NationStates Jolt Archive

Flagship Esmeralda

Commodore Gomez smiled to himself as he opened up these new orders. Seize the port of Vera Cruz by any and all means possible. Evidently Huerta wasn’t waiting for the Americans to respond, by all means he should have resigned already, thought Gomez, it was the speech that sparked a little bit of support for the tyrant. Gods knew that Mexcio hadn’t forgotten it’s humiliating defeat at the hands of America almost 70 years before. It still rubbed him the wrong way.
Looking over his small pitiful fleet, Gomez felt disgusted that this was all they had to offer indeed, this was perhaps most if not all of the damn fleet. What did he have to work with? His own damn Flagship, and a rusty kegger of a battleship at that. He wouldn’t trust with his life, Gomez would be damned if the ship didn’t fall apart at the first enemy salvo. He had almost 12 Destroyers, 4 light and 3 heavy cruisers. Of course there was a collection of small boats that he and the others had. Small boats…?
Gomez stroked his beard slightly, that might be fairly decent of an idea. He’d have to clear it with Chavez of course, the bumbling imbecile. At least he had given him most of the Navy to work with. Gomez winced at the thought of what the Americans would do to the Western Coast. Still Vera Cruz was infinitely more important. It was what the Americans had used to take the capital in the last war, and it was vital that Mexico have it back in her hands should the Americans try to conquer Mexico again.
Composing his statements Gomez smiled slightly at the thought of what was to occur. Thinking deeply Gomez wondered what the Texas would look like in a Mexican fleet, shaking his head to clear his head Gomez began to write.

A Small Fishing Boat 0323 Hours

Sergeant Rodriguez was cold, damp, and extremely miserable. He cursed that damn Naval officer and his supposed ingenuity. All he really cared about was that he was in a damned fishing boat and he smelled like damn fish. Moving the blanket off of himself Rodriguez stood up and looked about. There was at least 30 others crammed on this boat and who knew how many on some of the smaller ones. All and all he heard there were over 2000 troops on varying boats. Hell that must have been most of the garrisons around Mexico City. Some hotshot Colonel was in charge of it all. Who knew colonels, all he knew was that the colonel was probably snug in one of those damnable warships. Like he’d be here on a fishing boat with the rest of them.
One of the fishermen who were operating the boat gave a hurried motion with his hand. Rodriguez looked to where he was pointing. There it was the port of Veracruz, and of course, he and everyone else on the ship were ahead of the rest of the fleet. Cursing under his breath Rodriguez gripped his rifle and hoped for the best.
The boat skidded across the sand before sliding to a stop. Rodriguez an the rest of the men in his half a platoon straggled out to get a look at where they were. With a motion their lieutenant sent them forward. Moving across the beach like shadows the Mexicans tried to make some head ground before their position was discovered. With luck most of the Americans would be drunk and in some whores bed. Rodriguez wouldn’t mind being in a position like that. He was thinking about the specifics when a shout rang out.
“¡¿Quien Esta?!”
“Shit,” Rodriguez whispered under his breath, now if only people weren’t stupid they could get through this no problem at least till the rest of the boast arrived, from what he could see they shouldn’t be more than five minutes behind, safely guarded by the Mexican fleet. Then his ear rang with the sound of rifle fire, followed by a scream. Damnation, ah to hell with it. Grabbing his rifle Rodriguez let at a scream and thus did the battle for Veracruz begin.

Flagship Esmeralda

Gomez paced on the bridge, so many things could go wrong tonight, so many things wrong indeed. He had come up with the idea for a fishermans fleet only out of desperation. He wasn’t even entirely sure it would work. Still it was better a shot than no shot at all he supposed. The men had been ordered to find and capture all Americans, with some luck Gomez might be able to make a few additions to his meager fleet. What he wouldn’t give for a decent battleship. Still it all remained up to the element of surprise. If the Mexican troops were slaughtered it would mean the end of his career and very well the end of Mexico. Gritting his teeth he gave the orders for his ships to be on the lookout for any American Vessels leaving the Harbor last thing he wanted was a wolf in among the sheep he was shepherding. Saying a small prayer to the Virgin Mary Gomez’s Flagship sailed onwards

