“Kindly tell the president that this is a great moment in the history of Mexico. The usurper driven from power, his elected government in control of the country once again.”
Hancock translated, then turned back to Seward.
“His Excellency thanks you for your good wishes. And for the generous aid that made this victory possible.”
“Good. Then this might be an appropriate time to remind him that there still are invasion forces in his country — the British. Peace will not be secured until they are also driven from these shores.”
Juarez was not happy to be reminded of the British. They were dug in and well armed and his troops had little incentive to continue the battle. It meant nothing to them. Let them build the road, and then use it and leave. He made some vague reassurances to the fat Yankee and turned back to watch the departing troops. This really was an historical moment and he wished to enjoy every second of his enemy’s humiliation.
The troop movements continued throughout the morning. A little before noon General Ulysses S. Grant reboarded the Virginia.
“Going about as smooth as can be expected,” he said looking across the harbor from the height of the bridge. “I want my troops here until the French have all gone. Besides, they need a spell ashore after being jammed aboard those ships. While that is happening I need your help, Captain.”
“Anything you say, General.”
“General Joe Johnston can look after things while I’m gone.”
“Joseph E. Johnston?”
“The same. My second-in-command. And I’m most happy to have him fighting at my side — instead of being on the other side. Before I take my men out to attack the British road I want to know more about it. Particularly the port at this end of it. The Coatza-something place.”
“I would greatly like to see it myself.”
“And seeing it from your ship, Captain Semmes, appears to be the safest way of going about that task.”
Captain Fosbery, commander of HMS Valiant, was awoken by his servant soon after dawn. Valiant and her sister ship Intrepid were stationed just offshore of the Mexican coast.
“Lookout reports smoke on the horizon, sir. East-northeast.”
“Bring me some coffee.” He yawned broadly as he pulled his trousers on. He had only been asleep a few hours. But he had left orders to be informed of anything sighted out to sea.
“There sir,” the watch officer said when he came up onto the bridge. He handed his binoculars to the captain.
“Ironclad,” Fosbery said. “With those lines — certainly not one of ours. Notify Intrepid if she hasn’t seen her yet. And get up steam.”
They were anchored as close to the port as they could get without running aground, with less than two fathoms beneath the Valiant’s keel. Well within the covering range of the land-based batteries. Still, in war, one never knew. He did not like the possibility of an enemy finding him dead in the water.
Aboard the Virginia General Grant was slowly sweeping the defenses with his glasses. The small fleet of transports at anchor, the two warships getting up steam. He did not speak, but his jaw was hard set, his expression grim.
“Quarter speed ahead,” Captain Semmes said. He had no fear of the smaller ironclads, but had great respect for the batteries dug into the hills ahead.
They were still over four thousand yards from the shore when there were three sudden bursts of light from the batteries, instantly obscured by clouds of smoke. Two pillars of water rose up not two hundred yards from their flank. Another was almost directly in line with the ship’s bow.
“Hard aport,” Semmes ordered. “Give me full steam.”
“That’s prett
y good shooting,” Grant said.
“Too good,” Semmes said as water fountained off their starboard bow. Where the ship would have been if they hadn’t changed course. “We can’t go up against those guns without suffering serious damage — even with our armor.”
“Any chance of a large force taking that port from the sea?”
“I doubt it. Ironclads might be able to stand their fire, but wooden transports wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“That’s about what I thought. So I guess we will just have to see how it looks from the landward side.”
From the reports he had read things were not a lot better there. Well, he would see, he would see.