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THE DALE AT WAR IN MEXICAN WATERS

Meantime in early March the ship-of-the-line Columbus had arrived, the broad pennant of Commodore James Biddle who had but recently made an unsuccessful effort to open negotiations with the Japanese in Tokyo Bay. Being senior to both of the other Commodores, Biddle assumed the chief command for the short time that he was to remain on the Station, leaving mainly to Shubrick, however, the planning of operations against the Mexican coast.

Until this time the Warren had conducted the irksome blockade of Mexican ports almost alone. The Portsmoth was now sent to relieve her and to hoist our flag at San Jose and La Paz in Lower California; a very isolated region which had remained neutral and had freely supplied our ships during the war. The Independence under Shubrick, and the Cyane (Commander Samuel F. DuPont) also came south in April and blockaded Mazatlan until June when the former returned to Monterey and the latter sailed for the Hawaiian Islands to look after the whaling fleet. Meantime the Portsmouth returned north. The squadron remaining at Monterey after the departure of the Independence and Cyane is depicted in the peaceful scene (Plate XIV). In July the storeship Lexington (Lieutenant Theodorus Bailey) took down Colonel Burton and two companies of a New York Volunteer regiment to garrison La Paz, while the LEXINGTON remained in that harbor.

As a Midshipmen Biddle bad been captured and imprisoned at Tripoli, following the capture of the Frigate 'Philadelphia.' While serving on the 'Wasp' in 1812 he led the boarders when the British Sloop-of- War 'Frolic' was taken, and was rewarded by promotion to Lieutenant for gallantry. In command of the 'Hornet' he captured the 'Penguin' after a severe engagement in 1815. Biddle's fine diplomacy substantially aided American shipping in 1817 during revolutionary disorders on the west coast of South America. In the same year while commanding the 'Ontario' he raised the American flag on the Columbia River and took formal possession of the Oregon territory. In 1845 at Canton he exchanged ratifications of the first treaty between the United Sates and China and remained for some months as the first American Commissioner. Then proceeding to Tokyo Bay he undertook to open Japan to American commerce. Commodore Biddle was able to exchange notes with the Emperor and to establish a relationship which paved the way for the greater success of Commodore Perry eight years later. RETURN

Bailey's most distinguished service was as second in command of the fleet under Farragut at the capture of New Orleans in 1862. In the 'Cayuga' he led the fleet in its famous night passage past Forts Jackson and St. Philip. He landed at the city unarmed and accompanied only by Lieutenant Perkins, passed through an excited and hostile mob and hauled down the Confederate flag from the City Hall.

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