Union West Indies Squadron

MARCH 16TH, 1864: Rear Admiral James L. Lardner, commander of the West Indies Squadron (and I didn't know there was a West Indies Squadron) ordered the USS Neptune and USS Galatea to convoy California steamers across the Caribbean. //// The California ships often carried much-needed gold for the Union war effort. And, there was a big fear of Confederate cruisers. //// --Old B-Runner