and the infraction of treaty stipulations. To assist him in this the President authorized him, if necessary, to charter a steamer for a short time. Commander Dornin considered this necessary, and accordingly chartered, at San Francisco, the steamer Columbus, belonging to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. With this steamer and the Portsmouth he proceeded along the coast and, by uniting with the civil authorities, contributed largely to the early termination of all unlawful expeditions. Some of the leaders of these expeditions were arrested, and many of the sick and wounded availed themselves of Commander Dornin’s offer to return to their homes.
After his efforts to suppress this unlawful expedition against Mexico had terminated to his satisfaction, Commander Dornin received intelligence that about twenty American citizens were imprisoned in close confinement at Mazatlan. He promptly investigated the matter, and finding that their imprisonment was improper, he interfered and demanded their release. They were soon discharged by order of the Mexican Government, and at the instance of Commander Dornin were conveyed, in the revenue cutter IV. L. Marcy, to San Francisco. The Portsmouth also did good service at Acapulco by relieving American steamers from the embarrassment of a blockade of that port.
In the spring of 1858 the Fulton, under Lieutenant J. J. Almy, was sent to Tampico to inquire into the circumstances attending the detention of American merchant vessels at that place. Almy arrived off the bar on April 13. Fie found the two forces, government and revolutionary, arrayed against each other, the latter, under General Garza, besieging the city. Five American vessels had been fired into and detained, and another had half her cargo thrown ashore and her captain imprisoned. General Garza had established a custom-house at the entrance of the river, where he required all merchant vessels to pay duties, and detained such as refused, although they had already paid duties at the government custom-house at Tampico. Lieutenant Almy entered the river with the Fulton, placed her in position with her guns ready, and remonstrated against the action of General Garza, demanding, at the same time, the release of the captain and the vessels which were detained, all of which was promptly granted. The Fulton remained at Tampico until May, when peace and quiet were again restored. Lieutenant Almy’s course was fully approved by the department.
In October, 1858, the sloop-of-war Plymouth, Commander J. A. Dahlgren, while attached to the home squadron, visited Tampico, in consequence of certain forced loans levied upon American residents by General Garza, the Governor of Tamaulipas. Commander Dahlgren, in company with the United States consul, had an interview with General Garza, and remonstrated against his measures. Subsequently, on the arrival of the Plymouth at Vera Cruz, he represented in person to President Juarez the improper course which General Garza was pursuing, and obtained from him the assurance that the proceedings complained of were contrary to regulations, and that no such levies would be exacted in future. The consul was so gratified with the result of this intervention that he complimented Dahlgren in the following terms: “You have done more for the commerce of this place than all the ships and squadrons belonging to the United States have done since I have had charge of this consulate.”
In the latter half of the year 1858, also, the steam sloop Brooklyn, Captain David G. Farragut, was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico to convey our minister, the Hon. Robert McLane, and his family to Vera Cruz. Mexico was still in a state of revolution. Juarez, the Liberal president, held the City of Vera Cruz and the principal ports on the coast, while Miramon, of the Clerical or Church party, occupied the City of Mexico and the surrounding country. In this state of affairs the interests of American citizens were continually in danger, and Farragut was constantly appealed to for protection.
On the 2d of January, 1859, Minister McLane was advised by the consul at Tampico of an anticipated attack on that place by a portion of Miramon’s forces. Accordingly, a boat fully equipped with howitzer, small arms, and provisions was landed under the command of Lieutenant W. N. Jeffers, for the protection of the consulate and American residents. No conflict took place, but Lieutenant Jeffers was fully prepared with his little force to cover the embarkation of any citizens in the event of an attack; and under these circumstances he was instructed not to allow the American flag to be struck.
During all this time the Brooklyn was placed at the disposal of Mr. McLane, and conveyed him to different points along the coast, to communicate with our consular representatives. The duty of navigating a vessel of the Brooklyn’s size along this coast was hazardous in the extreme; but Farragut’s previous service stood him in good stead. And the moral force which the presence of this formidable vessel gave to McLane’s negotiations was of great value to the United States. Without it his diplomatic mission could not have obtained a foothold, and the constitutional government of Mexico might never have had its seat in the City of Mexico, or have been recognized by the governments of England, France, Spain, and Germany. The Brooklyn returned to the United States with Mr. McLane in September, 1859, but returned again to Mexico in November following, with the minister and his family. Finally, in December, Mr. McLane was taken up the Mississippi and landed at a plantation below New Orleans.
