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THE DALE AT WAR IN MEXICAN WATERS

So numerous were the tawny enemy soldiers as they came rushing out of the homes and started forming for battle that the destruction of the entire American force seemed certain. Smith and his gallant little band, however, were equal to an emergency so sudden that panic among them would not have been surprising. In a quick and steady response to orders three positions commanding the Plaza were taken up and a heavy fire poured into the Mexicans before they could organize. Almost simultaneously the Dale's heavy guns spoke with awe-inspiring roars and their shot and shell began falling on Mexican positions. The readiness of the invaders to meet the surprise and their telling counter-strokes was too much for the poorly disciplined native troops. After but a few minutes they were thrown into confusion and were scattering into disorderly flight, leaving one-fifth their number of Americans as masters of the town.

Two phases of this critical occasion on shore have been vividly portrayed in sketches by Gunner Meyers and are reproduced in plates (Plate XXIII) and (Plate XXIV).

A third picture (Plate XXV) reveals the scene on board the Dale, while her guns were in action, with interesting details of the crude and laborious method of firing batteries on shipboard at that time. (Plate XXVI) shows Guaymas harbor and diagrammatic details of the battle, ashore and afloat.

Meantime Commodore Shubrick had launched his long deferred major offensive, having for its principal object the capture of Mazatlan. At that time this was a Place of great commercial importance; being second only to Valparaiso along the entire Pacific seaboard of the Americas. It was noted for its large foreign trade through which Mexico was receiving munitions from abroad, and its capture would therefore be of considerable consequence from a military viewpoint.

Shubrick left Monterey with the Independence, Cyane, and store-ship Erie (Lieutenant James M. Watson) on October 17th, 1847. The Congress joined them at San Jose, near the southern tip of Lower California, and the combined force appeared off Mazatlan on November 10th. With great skill during the ensuing darkness each ship took up its previously prescribed among the intricate rocks and shoals, so that at dawn their heavy guns commanded the town and the several landing places. Captain Lavalette went in with a summons of surrender that was refused and the Commodore then proceeded to land armed fames.

Loaded deep with crowded men the boats of the squadron formed in three lines and rowed speedily ashore. In a twinkling the infantry companies formed on the waterfront and covered the laborious landing of five pieces of artillery. The whole imposing force of seven hundred and fifty alert Americans then marched through the town to the Cuartel, situated on a hill, and the Independence saluted with 21 guns as the stars and stripes were hoisted. Contrary to expectations there was no opposition from the comparatively large number of Mexican troops known to be in the vicinity. The satisfaction of capturing this important seaport was heightened by the news that Scott's Army had recently entered the City of Mexico, lying across the high mountain ranges to the eastward.

Although so easily taken Mazatlan still remained in danger of re-capture by the strong Mexican forces that threatened attack from the outskirts. A permanent garrison of four hundred seamen and marines was therefore established and fortifications were erected. On November 20th Captain Lavalette made a surprise night attack against the enemy several miles up the river. One detachment under Lieutenant Rowan proceeded by boat while a shore party led by Lieutenant George L. Selden marched to a junction near Urias. The unexpected blow routed the Mexicans after sharp fighting in which our loss was one killed and twenty-one wounded. Thereafter our naval forces were left in secure possession of Mazatlan until the end of the war.

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