A Mexican Navy officer, Rear Admiral Tomás Marín Sabalza, mutinied and escaped to Havana, Cuba.

The liberal government of Benito Juárez declared Tomás Marín a pirate and permitted foreign navies to attack his ships.

After the mutiny and passage to Havana, where Spanish colonial military forces in Cuba granted him safety, Tomás Marín Sabalza began purchasing small steamships to convert for war.

Tomás Marín hoped to acquire ships, recruit sailors, and then sail them to Veracruz to begin operating in the region.

They did not all leave Cuba at the same time, so they were directed by Rear Admiral Marín to rendezvous with him off Antón Lizardo, where they would then sail to the Isla de Sacrificios.

General Miramón and Marquis of Havana arrived off Antón Lizardo north of the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa on 6 March 1860 where a United States Navy frigate was operating.

In an attempt to avoid friendly fire, Commander Turner directed his men to change targets from Rear Admiral Marín's ship to the Marquis of Havana.

Saratoga dueled with the Marquis of Havana for a moment and at least one shell hit the targeted ship, the shot blew a hole through the hull of the wooden steamer, apparently above the waterline.

Saratoga came alongside the General Miramón and Turner's crew boarded the vessel the hard way, without grappling hooks and not by means of launches.

An unknown number of Mexicans and Cubans were taken prisoner, the wounded were quickly removed to the Saratoga and received medical attention.

Marquis of Havana eventually ended up in Confederate States Navy service during the American Civil War and was renamed CSS McRae.