1864-Late: As the strategic value of the Caribbean grew, American attention shifted toward Môle Saint-Nicolas, a site historically designated as the “Gibralt…

1864-Late: As the strategic value of the Caribbean grew, American attention shifted toward Môle Saint-Nicolas, a site historically designated as the “Gibraltar of the West Indies.” Diplomatic and naval reports of this period frequently cited eighteenth-century descriptions, such as those by Raynal and Lieutenant Howard, which extolled the Môle’s land-locked harbor and “20 fathoms water close to the shore.” The site was viewed as capable of sheltering “all the fleets of the world” and was seen as a vital strategic asset for any power wishing to dominate the Windward Passage. This renewed interest laid the groundwork for future American attempts to lease or acquire the Môle as a permanent naval station.