The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond (Received November 1) Admiralty, November 1, 1861 Sir, Earl Russell having expressed his desire to be furnished with the views of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as to the most convenient rendezvous for the combined English, French and Spanish squadrons about to be sent to Mexico, I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you as follows:- The Spaniards having a good harbour at Havana, on the direct road to Vera Cruz, will probably assemble at that port. The French ships going from Europe will most likely touch at Guadaloupe, but as that Island and Martinique are a long way from the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico, it seems probable that the French squadron would go on to Havana, or rather to Jamaica, as the more direct route, the latter island having the safe harbour of Port Royal, where water, coals, and provisions can be filled up. The English ships would also naturally assemble at Port Royal, and assuming that the joint French and English squadrons meet there, the best rendezvous that could be given for the Spanish squadron to join them would be fifteen miles north-west of Cape St. Antonio, at the western end of Cuba. This Cape is moderately high, and has a revolving light on it visible twenty miles, so that by night or by day it could be easily kept in sight. It is 175 miles, or one days' sail, from Havana, and 540 miles, or three days' sail from Port Royal; and when the day of departure from Port Royal is fixed, an aviso or despatch-vessel might be sent on the day before from Port Royal to Port Saguna on the south coast of Cuba (whence, no doubt, there is telegraphic communication with Havana) to apprize the Spanish Admiral. From Cape St. Antonio to Vera Cruz the distance is 630 miles, or rather more than three days' sail; but there is no place on the coast of Mexico at which a convenient rendezvous could be given, and it seems desirable that the combined squadrons should approach the coast in company. When the "nortes" or "northers" blow, the anchorage of Anton Lizardo, about twelve miles south-east of Vera Cruz, will be found a safe shelter, with space for a large fleet. (signed) W. G. ROMAINE Back to Table of Contents: Booklet No. 8, Mexico 1861-67 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by The South and Central Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com