File:The boys of 1812 and other naval heroes (1887) (14762882024).jpg

Identifier: boysof1812othern00sole (find matches)
Title: The boys of 1812 and other naval heroes
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Soley, James Russell, 1850-1911
Subjects: United States. Navy
Publisher: Boston, Estes and Lauriat
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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ere atsome distance outside the harbor, the Essex towed the Hec-tor out and set fire to her. The English ships tried their best tohead the Essex off from the harbor, but without success, andby evening she was lying safe and sound at her old anchorage. Commodore Porter now decided on a judicious plan of action.He had found by trial that the Essex outsailed the Phoebe.and he proposed to put to sea with both his ships, the two takingdifferent directions ;• by which means either the enemys shipswould be separated, or if they both followed the • Essex, theEssex Junior would escape. Besides, as the Cherub wasa dull sailer, the Phoebe in attempting to overtake the Essex would he drawn away from her consort, and so mightbe engaged alone. At any rate, it was necessary to seize thefirst opportunity to escape, for other frigates of the enemy wereshortly expected on the coast. An accident, and a most unlucky one for the Essex, finallybrought about the battle. On the 28th of March the wind was
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THE CRUISE OF THE ESSEX. 243 blowing fresh, and the Essex parted her cable, and draggingthe other anchor drifted out. Sail was made, but at the momentwhen she was rounding the point a squall struck her and carriedaway her main-topmast. The Phoebe and Cherub wereclose upon her, and finding that she could not regain the harbor,she ran over to a bay on the western side, where she anchoredhalf a mile from the shore. This was in neutral waters, just asmuch so as in the harbor, and as Captain Hillyar had givenassurances that he would respect the Chilian neutrality, theAmerican commander felt that he could repair his injuries insecurity. It is much to the discredit of Captain Hillyar that he did notkeep his word. When he found the Essex thus placed at adisadvantage, he took a position under her stern, where no gunscould be brought to bear on him, and opened an attack. The Cherub joined him, and the two ships together raked the Essex almost unopposed, inflicting heavy losses, until Portermana

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