In 1813, the Antelope, then commanded by Captain Samuel Butcher, was ordered to the Baltic station, and employed in protecting convoys through the Great Belt. On one occasion, when preparing to anchor with her charge, at midnight, she captured a Danish row-boat, which, in the darkness, mistaking her for a merchant ship, was about to lay her on board. As many other row-boats were that night amongst the convoy, Lieutenant Robertson requested Captain Butcher to let him have the prize and proceed in quest of them, which was accordingly granted. He soon fell in with and captured one, and, after binding the hands and feet of his prisoners, attacked and carried a second. On the 23d Oct. 1813, whilst commanding the above row-boat, manned with volunteers, he captured the schooner Eleanor and her consort, a large lugger-rigged boat. Next day, Captain Butcher addressed the following letter to Captain Robert Williams, of the Gloucester 74:
“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you that, being astern of the convoy, in the station assigned to me by you, I yesterday, at noon, observed several of the enemy’s row-boats ranging along shore, evidently with the intention of attacking the convoy when anchored for the night. I determined to embrace the opportunity of an interval of thick weather, which fortunately offered, of sending inshore unnoticed one of the three row-boats taken a few days since from the enemy, with orders to seize the first favorable moment to take or destroy as many as might be found practicable. I was satisfied that, should she succeed in getting near the land unobserved, she would pass for one intent on the same views as themselves. My intention was no sooner made known, than that most eminently zealous and gallant officer. Lieutenant James Robertson, requested to be allowed to go in her on this occasion, to whom I added Messrs. Pole and Madden, midshipmen, fifteen seamen, and four marines, the whole having volunteered their services. The enterprise set out successfully, the boat being enabled to gain an eligible situation before the weather cleared up.
“When the convoy anchored, the enemy’s armed boats did the same, under the batteries of Rodby, as did also close to them Lieutenant Robertson, with the intention of attacking them, so soon as it should be dark. At 5 p.m., he observed a large armed schooner three miles distant, having a lugger-rigged boat towing astern. He weighed and worked to windward, till in her wake. When nearly within pistol-shot, the schooner, apparently confident of success, put twenty-four picked men on board the lugger,