On coming up with the two vessels, at about half-past nine o'clock, they proved to be the United States brigantines, Ben Dunning and Albert Adams.

They were at once taken possession of, and ordered to make the best of their way in charge of a prize crew to Cienfuegos.
The night was passed in standing off and on outside the harbour, and with the earliest dawn preparations were made for running in.

The weather was bright and clear, and the brief twilight of the tropics flushed rapidly into the full glare of day, and showed to the watchful eyes on board the Sumter the welcome spectacle of three more vessels being towed out to sea by a steamer, the stars and stripes floating gaily from their peaks.

Warily and patiently the little Sumter lay in wait, under the shelter of the land, until the steamer had cast off her convoy, and the three unsuspecting vessels were fairly beyond the maritime league from the neutral shore, within which the law of nations forbids that captures should be made.

Then suddenly her decks swarmed with men, the black smoke poured from her funnel, the sails filled, and out she came in pursuit.