[DiogenesLamp]

Then there was the case of the Powhattan flying "English colors" when she first approached Pensacola (site of Fort Pickens)

This was really a funny sort of "resupply" mission.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp referring to the Powhattan mission to Fort Pickens, Florida: "This was really a funny sort of "resupply" mission. "

Of course they intended to defend Fort Pickens.
And yet the very piece you quoted clearly says their orders were to "act strictly on the defensive" so as not to provoke Confederate violence.