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THE DALE AT WAR IN MEXICAN WATERS

After the affairs at Muleje the Dale again made sail towards La Paz with the prize schooner in tow. But the latter was of such little value and proved to be such a drag when the weather became threat, ruing, that Selfridge burned her (Plate XVIII). On the 5th he dropped anchor at Loreto and sent three armed cutters ashore under command of Lieutenant Craven with the marines and a company of seamen. Without resistance three small artillery pieces, one musket and four lances were captured. This minor operation is portrayed in the sketch (Plate XIX).

The Mexican troops that had been harassed at Muleje were still a menace to La Paz, and especially so if they continued to receive supplies and reinforcements by water from across the Gulf. Upon his return to La Paz, Selfridge therefore chartered and armed the small merchant schooner Libertad which he placed under the command of Craven with orders to operate against Muleje's communications. The sketch (Plate XX) shows this little craft immediately after being itted out.

It was evident that there might be a sudden call for the services of the Lauding Force and Captain Selfridge therefore sent them ashore for drills during this visit to La Paz. Drawn up in martial array we see them being reviewed by Colonel Burton of the New York Volunteers in the sketch (Plate XXI).

Lieutenant Craven proceeded north in the Libertad and spent six weeks in this service, leading an independent roving life that was very acceptable to him after the long confinement on board the Dale. He constantly threatened attacks on Muleje and became "quite a terror to the small neighborhood." The scene depicted in the sketch (Plate XXII) occurred on the night of October 31st when the Libertad anchored close to the shore with a view to cutting out a small schooner. Craven describes the incident as follows:

"I heard no sound ashore, but the passing of the sentry's call, till about half-past ten o'clock, when bang! bang! bang! they commenced from every direction. I jumped out of my bed, seized my gun and fired at the group nearest me, which I could only discern by the flashes of the guns. My men were under arms in a moment, as everything was fortunately prepared. I directed them to fire at the flashes and waste no shot. The pivot gun was soon in operation too, and fired upon such points as seemed to be occupied by the largest groups of the enemy. The moon was rising behind us, so these Mexicans had us as a target against the sky, and kept up a pretty good hail of balls whistling about our heads for about half an hour; but so well did my crew obey my orders to watch and fire only at the flashes (we could in no other way ascertain the position of our assailants, who were constantly changing their stations) -- so well, I say, was our fire directed, that in half in hour we drove them from the beach; their fire slackened, and by half-past twelve all was again quiet. No one on board was hurt, and I decided not to risk my small party by sending them on shore that night."

Ordered to rejoin the Dale at Guaymas, the Libertad arrived too late to participate in Selfridge's battle at that town. This affair had been preceded by a similar taste of war for harassed Guaymas. Towards the end of October the Congress and Portsmouth had bombarded the place upon the expiration of a time-limit set by ultimatum for its surrender. Both the garrison and civil population had previously taken refuge in the back country and landing forces from these ships found little but deserted streets and homes. After a short occupation during which the front bastions of the local fort were destroyed. Captain Lavalette had withdrawn his men from Guaymas but hoisted the American Flag on a small rocky islet about one mile away. When the Congress departed, the Portsmoth had been left on guard and the Dale had recently relieved her of this duty.

Soon after the departure of the Portsmouth, Captain Selfridge learned that the Mexican troops in the vicinity had been reinforced to 1,000 men and eleven pieces of artillery. On November 10th, upon good information that enemy soldiers had concealed themselves in the town and were prepared to capture any sailors that might land, the place was bombarded. It was quickly evacuated and subsequently any bodies of men seen approaching the place were fired upon and driven off.

On November 7th Captain Selfridge landed personally with 70 armed men for the purpose of reading a proclamation. As they were about to return to the boats a point-blank volley of musketry was fired at the expedition from the windows of nearby homes and blood spurted from the Captain's foot where a bullet had passed through. Almost immediately windows and doors were ablaze with flashing guns in the surprise attack by 400 Mexicans. Selfridge hurriedly ordered the next in command, Lieutenant William Taylor Smith, to return the attack and signaled the ship to open fire with her great-guns.

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