By 30 September, Riveros was notified that the corvette "Unión" was sailing to Panamá to escort five small ships with torpedoes bought from the United States. The Chilean fleet sailed again on 1 October, now carrying War Minister Rafael Sotomayor. The preceding week, the government had ordered the fleet to hunt down the "Huáscar" at all cost. In a council held aboard Riveros' flagship, the armored frigate "Blanco Encalada", it was decided to set course to Arica, hoping to find "Huáscar" there.