Bahia Incident
Encyclopedia
The Bahia Incident was a naval skirmish fought in late 1864 during the American Civil War
. A Confederate States Navy
warship was captured by a Union
warship in Bahia Harbor, Brazil
. The engagement resulted in a United States
victory, but also sparked an incident with the Brazilian government, which claimed the Americans had violated Brazil's neutrality by illegally attacking a vessel in their harbor.
CSS Florida
with 146 officers and crew headed south along the South America
n coast for the Pacific. She was in need of repairs and coal so her commander Lieutenant
Charles Manigault Morris
pulled into Bahia, Brazil at night on October 4, 1864 after a sixty-one day cruise. Unknown to the Confederates, the Union sloop-of-war USS Wachusett was nearby, under Commander
Napoleon Collins
. Wachusett launched a boat and sent her torwards the Florida, once nearby the Union sailors called out to the rebel crew, asking the name of their ship. Not realizing that the boat crew speaking with them was enemy, the rebels called out that his ship was the Florida and then asked what ship the sailors in the boat were from. Their Union response was that they were from HBMS Curlew, they then went back to the Wachusett which was not in sight of the Florida at that time.
The next morning, Wachusett was spotted sailing into Bahia harbor but she stopped and anchored at the entrance of the bay. Later that day Lieutenant Morris met with the Provincial President of Brazil
Antônio Joaquim da Silva Gomes who gave him two days to repair and coal his vessel but said that he felt Florida was the cause of the standoff and if a battle was to occur in Bahia harbor, the Brazilian Navy
would be forced to retaliate against whoever fires the first shot. An admiral
at the meeting also suggested that CSS Florida be moved closer to his sloop which would mean the Union ship would have a harder time of attacking the rebel vessel. The citadel
s of Bahia, Fort Santa Maria and Fort Barra were also put on high alert. Lieutenant Morris did as the admiral suggested and moved his ship closer to shore. Another boat from the USS Wachusett approached and delivered a letter to the Florida addressed "Captain Morris sloop Florida", seeing the improper address, the message was returned to the Union boat and one of the Confederates told the sailors that the ship was not sloop Florida but CSS Florida.
Commander Collins could not address the letter CSS Florida as it would be recognizing the government in rebellion. Collins then sent an American consul
named De'Videcky to the Confederates with another message but before delivering it he first read aloud a letter addressed to him. In it Collins requested that Mr. de'Videcky challenge the rebels to fight. Hearing this, Lieutenant Morris told De'Videcky that he would not attack the Union sloop and would leave harbor once he had finished with his mission. However, Morris did state that if attacked he would make every effort to defend his ship and destroy the Wachusett.
The remainder of October 6 went on without incident until 3:00 am on October 7. At this time the Wachusett weighed anchor and headed for an attack on the Florida. The vessel opened fire with her 6-inch guns at a distance of five-eighths of a mile but rough weather prevented these shells from hitting so she ceased fire. Lieutenant Morris along with half of the Floridas crew were ashore sleeping and did not participate in the battle, in charge of the Florida was Acting Master Thomas T. Hunter. Due to the darkness the Confederates could not spot the incoming Wachusett until she was within musket's range. Master Hunter ordered his men to raise the naval ensign and open fire, they did so not with cannon but with pistols and muskets. Several lead balls struck the Wachusett and wounded three men so the Union sailors were ordered to return fire with their small arms while the ship maneuvered to line up for a full broadside.
When she came into position, Wachusett fired again with her main guns. Several shots from the 6-inchers and pivot guns hit the Florida starboard which raked her bulwarks and removed her mizzenmast. Wachusett backed off and called out demanding the rebels surrender. When this call was unanswered the Wachusett fired again and approached the Florida for her capture. Collins ordered his men to ram the Wachusett right into the Florida so federals crashed into the rebel ship but neither vessel was seriously damaged in the collision. Next a Union boarding party quickly jumped on deck of the Confederate sloop and forced a surrender. Nine rebels jumped over the side of the Florida, all of whom were wounded when the Union sailors fired on them with muskets as they attempted to escape. The rebels did make it to shore though. A tow line was attached to the Florida and Wachusett began to tow the prize out of the harbor. Just then the Brazilians in Fort Barra opened fire with their cannon.
Shots whizzed past the Wachusett but none of them struck. Collins then spotted the Brazilian sloop and an armed paddle steamer
heading towards his ship and firing inaccurately. Collins did not engage, he instead ordered his men to make sail as fast as they could. The Brazilians gave chase but the faster Wachusett got away. Confederate forces lost at least five men killed, nine wounded, and twelve officers and fifty-eight crewmen were captured. Left in Brazil was Lieutenant Morris, four officers and seventy-one men. Union Navy forces lost three men wounded, but only one of them seriously.
in 1866 largely for his victory over Florida. The Brazilian government demanded that the Union Navy return their prize to the rebels at Bahia but the Florida was sunk in a collision with USAT Alliance on November 28 off Virginia
. Some have speculated that the sinking was not an accident but was encouraged by Admiral David Dixon Porter
who did not want the vessel returned to the Confederate Navy.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. A Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
warship was captured by a Union
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
warship in Bahia Harbor, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The engagement resulted in a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
victory, but also sparked an incident with the Brazilian government, which claimed the Americans had violated Brazil's neutrality by illegally attacking a vessel in their harbor.
