The Congress, by a joint resolution on August 4, 1854, requested the President to give Captain Ingraham a medal in token of the nation’s appreciation of this defence of American rights.

CHAPTER XVIII
IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO

THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES, THE HERO OF LAKE BORGNE, STRUCK THE FIRST BLOW OF THE WAR—OPERATIONS ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST THAT INSURED THE ACQUISITION OF CALIFORNIA—STOCKTON AND “PATHFINDER” FRÉMONT OPERATE TOGETHER—WILD HORSES AS WEAPONS OF OFFENCE—THE SOMERS OVERTURNED WHILE CHASING A BLOCKADE RUNNER—JOSIAH TATTNALL BEFORE VERA CRUZ—WHEN SANTA ANNA LANDED—THE YANKEE SAILORS IN A SHORE BATTERY—THE HARD FATE OF ONE OF THE BRAVEST AMERICAN OFFICERS.

In beginning the story of the Navy’s part in the war between Mexico and the United States, it is interesting to note that the first overt act of aggression on the part of the United States was made by a naval officer, because of his distrust of the British Government. It was in the year 1842, a long time before war was actually declared to exist. As the reader will remember, the present State of California was then a most inviting part of the Mexican domain—so inviting, indeed, that the long-headed statesmen of England were puzzling their brains to find a way of getting control of it without a too great expense of trouble and money. Just how far they would have gone in their efforts can never be known, of course, but no one now doubts that they were considering the matter. This is not to say that their wishes were discreditable; from the point of view of the American leaders at that time, the British statesmen were merely enterprising, for the Americans were looking at California with a thought quite as covetous as any that ever animated the mind of an Englishman. Mexico was but a feeble power. Stirring American frontiersmen had pushed over into the Mexican state of Texas and, wresting it from the Mexican rule, had set up an independent government. There were other restless Americans who were making their way into California. The American statesmen could not quite see their way to taking possession of the domain on the Pacific, but this they could do: They could and they would prevent England’s grasping it. To this end a strong squadron was ordered around Cape Horn to the Pacific, and the command of it was given to the hero of Lake Borgne, Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones,—he who with less than two hundred brave seamen on open gun-boats withstood for an hour the shock of a British flotilla, manned by nine hundred and eighty men, besides the officers. His fleet included the brave old frigate United States, the captured sloop Cyane, the sloop-of-war Dale, and the schooner Shark.

SCENE OF
NAVAL OPERATIONS
ON THE
PACIFIC COAST.

On reaching Callao Commodore Jones “came upon a copy of Mexico’s somewhat querulous complaints” about the neutrality that the United States Government showed in Mexico’s war with Texas, while a Callao newspaper published as authentic news an article asserting that Mexico had just ceded California to England. This report appeared on September 6, 1842. As it happened, the big British frigate Dublin, flying a rear-admiral’s flag, appeared off Callao that very evening. Heaving to for a short time, the Britisher had a look at the Yankee squadron and then sailed away to the north without casting anchor.

That was a right curious action for a British frigate in those days, and Commodore Jones could explain it only by connecting it with the story that California had been ceded to England. And Jones, with his squadron, had been sent to the Pacific for the express purpose of preventing, by force if necessary, the establishment of a British Hong Kong on the coast of California. There was but one thing for him to do, and that was to up anchor and make all sail for California, and this he did. On October 19th he arrived in Monterey harbor, and, although nothing had been seen of the Dublin, he landed and took possession of the town.

A day later he learned that Monterey was still a Mexican town, and that Mexico and the United States were at peace. So he made such amends as he could, and surrendered the town to its lawful authorities.

Commodore Jones had carried out the policy of his Government, as he understood it, and his act was unquestionably approved by the Administration at Washington, but to conciliate the Mexicans Jones was recalled, though, of course, in nowise punished.