CRAVEN, Commander United States Navy to William L. Dayton, Envoy Extraordinary, July 28, 1864

Commodore Craven to Mr. Dayton

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, and in answer to the complaint of Monsieur Drouyn de l’Huys have to state that the Niagara did appear off the port of Cherbourg on the 6th of this month, where, discovering the United States ship Sacramento at anchor inside the breakwater, I naturally desired to communicate with her, and was about lowering one of our boats to send into the harbor, when a French pilot came alongside and volunteered to take the officer detailed for that purpose in his boat; as it appeared that much time would be saved, the offer was thankfully accepted. Lieut. Phœnix, the officer detailed for this duty, after remaining on board the Sacramento a few minutes, returned in a small boat, bringing with him the commander of the Sacramento, Captain Walke, the American vice-consul, and the French pilot. When the boat left his ship, conveying Captain Walke, the vice-consul, and the pilot, a salute of seven guns was fired to the consul. At the moment it did not seem to me that there was the least impropriety in this proceeding; and, as I am sure that there was no wish or thought to do aught which might be construed as a slight or breach of etiquette towards a nation so universally esteemed and respected by our own countrymen, I regret, most sincerely, that any inadvertent act of mine should be entertained as an offence. Since reading your letter and considering the matter fairly, I must confess that a breach of etiquette was, under the circumstances, committed—a salute should have been first fired to the French flag; but being outside of the harbor, the omission did not for a moment present itself to me. I have, therefore, to beg that you will present Monsieur Drouyn de l’Huys, in the strongest language possible, my profound regrets for this neglect to salute his flag, an act which I trust he will have the magnanimity to perceive was one of inadvertency alone.

In a few days I may again pass in the vicinity of Cherbourg, and shall, with great pleasure, if near enough, salute their flag.

In conclusion, I beg leave to add that Captain Walke, in speaking of his visit to Cherbourg, alluded with great feeling to the very civil and friendly manner in which he was welcomed and received by the people and officers of his Majesty the Emperor’s government.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,