Background
In late 1864, the nine gun sloop-of-warSloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
CSS Florida
CSS Florida
At least three ships of the Confederate States Navy were named CSS Florida in honor of the third Confederate state:* The blockade runner was commissioned in January 1862, captured by the U.S. Navy in April 1862, and became...
with 146 officers and crew headed south along the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n coast for the Pacific. She was in need of repairs and coal so her commander Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Charles Manigault Morris
Charles Manigault Morris
Charles Manigault Morris was an officer in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy. He was a son of Colonel Lewis V. Morris of New York and his wife Elizabeth Manigault of South Carolina...
pulled into Bahia, Brazil at night on October 4, 1864 after a sixty-one day cruise. Unknown to the Confederates, the Union sloop-of-war USS Wachusett was nearby, under Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Napoleon Collins
Napoleon Collins
Rear Admiral Napoleon Collins served in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
. Wachusett launched a boat and sent her torwards the Florida, once nearby the Union sailors called out to the rebel crew, asking the name of their ship. Not realizing that the boat crew speaking with them was enemy, the rebels called out that his ship was the Florida and then asked what ship the sailors in the boat were from. Their Union response was that they were from HBMS Curlew, they then went back to the Wachusett which was not in sight of the Florida at that time.
The next morning, Wachusett was spotted sailing into Bahia harbor but she stopped and anchored at the entrance of the bay. Later that day Lieutenant Morris met with the Provincial President of Brazil
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Antônio Joaquim da Silva Gomes who gave him two days to repair and coal his vessel but said that he felt Florida was the cause of the standoff and if a battle was to occur in Bahia harbor, the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
would be forced to retaliate against whoever fires the first shot. An admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
at the meeting also suggested that CSS Florida be moved closer to his sloop which would mean the Union ship would have a harder time of attacking the rebel vessel. The citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
s of Bahia, Fort Santa Maria and Fort Barra were also put on high alert. Lieutenant Morris did as the admiral suggested and moved his ship closer to shore. Another boat from the USS Wachusett approached and delivered a letter to the Florida addressed "Captain Morris sloop Florida", seeing the improper address, the message was returned to the Union boat and one of the Confederates told the sailors that the ship was not sloop Florida but CSS Florida.
Commander Collins could not address the letter CSS Florida as it would be recognizing the government in rebellion. Collins then sent an American consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
named De'Videcky to the Confederates with another message but before delivering it he first read aloud a letter addressed to him. In it Collins requested that Mr. de'Videcky challenge the rebels to fight. Hearing this, Lieutenant Morris told De'Videcky that he would not attack the Union sloop and would leave harbor once he had finished with his mission. However, Morris did state that if attacked he would make every effort to defend his ship and destroy the Wachusett.
Incident
When she came into position, Wachusett fired again with her main guns. Several shots from the 6-inchers and pivot guns hit the Florida starboard which raked her bulwarks and removed her mizzenmast. Wachusett backed off and called out demanding the rebels surrender. When this call was unanswered the Wachusett fired again and approached the Florida for her capture. Collins ordered his men to ram the Wachusett right into the Florida so federals crashed into the rebel ship but neither vessel was seriously damaged in the collision. Next a Union boarding party quickly jumped on deck of the Confederate sloop and forced a surrender. Nine rebels jumped over the side of the Florida, all of whom were wounded when the Union sailors fired on them with muskets as they attempted to escape. The rebels did make it to shore though. A tow line was attached to the Florida and Wachusett began to tow the prize out of the harbor. Just then the Brazilians in Fort Barra opened fire with their cannon.
Shots whizzed past the Wachusett but none of them struck. Collins then spotted the Brazilian sloop and an armed paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
heading towards his ship and firing inaccurately. Collins did not engage, he instead ordered his men to make sail as fast as they could. The Brazilians gave chase but the faster Wachusett got away. Confederate forces lost at least five men killed, nine wounded, and twelve officers and fifty-eight crewmen were captured. Left in Brazil was Lieutenant Morris, four officers and seventy-one men. Union Navy forces lost three men wounded, but only one of them seriously.
Aftermath
As result of USS Wachusetts attack on the Florida in Bahia harbor, Commander Collins was court martialed due to pressure from the Brazilian government and was threatened with removal from duty. However, the United States Navy and many Northerners felt that Collins' attack was effective in defeating the Confederates so his sentence was never carried out. Collins eventually became a captainCaptain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1866 largely for his victory over Florida. The Brazilian government demanded that the Union Navy return their prize to the rebels at Bahia but the Florida was sunk in a collision with USAT Alliance on November 28 off Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Some have speculated that the sinking was not an accident but was encouraged by Admiral David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter was a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the United States Navy. Promoted as the second man to the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G...
who did not want the vessel returned to the Confederate Navy.