After two small bloodless engagements off Topolobampo within a few weeks earlier, Lieutenant Hilario Malpica was promoted to the rank of captain by General Álvaro Obregón, a future president of Mexico.

Morelos arrived a couple days after Guerrero and occasionally left the blockade for provisioning and coal.

At this time, Captain Navio Torres was returning an official call from the United States protected cruiser, USS New Orleans, who was observing the naval campaign off Topolobampo.

Guerrero returned with six 4-inch guns and quickly New Orleans turned towards the Huertista vessel and got under way immediately; she was too close for safely observing the conflict.

Immediately she was answered by Guerrero's broadsides; shots managed to hit the officers quarters twice, causing considerable damage.

By 6:15 pm, Tampico managed to free herself of the bar and headed northwest, again straight for Guerrero and under "wild fire" as USS New Orleans reported.

When almost 6:30 pm, because of the approaching darkness, Captain Navio Torres, in the bridge of Guerrero, retreated but continued to fire shots at Tampico.

After seeing Guerrero retreat, Tampico followed suit and came about and headed back into Topolobampo's harbor, northeast of Shell Point.

Captain Malpica, just before the Fourth Battle of Topolobampo, told the officers of USS New Orleans their perspective of the engagement.

Half underwater, Tampico's crew had not yet left her, fired eight shots in response, with no damage inflicted to either side.