The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond - (Received February 4) Admiralty, January 30, 1862 Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of Earl Russell, a copy of a letter, dated the 1st instant, from Commodore Dunlop, with its inclosure from Captain Von Donop, of the "Jason" reporting the occupation of the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa and town of Vera Cruz by Spanish troops on the 17th December last. Commodore Dunlop has reported that he had been joined in the "Challenger" by the "Mersey", "St. George", "Sanspareil", and "Barracouta", and that it was his intention to proceed direct to Vera Cruz, in command of the British portion of the allied expedition to Mexico. (signed) W. G. ROMAINE Inclosure 1 Commodore Dunlop to the Secretary to the Admiralty "Challenger" off Cape St. Antonio, Cuba, January 1, 1862. Sir, I have the honour to transmit herewith, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, an extract from a letter from Captain Von Donop, of Her Majesty's ship "Jason", reporting the arrival at Vera Cruz of the Spanish portion of the allied expedition against Mexico, the landing of the Spanish troops, and the occupation by them of the Castle of San d'Ulloa and town of Vera Cruz. (signed) HUGH DONLOP Inclosure 2. No.1. Captain Von Donop to Commodore Dunlop (Extract) I found the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, and the forts north and south of the city of Vera Cruz, nearly dismantled, all the guns, with a few exceptions, having been dismounted, and together with their carriages, powder, musketry, and various other stores, sent some twenty miles into the country, where, I understand, they remain for want of carriage to take them further. On the 8th, about 1 p.m., the first division of the Spanish expedition, consisting of eleven steamers, passed this, and anchored at Anton Lizardo. The following morning the Spanish ship "Conception", taken some time since by the Mexicans, and lying dismantled off Vera Cruz, was wilfully set fire to and burnt to the water's edge. On the 10th, about noon, the second division of the Spanish expedition, consisting of nine men-of-war and six transports, passed this, and also anchored at Anton Lizardo. As this portion of the squadron appeared to be commanded by a Rear Admiral, whose flag was flying in a paddle-steamer, I saluted him with eleven guns as he passed the anchorage, which was duly returned. The same afternoon I availed myself of the polite invitation of the captain of the French frigate "Foudre" to accompany him in his gun-boat, for the purpose of paying the Spanish Admiral a complimentary visit. During our visit the Admiral informed us, that some time on the following day, he intended informing us as to what his orders and intentions were with regard to Mexico. We were received on board with great politeness, and on our quitting both the English and French flags were saluted with nine guns. The following day, about noon, the Spanish Admiral came up to the anchorage in a gun-boat, and after paying the "Foudre" and "Ariadne" visit came on board his ship, and proposed that a conference should be held on board the "Foudre", and if convenient to me at once, which I assented to, and, after saluting him with thirteen guns on quitting, I went on board the "Foudre", were the conference was held, at which were present the Spanish Rear-Admiral with his Secretary, the captain of the "Foudre", and myself. At this meeting the Admiral informed us that some months since Spain had ordered an expedition to be fitted out for the purpose of obtaining redress from Mexico for the various and numerous insults Spain had received from that country. That when the expedition was (with the exception of the two frigates daily expected from Europe) fully equipped, news reached Cuba that, in all probability, both England and France would join Spain in the expedition. The two frigates having arrived, and everything being in readiness, the Governor - General of Cuba ordered the expedition to leave for Mexico, and the Admiral was desired, in the event of falling in with any of Her Majesty's ships, or those of the French Imperial navy, to ask their co-operation in demanding possession of the Fort St. Juan d'Ulloa and the city of Vera Cruz, as it had been the original intention of Spain to take possession of these places as a guarantee, before it was known that England and France intended to take part in the expedition against Mexico, and that should the surrender of these places be refused, he purposed taking them by force. I declined taking any part in offensive operations against Mexico, as I had no orders to that effect; the captain of the "Foudre" also declined taking any part. The Admiral then informed us that it would have afforded him great pleasure to have had our co-operation, but as we had no orders to act he should demand, in the name of Spain, the surrender of the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa and the city of Vera Cruz, giving forty-eight hours for decision, but the holding of these places should be on behalf of England, France, and Spain jointly. If the Mexicans declined to surrender he should use force to compel them. In taking these measures, the Admiral pledged himself that in taking and holding these places, Spain would only do so for these Powers; That in the event of the allies arriving, no opposition would be made by Spain to their landing any number of men in these places and holding joint possession; That the Spanish forces would not advance beyond the walls of these places, and only act on the defensive till the arrival of the allies; That any funds found in the public treasuries would be reserved for the disposal of the allied Powers; That Spain would not enter into any Treaty with Mexico till the arrival of the allies; That Spain pledged herself to protect all foreigners and their property to the utmost of her power; That in the event of a blockade being found necessary, it would only be in force to the exclusion of Mexican vessels; That should Mexico make any resistance to the castle and town being taken by Spain, it might be necessary to cause the removal of the various merchant-ships now at anchor between those places, but that directly Spain got possession the vessels would be permitted to resume their former position. As I am fully aware of the great hatred the Mexicans in general bear to Spain, I asked the Admiral, why he could not postpone operations till the arrival of the allies, who, I felt convinced, would be well received, and no opposition offered to their landing and taking quiet possession of the town and fort. To this he replied that, in the first place, his orders compelled him to commence operations against Mexico, and, secondly, that the health of the troops compelled their being landed at once. I then suggested to the Admiral that as, in all probability, the entire Mexican Government would evacuate the town and fort directly they received his summons, I feared by so long a period as forty-eight hours given, anarchy and riot would probably prevail in the town during the interval of the summons and the actual taking possession, which might be attended with great risk to foreigners. To this the Admiral replied that he should regret exceedingly if any foreigners suffered, but he feared he could not well give a shorter summons. Thus ended the conference, and I think if Spain acts up to her pledges, her taking temporary sole possession of these places cannot be of any material consequence, whatever may be the future intentions of the allies. On the 15th , about 3 p.m., a squadron of twelve Spanish steamers anchored between us and the main, evidently intending to land a portion of their troops, as three gun-boats (row) were sent in-shore to protect the disembarkation; but about 5 the breeze and swell having considerably increased from the northward, the intention was abandoned, and during the night the squadron resumed its former position off Sacrificios. On the 16th, about 4 p.m., two paddle steam-frigates, one bearing the Admiral's flag, proceeded from this and both anchored close on the south-west side of the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, where they remained for the night. On the 17th, the Spanish troops commenced landing both at the town and the fort, and at noon the Spanish flag was hoisted on all the forts of Vera Cruz, and also in the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, where it was saluted with twenty-one guns by the Spanish Admiral off Vera Cruz, and also by the Spanish Commodore off Sacrificios. The disembarkation of troops has continued, though it has been considerably delayed by fresh northers setting in during the afternoon. I should think about 3,000 have been landed. Shortly after the Spanish Commodore had saluted the Spanish flag on the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, he sent to inform me that had he known the Admiral intended saluting he would have given me notice, but he was only following his superior orders. I did not consider it necessary to salute, as by so doing I felt I should be insulting the Mexican Republic. As yet the French frigate has not saluted. The town continues to be perfectly quiet, though about 5,000 inhabitants appear to have quitted it: all the shops are open. An efficient police is established, who have already apprehended numerous thieves. I communicated with Her Majesty's Consul yesterday, who does not need my assistance. 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