on 22 december, cornelius vanderbilt's california mail steamer "ariel" had steamed into key west with word that — as she was steaming from new york toward panama, she had been captured off the coast of cuba by css "alabama" and had been released on ransom. her master had urged that the navy henceforth escort "ariel" and her sister mail steamers, especially those heading north from the isthmus with shipments of bullion from the california gold fields. on christmas day, bailey directed parrott to proceed to aspinwall and to offer convoy or such other assistance to such steamers as may be necessary.