At the beginning of the year 1859 the west coast of Mexico was likewise in a turbulent and revolutionary state. However, the presence of the sloops St. Mary’s and Vandalia, and the steamer Saranac, of the Pacific squadron, went far to relieve the fears and preserve the property of our countrymen. While the St. Mary’s was busy protecting our interests at Guaymas, a detachment of her officers and men was despatched to Mazatlan in a brigantine placed at the disposal of Commander C. H. Davis by the American Surveying Commission. The particular object of this expedition was to obtain information of the condition of affairs around Mazatlan, to learn if any citizens of the United States had been imprisoned there or oppressed, and to afford them all possible relief. This service was performed most satisfactorily by Lieutenant J. S. Maury and the officers and men associated with him. From Guaymas the St. Mary’s proceeded to Mazatlan, and thence to Acapulco, where she arrived on January 12, 1859. In October of that year, under the command of Commander W. D. Porter, she returned to Guaymas and protested against the oppressive and illegal treatment of a certain Captain Stone and his companions, citizens of the United States, by the authorities of Sonora.
Early in 1860 Miramon made preparations for another campaign against the constitutionalist forces at Vera Cruz. A small squadron under Mexican colors, and commanded by General Marin, was expected to sail from Havana to cooperate in the attack. This squadron was expected off the port about the end of February. President Juarez immediately issued a proclamation declaring it a piratical expedition, and the United States naval forces received orders from their government to prevent the intended cooperation.
There were lying off Vera Cruz, at this time, besides the steamers Indianola and Wave (under charter to the Liberal authorities), the United States frigate Savannah and the sloops of war Saratoga and Preble. Marin’s squadron, consisting of the steamers General Miramon and Marques de la Habana, was descried in the offing early in the afternoon of March 6. By the time they reached the anchorage they were boarded by several of Miramon's officers. Captain J. R. Jarvis, commanding the Saratoga, being the senior officer present, sent a lieutenant and eighty men to the Indianola. and another officer with an equal number of men to the Wave, each officer at once assuming command of the steamer he was on. The Saratoga, in tow of the two steamers, then proceeded to the attack; and by midnight Marin’s two vessels were prizes of the American naval force. The General Miramon made some resistance, and then, in trying to escape, grounded. The Marques de la Habana attempted no defence. The Saratoga fired ninety shots, and the casualties on both sides were forty. The prizes were afterwards sent to New Orleans for adjudication.
Captain Jarvis’s proceedings were protested against by the commander of the Spanish brig-of-war Habanero, who claimed the Marques de la Habana as Spanish property. The commander of the French naval force likewise protested against the Saratoga's interference in the affairs of Mexico, calling it an unlawful precedent. But Jarvis’s action had been in obedience to the orders of his government to recognize no blockade of Mexican ports by the reactionists, and his course was approved by the President of the United States. The United States district court at New Orleans, however, declared the capture of Marin’s ships illegal, and decreed their immediate restoration.
The internal as well as the foreign relations of Mexico became still more complicated in 1861. On the 31st of October a convention was signed in London by Great Britain, France, and Spain, for a joint intervention in Mexican affairs; and toward the end of November diplomatic relations with France and England ceased. The three allied powers were agreed upon the occupation by their forces of Vera Cruz, for the purpose of securing reparation of injuries and damages sustained by their subjects at the hands of the Mexican authorities and the fulfillment of prior obligations contracted by Mexico with those powers. The United States, having also claims against Mexico, was to be invited to join them; but this country, on receiving the invitation to cooperate with the three powers, declined. The ministers of the three leagued powers were, however, informed that the United States would maintain a competent naval force in the Gulf of Mexico to protect their citizens and interests.
During the years of the Civil War the United States had little opportunity to concern herself with the rapidly developing affairs of Mexico. But with the close of the war in 1865 we were again at liberty to look freely into the French aims and operations in that country, as represented by Maximilian’s recently established empire. Notwithstanding the popular pressure, however, in favor of the fulfillment of the Monroe Doctrine to the letter, and the immediate withdrawal of French troops, our government wished by no means to rush into another war. It even endeavored to maintain a strict neutrality toward both of the contending parties, although officials did manage to favor the Republican cause somewhat.