Veracruz, Mexico 0326

Colonel Nathaniel Walker rolled out of bed in the blink of an eye, bothered greatly by what he could barely pick out as rifle fire. His thoughts first turned to some of his men who has recently taken to hunting with their rifles and had been condemned for it, but this fire was longer, less relenting... In the blink of an eye, the Colonel realized that something must be occuring, especially since the hostilities between watching Mexican troops and the US government had gotten worse in recent days.

In that moment, the Colonel's battle instincts flared, and Walker remembered the screams from Kettle Hill - but there were real screams now. Jumping out of his room, half-dressed, the Colonel roared, "Get those men moving, I want this base up and running in five!" Turning to his aide, he continued,"All resting personnell are to report to the center of the base at 0330! Rifles ready. The officers are to prepare defenses in the center of the base!" He reached for his trusty rifle, turned and ran for the ammuntion building

*********************

To the far south of the line, seven marines were those who had first sighted the enemy force and were taking the brunt of the attack. Firing one by one to keep up a stream of fire, they remained in their rough breastwork. The size of the enemy force made the position easily flankable, and the rest of the outlying guards on the southward facing wall began to withdraw into the center of the base where the command trench lay.

*********************

The only American ship present in Verazcruz, the brand new heavy battleship Texas, slowly grew to life. Men rushed to their positions and then as the ship rapidly sprang to life, the floating fortress began to slowly edge out of the harbour to counter any threats a Mexican navy could hold and even bombard the enemy on the beaches with its advanced 14 inch guns.

US Armies are being marshalled north of San Diego (45,000), El Paso (25,000), and San Antonio (50,000), preparations being finished by two weeks time. Another army is being assembled in Dallas of some 85,000 men, ready in 5 weeks time.

The Beaches

Rodriguez thanked the Virgin as the bullet just missed him, thank God he wasn’t one of those poor souls who’d already got cut down. He was currently behind a set of rocks part of a group that was trying to outflank the Breastworks. The rest of the fleet was landing as he watched. If they could take those breastworks it would prove vastly helpful in seizing the rest of the port.

Looking at the motley collection of troops around him Rodriguez screamed out at the top of his lungs, “Come on you sons of bitches! No one lives for ever!” Leading from the front was never a good idea, but still it was enough to get them moving. Rushing out from behind the rocks the Mexican’s charged the Breastworks. Dodging any weaving the Mexicans hurried across hopefully thought Rodriguez they’d make it, hopefully.


The Flagship Esmeralda

“Sir the Texas is moving.”
“Gracias, Move the Esmeralda to engage. Single the Sonara, the Defiant and the Morelos to engage as well. Signal to the rest of the fleet to commence bombardment.”

Three Heavy Cruisers and his Battleship, sadly thought Gomez, it was probably an even match. He’d be luckily to put that Battleship out withy the loss of just one of his ships. It had a better rate of fire, thicker armor, and a better crew as well. Damn his Mexicans, if they came through this battle Gomez wasn’t planning on anymore engagements. They’d win this one by numbers alone, but until that far, far off day that his Forces equaled the Americans, he’d be staying in Veracruz.

The ship shuddered slightly as the first guns fired, Well heres to hoping for a hit he thought.


The Beaches

Most of the boast were now unloaded, however as was typical of Mexican forces, being as badly disciplined as they were most were simply standing about. No one was going anywhere without orders. The colonel’s boat arrived lastly, and the instant it touched ground a puffy red faced man hopped out and immediately began bellowing orders. The Mexican Forces began moving out to where the battle was commencing. Tugging along the few machine guns and homemade mortars the Mexican Army began to engage. Despite their raggness they fought, for if the city was taken much would be enjoyed, pillage, rape and slaughter. All too typical as the man London had once written.

Federal troops will now hence forth be withdrawing from Sonora and Chihauhua in order for redeployment.

