Bahia incident 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 . Background . In late 1864 , the nine gun sloop - of - war CSS " Florida " with 146 officers and crew headed south along the South American 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 was nearby , under Commander Napoleon Collins . " Wachusett " launched a boat and sent her towards the " Florida " ; once nearby , the Union sailors called out to the rebel crew , asking the name of their ship . Unaware who was making the inquiry , the rebels called out that the ship was the " Florida " and then asked what ship the sailors in the boat were from . The Union sailors responded that they were from HMS " Curlew " and returned went to the " Wachusett " , then still out if sight of the " Florida " . The next morning , the Confederates spotted " Wachusett " as she sailed into Bahia harbor and anchored at the entrance of the bay . Later that day 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 occurred in Bahia harbor , the Brazilian Navy would be forced to retaliate against whoever fired the first shot . An admiral at the meeting suggested that " Florida " move closer to his sloop so that 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 put on high alert . Morris did as the admiral suggested and moved his ship closer to shore . Another boat from the " Wachusett " approached and delivered a letter to the " Florida " addressed " Captain Morris sloop Florida " . The rebels rejected the letter because , as one of the Confederates told the Union sailors , 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 completed his mission . However , Morris stated that if attacked he would make every effort to defend his ship and destroy the " Wachusett " . Incident . 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 " Florida " s 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 . Aftermath . As result of USS " Wachusett " s 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 captain 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 .