Occupation of
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Naval Conquest of
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THE DALE AT WAR IN MEXICAN WATERS

The naval conquest of California was consummated more than a year before the war with Mexico could be concluded in the east. When Commodore Stockton's victorious little force marched into Los Angeles on January 10, 1847, General Taylor's invasion across the Texas border had been halted in northeastern Mexico. The capture of Vera Cruz did not come until late in March 1847, and six more months were consumed before General Scott entered Mexico City. The peace treaty was not signed until February and even after that hostile operations on the Pacific seaboard were continued for several weeks, because of the delay in receiving news of the war's end.

Meantime on the west coast the consolidation of our position in California was the most important task to occupy one naval forces during the remaining year or more of combat. This was made easy, however, by the arrival of both naval and military reinforcements so that the ships of the enlarged squadrons were able to undertake a tighter blockade of the west coast of Mexico along with attacks against the principal seaports. Such minor operations would be of indirect aid to the land campaign of General Scott in the east.

Late in January 1847, Commodore William B. Shubrick arrived at Monterey in the U. S. Razee Independence with orders to command the squadron. Finding Stockton was still in Southern California, Shubrick sent the Dale there with a message of general information. After delivering this the ship was to continue to Panama to forward official dispatches to the United States. On the way she was instructed to "run along the coast of Mexico to look out for privateers and merchant vessels of the enemy."

Little of consequence occurred on this long voyage to the Isthmus, or on the return passage to Monterey. After "working through the Santa Barbara Channel" the Dale was off San Pedro after dark on February 5th. Captain McKean "fired a gun, hoisted a signal lantern and burnt a blue light," but there was no response. Meeting the Portsmouth off Catalina Island the next morning, he learned that the Commodore was still at San Diego, and in the afternoon the ship lay to off Point Loma while Lieutenant T. A. M. Craven took the dispatches by boat into the harbor and delivered them to the flagship. Upon his return the Dale "woreship, set the starboard topmast and topgallant steering sails, secured the anchor on the bows and sent the chain below."

Nothing but minor incident now varied the monotony of a long passage at sea in a sailing ship. The Dale's log book is filled principally with items related to the setting, working or taking in of sails, and with the ever important -- to her -- changes of wind and weather. Almost daily all hands were mustered in long lines on deck for inspection, or the more solemn performance of divine service, frequently at sunset.

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