30,000 Troops will be re-stationed in Monclava, will be ready in approximately 25 days

21,000 will be stationed in Tlaxcala are ready now, 56th Regiment is currently engaged.

17,000 in Culiacan 25 days

32,000 in Ciudad Victora 25 days

The Central Compound of the US Base 0357

Men rushed about as the sounds of booming and the crackle of small arms rattled audibly in the soft air of morning. Lines of men in blue had assembled in the center of the compund, their partially worn uniforms flapping in the breeze. Colonel Nathaniel Walker looked over the scene a smiled grimly. Dozens of men worked their shovels feverishly to present a coherent breastwork line in the sand directly in front of the barracks.

The Colonel mused about the situation, thinking; how am I supposed to hold this place? We were expecting an attack from the land if at all, and not without warning. Well, all we can do is fight like marines. He barked out orders, sending sharpshooters onto the roofs, telling others to clear the opening in front of the barracks to allow fields of fire, men to man the windows of the barracks, and the single long, thin line to take position behind the slipshod fence posts that made up the new "breastworks". He had about 800 men, half marines, was it enough?

****************************

The USS Texas moved clear of the jutted mouth of the harbour and turned rapidly to the northeast, all men now in positions, and ready for their first engament. The Captain had ordered the ship to turn diagonally away from the Mexican navy, showing its broadside and creating distance if possible. The intent was clearly to turn the fight into a running battle, using the battleships superior speed and longer reaching firepower.

As the ship began to cut to the north, the turrets rotated as one, zeroing on the first capital ship that came into view, an enemy cruiser, and a thunderous salvo roared. From here it would be touch and go.

*************************

Southern defenses

A handful of marines were all those that remained in the original defenses, allowing the rest to withdraw. Bullets flew past, occasionally striking metal or bone with a crunch. As the charging Mexican troops approached, the marines looked down upon their fallen comrades, and ran back to the main barracks.

The Beaches

Well Damn, Rodriguez thought, if the Americans weren’t just as Mexican as they were. He and the troops surrounding him. Running up over the brestworks that were so quickly abandoned Rodriguez and the men quickly secured the area. Leaving it it the hands of those behind them they rushed forward after the fleeing Americans, taking cover when the could find it, running like dogs when the couldn’t. We just might win thought Rodriguez, just might.

Flagship Esmeralda

Gomez winced as the Texas fired her first broadside against one of his cruisers. The ship didn’t take to many hits it being a ranging shot Gomez reasoned. Still the cruiser would be in bad shape soon with a continual beating like that, if the Texas kept her present course she’d probably soon be out of range with the ability to completely crush his ships.

Gomez did a quick double take in his mind, if the Texas left, who would evacuate the troops? An American garrison was now effectively in his grasp. That would be a definite political victory, if he could get them to surrender. And with their only means of escape now gone it shouldn’t be to hard.

“Signal to the sheep cease offensive engagements, let the Texas run, she isn’t worth losing any of our ships single for the Sonara and the Moleros to commence bombardment. The Esmeralda and the Defient will keep an eye on the Texas make sure she doesn’t double back.”

The Beaches

The Remaining ships in the water began to open fire on the compound, sure there was collateral damage, but when wasn’t there? Many of the Americans began taking positions around the southern boundaries, with the few machines guns and mortars they had going off like fireworks. Slowly yet surely the Mexican advance was creeping up, taking causalities, yet taking land and enemies as well.

Central Compound 0507

The thin line of men, those in the breastworks, and those in the buildings tensed as the earliest rounds of gunfire faded away and even the deep booms of ship cannon came to a halt. An eerie calm stood for an eternal second, and then a group of marines were seen rushing through the clearing, several dropping from gunfire in the back.

Men handled their guns and took aim at the gap between buildings, and at the moment the first Mexican troops rushed through the void, a crack of riflery went up and down the line. Sharpshooters took aim at what officers they could, and the rate of fire was immense.

