The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 94
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
the Government of Yucatan, had by extraordinary exertions, manned,
provisioned, and otherwise well equipped the Ship and Brig, and had
them in readiness to meet the enemy. On the day it was positively
known that the Vessels would leave New Orleans, it was ascertained
that the Mexican Consul was making every effort within his power to
stop them! Why or wherefore he should attempt this, unless he had
fears for the fate of the Mexican Navy, represented as so formidable
too, no one could conjecture; but this circumstance alone went far
to confirm what had been so often communicated to us before-its
inefficiency to contend against our two Vessels, should we fall in with
them, or that he had a knowledge of the "Secret Act."! Still I had no
idea, nor yet had Com. Moore, of deviating from a direct course to
Galveston, until our arrival at the Balize, where such circumstances
came to my knowledge, of the situation of the Mexican Navy-the
Steamer Montezuma being alone at Telchak, one hundred and fifty miles
from the balance of the Fleet. Our ability to capture her, if we could
find her alone, and then the balance of their Navy, as a matter of course,
added to what I knew was in contemplation in regard to taking pos-
session of Galveston forthwith, induced me to suggest, taking the coast
of Yucatan in our way to Galveston. The passage to Telchak was con-
sidered not over four or five days; unfortunately light winds and
calms retarded us, and it was the eighth day before we looked in at
that port. The Montezuma had left the day previous! Whether our
expectations would have been realized, as to her capture, had we fallen
in with her, there, after what transpired on the 3oth April and 16th
May, I leave to conjecture; and whether such a consummation unex-
pectedly placed within our grasp, and only to be realized by prompt
action, I am to blame for having sanctioned the enterprize in which
we consequently engaged, I leave to the decision of my country, whose
best interest I have attempted to forward at no inconsiderable per-
sonal risk, and the hazard of its disapprobation.
I cannot consent to close my defence, rendered necessarily imperfect
by injunctions of secresy, without making a short summary of the
situation in which I found affairs, when I entered on my commission
in New Orleans, and the combination of circumstances which lead me
to assume the responsibility of sanctioning an Expedition which has
been so signally condemned by the President of my country- (This
summary may embrace some reiteration.)
I confess that I accepted the unpleasant commission under an
impression that acts of insubordination on the part of Com. Moore,
required peremptory interference on the part of his Government and
that all hopes of efficiency in the Navy department were at an end.
I confess that I found cause to change my mind with regard to the
circumstances which had so long rendered our Vessels passive in a
foreign port, and which doubtless led to the "Secret Act" and I also
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/108/?rotate=270: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.