Commodore Craven to James E. Harvey, March 28, 1865

Commodore Craven to Mr. Harvey

Sir: With the object of shifting her berth further up the river, so as to be nearer the usual landing straits, at about 3.15 p. m., the Niagara was got under way with a regularly authorized Portuguese pilot on board, and was about being turned head “up stream,” when three shots were fired in rapid succession directly at her from Castle Belem. Supposing that the officer commanding the fort might have been under the impression that I was in the act of following the pirate Stonewall out to sea, and had fired those guns as a warning not to proceed, I immediately ordered our flag to be dipped, or hauled part way down, a signal that his warning was understood and that I did not intend to pass the fort.

But, to my astonishment, so soon as those guns could be reloaded, they were again fired at my ship, and this too when my flag was at half-mast and the ship’s head being rapidly turned up stream. The firing having been ceased for some few minutes, my flag was run up to its place at the “peak,” when almost immediately a third volley of three shots was fired at us. At the moment this last round was fired at us the port quarter of the Niagara was presented to the castle, and no one but an idiot could have imagined for a moment that there was any appearance of intention on my part to quit the port.

The officer who perpetrated this gross outrage upon our flag cannot invent the least possible excuse for his conduct, and I feel that I have only to submit this statement for your consideration, in order that the whole case may be presented to the Portuguese government.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,