in which I was treated, that continued until Picking’s death, years later. The manner in which that old fighter, Rear Admiral Benham, put an end to the “revolution” in the following January, soon after his arrival at Rio, should be well remembered, for it was a noble deed and an example of the good judgment generally displayed by American naval officers when they are not hampered by foolish orders from Washington. In the vain hope of arousing enthusiasm in his lost cause, Mello had gone down the coast, where he figuratively and literally took to the woods when he saw the folly of his mission, leaving Da Gama in command of the blockading fleet. The captains of several American merchant ships, who had been prevented for weeks from landing their cargoes for Rio, appealed to Admiral Benham who took prompt action. To show his contempt for the rebels, whom he properly regarded as pirates, making no secret of the fact, Admiral Benham assigned the smallest ship in his squadron, the little “Detroit,” commanded by that great little man, Commander (now Rear Admiral, retired) W. H. Brownson, to escort the merchantmen up to the docks. At the same time he warned Da Gama not to carry out his threat to fire on them when they crossed his line. With his ship cleared for action, as were the “San Francisco,” “New York,” “Charleston,” and “Newark,” which stood guard over the rebel fleet, at a considerable distance, Brownson stood in alongside one of the merchantmen. He steamed over close to the “Trajano,” on which Da Gama’s flag was flying, and which, with the “Guanabara,” was guarding the shore. “I will recognize no accidental shots,” shouted Brownson to the rebel admiral, “so don’t fire any. If you open fire I will respond, and if you reply to that I will sink you.” As the merchant ship came in line the “Trajano” fired a shot across her bow. Brownson replied instantly with a six-pound shell which exploded so close to the “Trajano” that it threw water on her forward deck. A musket shot was fired from the “Guanabara,” and it was answered and silenced with a bullet from the “Detroit.”