In 1866 an organized squadron was kept in service in the Gulf of Mexico. Commodore John A. Winslow was selected for the command, and entered upon his duties on the 7th of May. The vessels of his squadron patrolled the Gulf and repeatedly visited all the ports on our coast from Key West to the Rio Grande, and occasionally cruised to Tampico and Vera Cruz. Napoleon was beginning to realize that he would have to withdraw his troops from Mexico or prepare for war with the United States. Very shrewdly he proposed to Secretary of State Seward that the French troops would be promptly withdrawn, if the United States would recognize and protect Maximilian as emperor. Mr. Seward’s reply, although couched in diplomatic terms, was a point- blank refusal. Our government, moreover, realizing that this produced a crisis in the situation, and might possibly result in war with France, made dispositions accordingly. The steam frigate Susquehanna, Commodore James Alden, was placed in commission to convey our Minister to Mexico and Lieutenant General Sherman to Vera Cruz, or such other point as might be required; and troops were mobilized on the Mexican frontier. The Gulf squadron was divided, and a Western Gulf squadron formed to patrol the Mexican coast, under Commodore Winslow.
At this juncture Napoleon determined upon the withdrawal of his army from Mexico. Maximilian, however, after vain appeals and protests, elected to remain. The embarkation of the entire French military and civil establishment was completed at Vera Cruz on the 5th of February, 1867, and the French fleet sailed for France on the 13th of March. The need for a separate United States Gulf squadron thus ceased to exist. Commodore Winslow was directed to haul down his flag and to turn over his squadron to Rear Admiral James S. Palmer, commanding the naval forces on the North Atlantic Station. Nothing, indeed, had occurred to demand an exhibition of our naval prowess; but the presence of this force doubtless produced a salutary effect on the course of events. It may be added that the Susquehanna was prevented from landing her passengers, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs in and about Vera Cruz, and was compelled to return to the United States.
Preceding and attending the surrender of Vera Cruz in June, 1867, great judgment and address were exhibited by Commander F. A. Roe, in the gunboat Tacony. The ephemeral empire of Maximilian was in its last throes. The City of Vera Cruz was invested by the Republican forces under General Barranda, with whom Commander Roe soon established friendly relations; while in the harbor were men-of-war flying British, French, Spanish, and Austrian colors, patiently waiting for the end. The recognized sympathy of the United States for the Republic of Mexico naturally created a distrust of the Americans, but before long the most perfect understanding between the various commanding officers, including the Austrian, was brought about by the straightforward conduct and tact of Commander Roe. His services were, furthermore, sought by Governor Domingo Bureau, the Imperial commander of the besieged city, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation with Barranda.
Early in May, apprehending the speedy capture of the unfortunate Prince, Roe forwarded a letter to President Juarez, urging upon him, in the event of the taking of Maximilian, that he might be pleased, through a spirit of clemency and also of friendship for the United States, to spare his life, should it be in danger. On the fifteenth came the fall of Queretaro and the surrender of the Prince. A day later the news reached the Tacony, and Roe at once communicated this information to Captain Aynesley, of H. M. S. Jason, and together they urged Captain Groller, of the Austrian frigate Elizabeth, that as naval aide-de-camp to Maximilian he should go up to the city that night and demand the written authority of Governor Bureau to offer the immediate surrender of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan to General Benavides, on the single condition that the person of the Prince, alive and unharmed, should be delivered on the deck of the Tacony. The attempt to save Maximilian was gallantly made, but it was unsuccessful.
A month later it was Roe's sad privilege to carry the news of the cruel execution to Captain Groller, who begged that Commander Roe would appeal to Juarez to “allow him [Groller] the privilege of receiving the remains of the late Prince on board the Elizabeth, for the purpose of conveying them to Vienna.” This request was acceded to at once by Roe, and in the letter of transmittal, Roe added, “As I conceive his [Groller’s] prayer to be one of tender humanity and affection for his unhappy and bereaved family, I have the honor to beg also that his request may be granted.” However, no reply was received from the authorities. Groller, who had been the last to greet Roe on his arrival, wrote as he was leaving Vera Cruz: “I shall never forget you nor your exquisite kindness towards me, and your noble feelings in the disastrous days of Maximilian’s murder.”
