POST-CAPTAINS OF 1804.
861
had been for some time committing great depredations upon British commerce in the South Seas, and that several of her prizes had been armed in order to assist in doing still further mischief.
The Racoon and Cherub, sloops of war, having joined the Phoebe at Rio Janeiro, and accompanied her round Cape Horn, Captain Hillyar, on his arrival off the Gallipago islands, despatched the former vessel to Columbia river, and proceeded himself, with the Cherub in company, to explore the gulf of Guayaquil, and the coasts between that and Valparaiso, at which latter place he anchored close to the American frigate, and three of her prizes, on the 8th Feb. 1814. His subsequent action with the Essex is thus described by him in a letter to the Admiralty, dated at Valparaiso, on the 30th Mar. 1814:
“Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that at a little past 3 P.M. on the 28th instant, after nearly five months anxious search, and six weeks still more anxious look-out for the Essex and her companion
[1], to quit the port of Valparaiso, we saw the former under weigh, and immediately, accompanied by the Cherub, made sail to close with her. On rounding the outer point of the bay, and hauling her wind for the purpose of endeavouring to weather us, and escape, she lost her main-top-mast, and afterwards, not succeeding in an effort to regain the limits of the port, bore up, and anchored so near the shore, (a few miles to leeward of it), as to preclude the possibility of passing a-head of her without risk to his Majesty’s ships. As we drew near, my intention of going close under her stern was frustrated by the ship breaking off, and from the wind blowing extremely fresh, our first fire, commencing a little past four o’clock, and continuing about ten minutes, produced no visible effect. Our second, a few random shot only, from having increased our distance by wearing, was not apparently more successful, and having lost the use of our main-sail, jib, and main-stay, appearances were a little inauspicious. On standing again towards her, I signified my intention of anchoring, for which we were not ready before, with springs, to Captain Tucker, directing him to keep under weigh, and take a convenient station for annoying our opponent. On closing the Essex, at 5-35, the firing re-commenced, and before I gained my intended position, her cable was cut, and a serious conflict ensued; the guns of his Majesty’s ship gradually becoming more destructive, and her crew, if possible, more animated, which lasted until 6-20, when it
- ↑ The Essex junior of 10-long-sixes, 10-eighteen-pounder carronades, and 95 men, part of whom are said to have been on board the frigate whilst engaged with the British.
