larboard tack, so as to keep between his charge and the strange ship, which we may at once introduce as the U.S. sloop Peacock, of 20 carronades, 32-pounders, and 2 long 18’s, Captain Lewis Warrington[1].
“No answer being returned to the brig’s signals, the English ensign and pendant flying on board the Peacock did not remove the suspicions of her being an enemy; and accordingly the Epervier made a signal to that effect to her convoy. At 9-40 a.m., the Peacock hauled down the British colours, and hoisted an American flag at almost every mast and stay. At 10 a.m., when within half gun-shot, she edged away, as if to bring her broadside to bear in a raking position. This the brig evaded by putting her helm up, until close on the Peacock’s bow, when she rounded to and fired her starboard guns. With this their first discharge, the three aftermost carronades became unshipped by the fighting-bolts giving way. The guns, however, were soon replaced; and having, when she got abaft the beam of her opponent, tacked and shortened sail, the Epervier received the broadside of the Peacock, as the latter kept away with the wind on the larboard beam. Although the first fire of the American ship produced no material effect, a continued discharge of star and bar shot cut away the rigging and sails of the brig, and completely dismantled her. Just as the Epervier, by a well-directed fire, had brought down her opponent’s fore-yard, several of the carronades on the larboard side behaved as those opposite had done, and continued to upset, as often as they were replaced and discharged.
“In the midst of this confusion, the main-boom, having been shot away, fell upon the wheel, and the Epervier, having had her head-sails all cut to pieces, became thrown into a position to be raked; but, fortunately for the brig, the Peacock had too much headway to do so with more than two or three shot. Having by this time shot away the brig’s main-top-mast, and rendered her completely unmanageable, the Peacock directed the whole of her fire at her opponent’s hull, and presently reduced the Epervier’s three waist guns to the disabled state of the others. At 11 a.m., as if the defects in the fighting-bolts were not a sufficient disaster, the breeching-bolts began to draw. There being no immediate remedy here, an effort was made to get the brig round, in order to present a fresh broadside to the enemy; but it was found impracticable, without falling on board the Peacock.
“As a last resource, and one which British seamen arc generally prompt to execute. Captain Wales called his crew to follow him in boarding; but these gentlemen declined a measure so fraught with danger. The Epervier having now one gun only wherewith to return the fire of eleven; being already with four feet and a half water in her hold, and her crew failing fast- ↑ The Epervier mounted 16 carronades of the same calibre as the Peacock’s, and 2 eighteen-pounder carronades, which latter she had taken on board in lieu of her long sixes and boat gun.
