Immediately after his acquittal, Captain Cathcart had the further gratification of receiving a post commission, dated back to the day of his gallant action; and as an additional mark of their lordships’ high approbation of his gallant conduct, the survivors of the Seagull’s crew were subsequently sent to join the Ganymede, a 26-gun ship, of which he obtained the command about Sept. 1809.
Towards the close of 1810, Captain Cathcart was appointed to the Alexandria frigate, mounting 26 long twelves, 10 twenty-four-pounder carronades, and 2 long sixes, with a complement of 212 officers, men and boys. His last exploit was that of driving the U.S. ship President, commanded by Commodore Rodgers, from her cruising ground, thereby preserving a valuable fleet of British merchantmen from being captured, and adding greatly to his professional reputation.
On the 19th July, 1813, being off the North Cape, in company with the Spitfire, a ship-sloop rated at 16 guns, Captain Cathcart fell in with Commodore Rodgers, who had proceeded thither for the purpose of intercepting a convoy, which he had been informed would leave Archangel about the middle of that month. The President, when first discovered, was accompanied by the Scourge, a large American schooner privateer, of 10 guns and 120 men. But notwithstanding the enemy’s great superiority. Captain Cathcart immediately gave chase, and used every possible exertion to close with him during a pursuit of more than 91 hours[1]. Commodore Rodgers, however, effected his escape, and afterwards had the effrontery to declare that he had been chased from his station by a line-of-battle ship and a frigate. The following contradictory statement was addressed to the Editor of the “Star,” Dec. 9, 1813:
- ↑ From 2-30 P.M. July 19th until 10 A.M. on the 23d.
