The Trent Affair: In The Midst Of The American Civil War

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The Trent Affair

In the midst of the American Civil war Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president, appointed John Slidell and James M. Mason to be diplomatic agents commissioned to press the Confederate's case for recognition and financial support from England. Great Britain had remained neutral, but Davis believing that Europe's reliance on cotton to their textile industry and in effect to their economy would lead them to recognizing the Confederacy. The commissioners, Mason and Slidell, boarded the paddle steamer RMS "The Trent" for their voyage to Britain.

The Union's objective was quite the opposite-- to prevent any British intervention and recognition of the Confederacy. The Union secretary of the Navy ordered a warship to pursue the Confederate agents aboard The Trent. The "USS San Jacinto" commanded by Captain Charles Wilkes was given this responsibility.

Spotting The Trent, Wilkes ordered his crew to load the guns and fired two warning shots across the bow. Without much delay the Confederate ship came to. Captain Wilkes, after consulting legal references, decided that Mason and Slidell could be considered "contraband" and sending men to capture the agents and taking the Neutral ship as prize would be justified. His executive officer along with a guard of …show more content…
As Moir was refusing Fairfax's demands, Mason and Slidell along with their associates volunteered to go aboard the other ship with the Lieutenant. Uncertain of the legality of their actions, and aware that this was to be an international incident, Fairfax decided it would be better not to take The Trent as prize. Although unfortunate for the Lieutenant, Wilkes, and all of the Union, international law required that any ship carrying contraband be brought to port for
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