Rio de Janeiro Affair
Part of the Brazilian Naval Revolt
USS Detroit at anchor.
Date January 21-29, 1894 Location off Rio de Janeiro, Cobras Island, Brazil, Atlantic Ocean Result United States victory, objective completed.
Belligerents
United States	Brazilian Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Andrew E. K. Benham Willard H. Brownson	Saldanha Da Gama
Strength
3 cruisers 4 barks	Land: 1 fort Sea: 1 battleship 1 coastal battleship 4 cruisers 1 monitor 1 gunboat 7 torpedo boats 9 auxiliary cruisers[1]
Casualties and losses
2 barks damaged	1 ironclad damaged

Template:Nineteenth century Atlantic/Mediterranean conflicts involving the United States

The Rio de Janeiro Affair refers to a series of incidents during the Brazilian Naval Revolt in January of 1894. Following three attacks on American merchant ships in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, a naval engagement occurred between a United States Navy warship and two ironclads of Rear Admrial Saldanha Da Gama's rebel fleet. Ultimately the Americans completed their objective and the Brazilians offered to surrender their ships.^[2][3]

Affair

The incidents which led to the short engagement began on January 21 of 1894 when the 586 ton American bark SS Julia Rollins was fired on with musketry from a fort on Cobras Island while she was heading to Gamboa. Brazilian fire was heavy though nobody was harmed, the American crewmen were forced to take cover and maneuver their ship out of the fort's range where they laid anchor. The Brazilians then opened fire again, but this time with the guns of the ironclad cruisers Trajano and Guanabara. Julia Rollins moved again until finding a safe anchorage. A boat with a few sailors was the lowered from the Rollins and sent to inform Admiral Andrew E. K. Benham who was in command of three cruisers at Rio de Janeiro with orders to protect American interests and observe the rebel blockade. On January 26, another incident occurred when the bark Agate recieved grape shot from Cobras Island and the rebel cruisers. Again nobody was hurt but the incident angered Admiral Benham who was busy communicating with Da Gama, warning him not to fire on American vessels. USS Detroit, under the command of Captain Willard H. Brownson, was one of the cruisers in Benham's squadron. The other two were the USS San Francisco and USS Newark. Admiral Saldanha Da Gama's fleet of twenty-three ships was much stronger as most of the rebel navy was stationed at Rio though only the Trajano, the cruiser Guanabara and the gunboat Liberdade were directly involved. The 1,400 ton Trajano was armed with twelve guns and the much larger 2,200 ton Guanabara mounted eight. Liberdade was only 250 tons but armed with eight guns. She was Da Gama's flagship and patroled back and forth between the two cruisers and the main fleet. Brazilian commanders expedcted a battle against the American squadron so men from other ships were used to reinforce the Trajano and the Guanabara.^[4][5][6]

The affair climaxed on January 29 when Benham ordered Captain Brownson to escort two American merchantmen into the wharves, where their cargoes would be unloaded, and to attack the first Brazilian ship to open fire. So at 6:00 am the Detroit headed in, followed by the Julia Rollins, the Agate and the barks Amy and Good News. The Detroit was cleared for action and at 6:20 the crew was at battle stations and guns loaded. But just then, while sailing between Cobras and Enchadas Island, lookouts observed two or three Brazilian auxiliary cruisers which were beginning a bombardment of the federal shore batteries near Santa Barbara Island. Captain Brownson decided to wait for the engagement to end so he was not violating neutrality and as soon as the armed tugs hauled off the American ships were underway. The Trajano and Guanabara were not far away, the two cruisers were moored to a buoy in line of battle and Admiral Da Gama's flagship was nowhere in sight. By 7:00 am, Detroit and her escortees were within gun range of the rebels and at about that time the Trajano fired a warning shot over the Amy's bow which temporarily stopped her. Captain Brownson had to assure the merchantmen that he would protect them if there was any more fire. An attack came a few minutes later at 7:04. The Amy recieved a round from the Trajano's naval musket. Immediately Detroit returned fire with one of her 6-inch guns and one shot hit the Trajano's stern about two or three feet from the starboard bow, causing light damage. Brownson then hailed the Brazilians, who were under sixty yards away, and the captain declared that "If you fire again l will return the fire,and if your persist in firing I will sink you''. The command was ignored though and the Trajano's crew opened fire again with a full broadside from the starboard battery, one near miss went over the Detroit and another over the Amy but no damage was caused.^[7]

For the next several moments the Detroit maneuvered and at 7:16 am Brownson found a good position to rake the enemy vessels from 200 yards away. That morning the sea was rough so the anchor was dropped and preparations were made to slip the cable if necessary. The American barks were directed to continue on to the wharves. At 7:32 am, the Trajano fired another broadside at the Amy and all of the shots missed. USS Detroit responded and a second round struck the Trajano under the counter, near her sternpost. After this the rebels ceased firing and the engagement was over after lasting about a half an hour. Admiral Da Gama had no idea an exchange had happened and he only found out when he anchored the Liberdade and two of the tugs near the Guanabara. Captain Brownson sent an officer aboard the Liberdade to ensure a cease fire and during the ensuing conversation De Gama expressed how the attacks on the American barks were not ordered by him and that only blank rounds were used in between the first incident on January 21 and the engagement on January 29. Minor damage from rife fire to the Agate and the Julia Rollins proved otherwise. Da Gama also offerred to surrender his fleet to Admiral Benham but the offer was not pursued. American reports make no indication of casualties on either side and the affair did not go any further. In the end, Detroit successfully reopened Rio to American commerce. Brownson's bold actions are also credited with preventing any more attacks on United States flagged ships during the revolt, which ended in March of 1894. The captain recieved notoriety for the engagement and newspapers across the United States reported the story.^[8]