Baudin, on the other hand, had not been idle. The anchorage-ground round San Juan de Ulúa had been examined, and observations made for effective cannonading of different points, and under the cover of night boat parties had made soundings beneath the very batteries to perfect the plans for a prospective assault, especially from the reefs of la Gallega, which approach it on the north, hidden by the tide. The fortress covered the whole extent of a small coral islet, the continuation of this reef, and situated half a mile north east of Vera Cruz, forming the line of shelter for the harbor in this direction. The rather low walls rising from the sea enclosed a slightly irregular parallelogram, with a bastion at each angle, and further relieved at the south-west and south-east points respectively, by a lighthouse of brick and a square tower, Caballero, ninety feet high, of dazzling whiteness, and surmounted by a belvedere whence ships were signalled. The bastions on the north-west were separated by a tide-covered channel with its redoubt from the half-moon line of low batteries infolding that side. The structure looked imposing enough for its name. Unfortunately, it was built of soft madrepore, except the side facing the harbor,[1] and with hardly any casemates to protect the gunners. The artillery was besides of inferior calibre and poorly mounted, and the whole in a state of utter neglect since the Spaniards surrendered the place. The late circumscribed efforts of Rincon to remedy the numerous defects had been superficial, serving mainly to infuse a degree of false confidence. The garrison consisted of about 1,200 men, under General Gaona, the commandant.[2]
During the morning of November 27th the anchorage round the fortress presented a most animated ap-
- ↑ Constructed, it is said, of stones brought from Spain in course of time as ballast. See plan as given in chapter ii.
- ↑ Rincon placed the condition clearly before the people in his subsequent defence. Manifiesto, pp. vii.-viii., xxi.-ii., 126, 137, etc.; also Lanuza, Vindication, 3, etc.; Pap. Var., clxxxix. pt x.; Blanchard, San Juan de Ulúa, 294-5; Farragut, Life, 134; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 359.