Colonel Walker exhulted in the rush, feeling the blood and fire rising in this most glorious form of human interaction. His men had the capabilities to hold this ragtag army off for some time in their defensive positions, if not the capabilities of holding off a long attack or siege. The world would know what the marines could do...

As the Colonel made this thought a shrieking whisper filled the air and an explosions filled the square as an artillery shell destroyed one of the smaller barracks building just north of the clearing, annihilating three sharpshooters. From there, it was hell, shells falling all over, on the enemy just as much.

Well, this changes things, the colonel thought, wondering now hw long his men could hold out

**********************************

The USS Texas, out to sea

The ships guns grew silent as the enemy ships turned away and the brightening sky showed red explosions raining down on the city. The Captain resisted his urge to go back and protect the marines back there at any cost, knowing that they would have their retribution. The relief force was only day away, and his fleet would be able to protect itself then.

But they would wait the additional two weeks for the 3rd Fleet from Carolina to arrive with enough firepower and infantry.

**********************************

The Mexican-American border

US troops slowly crossed the border at three places, entering a neighboring country for the first time in decades, occupying land in a war that was not wanted but thrust upon them. Troops numbering 42,000 men near the city of San Diego marched out to occupy northern Baja and the cities of Tijuana, Ensenada, and Mexicali. An army of 20,000 quickly crossed the border at El Paso to occupy Ciudad Juarez, while 53,000 men marched through Nuevo Laredo on their war to Monterrey in Nuevo Leon. All armies threw out skirmishers far in advance and included groups of reconaissance en force to discourage ambushes.

In response to the massive influx of volunteers to defeat a country that has sneak-attacked the United States, the army is being enlarged and rearmed, with a two Grand Armies being assembled in Dallas and Houston to each contain 175,000 men

Flagship Esmeralda
Gomez smiled as the Texas retreated, even though in his heart he knew she’d be back, and when she came she’d mean business. But enough was enough, the marines now had no place to run, it was as good a time as any to attempt victory. Raising his voice above the din, he barked a few quick orders.

“Signal to the fleet to cease fire, I want the leader of our ground forces to offer a surrender to the marines.”


The Beaches
With the ceasing of the artillery, a lone man walks across the no mans land. In his hands he carries a white flag of truce. He is sweating like a madman, for he knows not whether the American’s will honors such an agreement. His lips move quickly with a prayer to the Virgin Mary.


Sonara and Chihuahua
In response to the U.S. Occupation despite an offer by guerilla leaders Zapata and Pancho, has sent both into a frenzy. Both have mobilized their forces into guerilla bands. Pancho located in Chihuahua, has organized his mobile army of some 4000 cavalry and has begun a campaign of scorched earth outside of Ciudad Juarez. His men in addition work much like skirmishers and assassins picking off lone of small portions of the U.S. Army.
Zapata on the other hand has mobilized his some 25,000 guerillas and has begun entrenching his state. Perhaps once he has fortified every single town to be defended like a mad man he will institute the same policy in Chihuahua. Zapata has also issued another decree much like his first, instead of urging individuals against the unrighteous government, this one urges individuals to take up arms against the lying imperialist Yankees.
In response an additional army of some 30,000 troops is being mobilized in Torreon. This force is a mix between Guerilla’s and federalists. It remains to be seen what the constitutionalists will do in this already enlarging war.

Force Movements
Armies in Monclava and Ciudad Victoria will combine in Monterrey and prepare appropriate defenses.
The army in Culican will move through Sonara in order to support Zapata, and the newly formed army in Torreon, will be moved to support Pancho Villa’s efforts.

In addition Horsemen will infiltrate the U.S. with messages for the following peoples. Mormans, Indians, and Blacks. More to details to come.

Veracruz

The troops in their barracks were relieved at the cessation of the bombardment but looked on with blank faces at the lone man who stepped into the square. Several rifles raised, but officers ordered their men to stand down. The army really had few opportunities and needed to discuss their position with the Mexicans. The man was allowed into the compund.

