How to handle exception in C# when target machine refused connection

Question

I have a function where I connect to an API. Sometimes the API is not available. I know why but I would like to prevent my program from crashing when this is the case. But whatever I try it always crashes with:

Exception Unhandled 
System.Net.WebException: 'Unable to connect to the remote server'
SocketException: No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it 127.0.0.1:1000

I would like to log an error message and then the program to continue instead of crashing. Can someone please point me in the right direction?

static public void ConnectToAPI(string urlstring, string json, string command)
    {
        WebRequest request = WebRequest.Create(urlstring);
        request.Method = command;
        byte[] requestBody = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json);
        request.ContentLength = requestBody.Length;
        request.ContentType = "application/json";
        try
        {
            using (Stream stream = request.GetRequestStream())
        }
        catch (System.Net.Sockets.SocketException exception)
        {
            log.Error(exception);
        }
    }

Answer 1

You're catching a System.Net.Sockets.SocketException, but a System.Net.WebException is being thrown