"Dale" arrived in San José del Cabo on 19 September 1847 with . "Dale" was assigned the duty of preventing traffic between Guaymas and Mulege. On 27 September "Dale" stopped at Loreto while heading north and it was learned that approximately 200 men had been landed at Mulege from Guaymas. On 30 September she arrived in the port of Mulege under a flag of truce. The party led by Lt. Tunis A.M. Craven asking the local government to pledge support for the United States as the United States considered the area to be part of the United States. The Mexican Privateer "Magdelina" was confiscated from the port. On 2 October after the refusal by local leaders, fifty sailors plus marines were landed at Mulege, but they were faced by artillery and significant opposition. Using the excuse of encroaching nightfall at a later date to justify their sudden departure, in truth the Battle of Mulege was a substantial victory for the Mexican forces, hence the current official appellation for the town, i.e., "Heroica Mulege".