***************************

South of New Orleans, Louisiana

US Naval squadrons from Panama and Havana have joined up with the main fleet in the Gulf of Mexico and have picked up several army brigades from across the south. The combined fleet now contains 7 battleships, 10 cruisers, and 14 destroyers, consituting an overwhelming force. The fleet is to guard lesser ships which will carry a small army of 26,000 men.

***************************

Troops have dug in around Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, and some detchments are being sent to occupy the entire Baja Peninsula. No new troops are being sent into Northern Mexico.

In response to Mexican movements towards Monterrey, the approaching army began to shift more to the east, setting up defenses in rugged terrain to the northeast of the city.

National Guard has been called up to patrol the US-Mexico border

The US armies in Texas continue to consolidate and grow.

Open Diplomatic Message to Both Nations

The Japanese Empire is worried by this conflict. It is better for close neighbours to work together than to fight. We hereby offer, if both parties approve, our mediation.

We will act completly neutral and we hope to the satisfaction of both sides.

Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, in name of Emperor Taisho, son of Heaven,Divine Ruler of Japan, Chosen, Formosa etc. etc.

The United States cannot begin negotiations with the Mexican government to end this war until Mexico apologizes and fulfills all the obligations the United States has before delineated.

The United States has finished major mobilizations and has prepared to advance into Mexico in force. Following is an overall map of US forces movements and their destinations and make-ups.

**********************************

The sun shone down brightly on the assembled mass of men in the dark battle gear. Sweat poured down cheeks and many a curse was leveled, generally across the wide river that seemed to represent more than just the old, dirty river it was. The sigh would have been maginficent to behold, impressive to the eye from a thousand feet and perhaps from the General's tent, but down in the dust and sand, all was much more real. The stinging bite of occasional dust storms was balanced by the recent extra ration of rum that the commander had oredered broken out, a memorial to a time past and when rewards were enough to convince men that it was time to die. The breathless sun was unforgiving, trying desperately it seemed to stop his men, but that would not happen. The bright blue sky above Texas waited as time slowed, lasting as it had in ancient times, waiting for the horn.

Yet that time had come here, and all present knew it. Colonel John "Black Jack" Pershing had commanded troops before, and he hand commanded them well in the desert, and so he knew the difficulties that lay ahead. They faced a determinded enemy in front of them, if one lacking in supplies and equipment nontheless. The Rio Grande was all that seperated him and his division from those brutal attackers, assasins that they were, the Mexicans. Each man in the army at some time or another had sworn that they would exact their vengeance on Mexico for what it had done, how it had attacked the great United States. Pershing knew the US was on the rise - there was a feeling of confidence and power in his men.

They knew they were not the world's power, that other men had positions in the sun, but since the Spanish-American War, the US forces and people were not afraid. They would destroy all in front of them and show that the US would not be intimidated, would not take an insult, and soon the world would know. All the potential was there, and it sat silently on the sand of the bank of the Rio Grande. Pershing remembered after that the sound of the horns, engines revving, men shouting, and an army rising. More than 700,000 men stretched from where he stood to where the last man in two armies stood, a hundred miles downriver. And it was time to march, the thud of feet showing real power.

**************************

The First Army under the command of General Taylor with 320,000 men in 12 divisions are now ordered to cross the Rio Grande at Piedras Negras and march on the city of Monclava. After that they are to proceed south in a roughly parallel course to the second.

The Second Army under the Command of General White will contain 400,000 men in 22 divisions and will cross the border at Nuevo Laredo and head for the largest Mexican force at Monterrey before heading south through Saltillo and Ciudad Victoria.

The Third Army under General Smith (120,000 men) is to board ships and land amphibiously at Tampico behind Mexican lines and pincer the Mexican forces to the north as well as clear the road to the capital.

Finally, A small army of 38,000 men is travel with the 7th Naval force to land at Veracruz. This naval force is to sweep the Gulf of Mexico of any Mexican ships and control the coastline.

Large bodies of men are gathering north of Sonora and in the Baja in possible preparations for future moves.

bump - US troops are going to march on Mexico City if not answered soon!