Captain Kiwi and the Fog of war continued.

[Bligh]

The Chilean Navy shows it's metal.



Several months had elapsed since the ship bearing the Emperor Napoleon had disappeared into the South Atlantic once more. The Secretary to the United States Navy Board was very concerned that the Status quo in the rebelling South American States should not be disturbed and injure the rapidly burgeoning trade being established with the emerging new Nations. With only a couple of Frigates to police the whole Pacific, he was attempting to glean any information about the status of things in the area.

Rumours abounded. First Napoleon had been sighted in Mexico assisting the rebels, next in Brazil, and the most farfetched report of all came from a ship fresh in from China with news that he had landed there and was now in command of a rebel group trying to unseat the Emperor.
What was known, was the fact that two warships of the newly restored Bourbon Fleet had mutinied in the West Indies, supported by troops garrisoned there loyal to Napoleon and had set sail for the South Atlantic.
Also news from England was confirmed that the Chilean Ambassador in addition to purchasing ships, including one steamship for the Chilean Navy had secured the services of one Captain Cochrane ex RN. to become Admiral of the Chilean Navy, and that in late1818 ,accompanied by several other Captains and his wife, he was now on route to Valpariso aboard the sailing ship Rose.
It was in order to escort the Rose to its destination and also to keep a look out for enemy Spanish ships in case they had decided to intercept the Rose that General Bernard O'Higgins dispatched three of his ships to the south.





The 50 gun Flagship pertinently named the O'Higgins, led the Aguila 16, and the Galverino 18 with 32lbr carronades along the coast just West of the Spanish held port of Valdivia keeping a wary eye out for Spanish men of war. The Chilean commander, Blanco Enchalada, aboard O'Higgins was not surprised when two enemy vessels hove to on the horizon.




As his Squadron approached, he was surprised to see that the bore the Tricolor of the now dissolved French Republic.
Sensing that they were up to no good he bore down upon them and signaled for them to heave to for inspection.

Bligh.