Negotiations for the surrender of Vera Cruz were resumed, when the unexpected arrival of the notorious agitator Santa Anna, on board the American mail steamer Virginia, occurred. Santa Anna’s position was a peculiar one. He was on board of an American ship, under the flag of the United States, in a port besieged by the Government of Mexico, declaring and fomenting the civil war against that government, with which the United States were on friendly relations, and acting under an assumed authority from the- United States. Claiming the protection and shield of the American flag, he prevented the act of surrender of Vera Cruz after the terms of that surrender had been agreed to and accepted by both parties; and this under the declaration that he was acting under the authority of the United States. Bureau, the Imperial governor, fled, and the chief command of Vera Cruz devolved upon General Gomez, who called the captains together and announced that he had come to offer up the town to the body of consuls, requesting that they form a provisional government: and turning to Commander Roe, he said that to him he would surrender the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. The arrangements were soon made, and on June 27, 1867, the Liberal army marched in and took possession of Vera Cruz and its fortifications. Mexico was now again entirely under her own flag. On July 24 the Tacony left Vera Cruz for Pensacola. The Secretary of the Navy approved Commander Roe’s course in the following terms: “The department embraces the opportunity of conveying to you its approbation of the manner in which you have discharged the responsible and delicate duties which have devolved upon you as the commanding American naval officer off Vera Cruz at an interesting and eventful period, when important occurrences were transpiring and decisive and correct action were required.”
In June, 1868, a display of naval force in the Gulf was again considered necessary in consequence of reports that a hostile expedition against Mexico was concentrating near New Orleans. No occasion for action, however, manifested itself, and the vessels were consequently withdrawn.
In May, 1870, the Mohican, Commander W. W. Low, attached to the Pacific fleet, left San Francisco on her way to join the South Pacific squadron, and touched at Mazatlan. There she learned of the piratical movements and proceedings of the steamer Forward This vessel, formerly a gunboat in the British Navy, had sailed from San Francisco for the coast of Mexico a short time before, ostensibly to engage in the oyster and fishing trade. Soon after her arrival on the coast she was seized by an armed party who professed to he acting under the orders of a Mexican named Placido Vega, who was formerly Governor of Sinaloa, but who then held no office under the Mexican Government. A raid was made upon Guaymas, and much property was seized there by forced contributions from foreign merchants. An attempt was also made to capture a conduct a crossing from the interior to the coast, but it was unsuccessful. In consequence of these acts, trade had become paralyzed, on the coast, and the merchants felt themselves at the mercy of the freebooters. Vega, moreover, signed his orders to this party as General Commanding the State of Sinaloa. He had, however, issued no pronunciamento, nor was any revolution in progress. The Forward flew the flag of San Salvador all the time, although that state was then at peace with Mexico.
Upon the arrival of the Mohican at Mazatlan, Commander Low was earnestly requested by the Mexican authorities to capture the Forward. After deliberating .upon the subject, he became convinced that it was his duty to seize the ship as a piratical vessel. Learning that she was in the Teacapan River, he despatched a force of seventy-nine men, in six boats, under the command of Lieutenant W. H. Brownson, on the morning of the 17th of June. After pulling about forty miles, they discovered the Forward at anchor, and immediately boarded her. Only seven men were found on board, and these were made prisoners. The vessel’s guns were also found to have been mounted in a battery on shore. In pursuing a boat which was seen to be pulling away from the Forward, Ensign J. M. Wainwright fired into her when she refused to stop, and the battery on shore at once returned the fire with grape and shrapnel, killing the coxswain, and wounding Ensign Wainwright and two men. The fire from the shore was then directed upon the Forward, but the high bulwarks of the vessel forward protected the Mohican’s men to a great extent. Only four men were thus wounded. Lieutenant Brownson thereupon withdrew with his party, having first set the Forward, which was aground in five feet of water, on fire. The party reached the Mohican about two o’clock in the afternoon of the 18th of June.
The promptness of Commander Low in this instance again forestalled the action of the British naval commander in those waters, who had also issued orders for the capture of the Forward. It is said that he remarked to the American commander at the time, alluding to the affair, “This is always the way with you American Navy officers; you are ahead of us when a ship-of-war is required to be on the spot.” The sole cause of regret connected with the affair were the casualties from the fire of the pirates. Ensign Wainwright died shortly after returning to the Mohican; James Donnell, coxswain, was killed; and six other brave men had been wounded. The prisoners, six in number (one having escaped), were delivered by Commander Low to the Mexican authorities.