The San Jacinto was going to stop the Trent and remove from her the two men who were on their way to England as emissaries of the Confederate States of America.

The San Jacinto was a steam-powered sloop and was more than a decade old. Although she was small in comparison with other modern warships, she was formidably armed for her size with one eleven-inch gun_: ten nine-inch Dahlgren guns_: and a twelve-pound Parrott rifle. The Trent was unarmed.

Captain Charles Wilkes_: U.S. Navy_: watched eagerly as the San Jacinto closed on the packet. When they were a mile apart the Trent raised the British flag and the San Jacinto followed suit with the Stars and Stripes. It sometimes surprised landlubbers to find that ships at sea only flew their flags when identifying themselves or during battle. The wind would rip the expensive fabric to shreds if they flew them all the time.

The San Jacinto signaled the Treat to heave to. The Trent declined. The stage was set.

“Now, Mr. Fairfax,” Wilkes ordered. A nine-inch gun fired with a sudden flash and roar, sending a solid shot across the Trent's bow where it raised a high splash in the sea. It was an abrupt and imperative second order for her to stop.

Soon they were alongside the British ship with their guns run out and ready for battle. Captain Moir of the Trent used a voice trumpet to tell the American ship that his government service vessel was in international waters and not subject to the laws of the United States. He could barely be heard over the wind and waves, but his anger and purpose were apparent. The Trent did not slow down.