"Need French Warship & Deployment For Mexico 1862-1867" Topic

Well, here I am again, hat in hand, looking for more info to complete portions of "Viva Juarez!: Wargamer's Resource Book for the Second French Intervention in Mexico."

I received sterling service from several generous and knowledgeable souls about the specifics for some named vessels, but now I need the OB of the French Fleet sent to Tampico in late 1862 and at the battle there on January 20, 1863. Another fleet attacked it again in August of that same year, while the Pacific Squadron attacked Acapulco again, too.

What I'm having trouble finding are lists of the specific vessels engaged in these (and other) operations. I've scoured "L'Illustration Journal Universel," Niox's history of the war, and US State Department records, but with only limited success.

French and/or Spanish language sources are no problem, so long as I can copy and paste text into good ol' Google!

If any of you can point the way, please post here or write me directly at TVAG@att.net. As ever, substantial contributors will be credited in the final work.

Among "Murphy's Laws" it is said that in research projects, one should never just hope for miracles, but to RELY on them!

Well, I'm definitely relying on you all!

TVAG

I dont know if it helps in any way but this are the names of some of the french ships in the pacific ocean scuadron:

Victoire
La Bayonnaise.
Rhin
D´Assas
Diamante
Lucifer
Cordelière
Talismán

You are probably aware of this article:

JOURNAL ARTICLE
French Warships on the Mexican West Coast, 1861-1866
Benjamin Franklin Gilbert
Pacific Historical Review
Vol. 24, No. 1 (Feb., 1955), pp. 25-37

No! The Journal Article is news to me, so I'll see if I can find it online. And thanks for the list--it may be more complete than not.

Thank you, but of greater need is the Gulf Coast operations of the French Navy and the vessels employed there over the period. Again, of particular interest is the OB of the squadron sent to Tampico in late 1862 and the vessels participating in the battle at the bar in January, of '63.

Gratefully,
TVAG

a long list as 81 ships participated in the expedition
17 vessels
22 frigates
5 corvettes
5 avisos
9 gunboats
23 transports

Le Colbert was attached to Tampico
you know already this one
La Marine Française au Méxique
link

Why not use the CSS Stonewall (of which Thoroughbred has an excellent model). It was built by France for the Confederacy but then impounded. It certainly fits the time era.