 The 13 July 1854 attack was in response to attempts by the British government to charge taxes and duties through its protectorate on the ships that were using it as a port to access Commodore Vanderbilt's Nicaragua Route to California.Other reasons were for attacks which damaged American property and, in one case, an American consulate.The British schooner HMS "Bermuda "was moored at the port, commanded by Lieutenant W. D. Jolley, and only essayed a half-hearted protest to no avail.