of the Atrato Expedition, which was for the purpose of surveying a route for a proposed ship canal through Isthmus of Darien (now called Panama) by way of the Atrato River. In 1859 Lieutenant Craven was given command of the steamer , Home Squadron, in which he captured two slavers; in 1860 he saved the crew of the Bella, a foundering Spanish vessel, for which he was given a gold medal and diploma by Queen Isabella II. About the same time, the New York Board of Underwriters presented Mrs. Craven with a silver service for efficient services rendered to merchant vessels at sea by her husband. In 1861 Lieutenant Craven was ordered to take command of the , Home Squadron, but was shortly after promoted to commander and given command of the , special service. The Tuscarora went to England with orders to report to the U.S. Minister, Mr. Adams. While in Southampton, the Confederate steamer came in; but after she departed, the Tuscarora had to wait 24 hours to follow. After giving up the chase, Commander Craven went to the Mediterranean, where he succeeded in watching the so closely that her officers and crew finally abandoned the ship at Gibraltar. The Tuscarora was ordered home in 1863, and Commander Craven was detached and placed in command of the , then being built at Secor's yard, Jersey City. The following spring, the Tecumseh left New York and joined the squadron of Admiral Lee in the James River. Death at Battle of Mobile Bay Shortly after, the Tecumseh was sent to join Admiral Farragut's fleet in the projected attack on Mobile. The position of Commander Craven in the attack, which took place August 5, was at the head of the column of monitors which was on the starboard hand of the wooden vessels between them and Fort Morgan. Admiral Farragut in his reports states: "The attacking fleet steamed steadily up the main ship channel, the Tecumseh firing the first shot at forty-seven minutes past six o'clock. At six minutes past seven the fort opened on us, and was replied to by a gun from the USS Brooklyn, and immediately after the action became general. It was soon apparent that there was some difficulty ahead. The , for some cause which I did not then clearly understand, but which has since been explained by Captain Alden in his report, arrested the advance