General Scott anticipated the difficulty of timely concentration of forces off the Brazos large enough to give hope of success.  He thought it necessary to have fifteen thousand troops, of which five thousand were to be regulars, and to have the co-operation of the navy.  The time named for the concentration was the middle of January, so that the army might reach Vera Cruz by February 1st.  He had requested the advice of General Taylor on these matters and all others in regard to the proposed campaign.  He had intimated, in a letter of November 15th, that it would be necessary to withdraw a large number of troops from General Taylor, and thus reduce him to the defensive, while he thought it absolutely necessary for success that General Taylor should have a force sufficient to act offensively in the direction of San Luis Potosi.  In addition to the volunteers and regulars at Tampico and those moving there, he desired that Worth’s division of regulars, Duncan and Taylor’s field batteries, a thousand mounted men, and all the volunteer infantry that could be spared be sent to General Taylor, only retaining a force sufficient to hold Monterey and protect his communications to Point Isabel.  From New Orleans General Scott had written the Secretary of War that he approved of the rendezvous at Pensacola rather than at Brazos for the ordnance and ordnance stores.  He also urged that volunteers be forwarded rapidly to Brazos.  Subsequently he wrote the Secretary of War asking that ships with troops and supplies be ordered to Lobos Island.  He addressed a letter to General George M. Brooke, commanding at New Orleans, giving detailed orders of what he required of him.  He also wrote to Commodore Conner, and made suggestions about joint operations.

Failing to meet General Taylor, as he hoped and endeavored to do, with a view of a full and free conference, he felt compelled to issue orders detaching from the army of the Rio Grande such regular troops as were deemed necessary to lead the volunteers for the capture of Vera Cruz and the move on the capital, leaving General Taylor with a force sufficient to maintain himself at Monterey.  He intended, had he seen General Taylor, to advise him to contract his line to the Rio Grande.  General Taylor, supported by the authorities in Washington, favored the movement on the City of Mexico from Monterey and via San Luis Potosi, but General Scott had already formulated and determined on the movement which he made with such brilliant success.  Orders were accordingly issued from Camargo, January 3, 1847, for the movement of troops from Monterey, and General Scott returned to Brazos Santiago.  The embarkation for Vera Cruz was delayed by the non-arrival of the troops from Monterey and want of transportation.  The Lobos Islands was selected as the place of rendezvous.  This point is one hundred and twenty miles from Vera Cruz.  When the greater part of the troops had arrived, they sailed past Vera Cruz and anchored, on March 7th, at Anton Lizardo, from which point it was determined to make the necessary reconnoissances.