Excerpt from The Home Squadron Under Commodore Conner: In the War With Mexico, Being a Synopsis of Its Services Containing Admiral Addendum Memoir, of the Landing of Our Army at Vera Cruz in Vera Cruz in 1847
At the time when hostilities commenced between Mexico and the United States, the former had no navy on the high seas, and the latter none fitted to prosecute warfare in the enemy"s waters. In consequence of this the war was without any strictly naval conflicts. But the want of proper vessels in the American navy was not generally known, and consequently dissatisfaction was felt at the presumed lack of enterprise of the squadron in the Gulf of Mexico, and a portion of the press did not hesitate to censure the same, together with the commander of that force. Subsequently, however, the government - through the medium of the report of the Secretary of the Navy - announced its total want of proper vessels, and appropriate means in general, for active operations in the Gulf. This placed the case in its true light, and the injustice of the criticism was made evident.
While the truth was thus slowly unraveling itself at home, Commodore Conner, in the Gulf, was manfully bearing up against the many combined difficulties there present, and steadily performing the arduous and harassing duties assigned to him. The department, having openly acknowledged the inappropriateness of the means at his command, promised to purchase and dispatch vessels and forces fitted for the special service required, and consequently the commodore laid his plans in expectation of their arrival.
Commodore Conner, as before stated, having borne the brunt of difficulties and misfortune, and yet having passed with safety through the most critical period of the war, - in regard to both military and diplomatic action, - it was to be expected that the government which had not only put this officer in such an embarrassed position, but had, moreover, requested him to remain there, when he could have retired with credit, would afford him every facility in its power to achieve the end desired by placing in his hands those proper means which he had designated and which the Navy Department was preparing. Such, I presume, was the intention of the government; but the lapse of time and subsequent circumstances caused a different result.
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