74 Naval War of 1812 



Of the Carolina's crew of 70 men, five were 

 British. This fact was not found out till three 

 deserted, when an investigation was made and 

 the two other British discharged. Captain Henly, 

 in reporting these facts, made no concealment of 

 h'is surprise that there should be any British at 

 all in his crew. 12 



From these facts and citations we may accord 

 ingly conclude that the proportion of British seamen 

 serving on American ships after the war broke out, 

 varied between none, as on the Wasp and Consti 

 tution, to ten per cent, as on the Chesapeake and 

 Essex. On the average, nine-tenths of each of our 

 crews were American seamen, and about one-twen 

 tieth British, the remainder being a mixture of va 

 rious nationalities. 



On the other hand, it is to be said that the British 

 frigate Guerriere had ten Americans among her 

 crew, who were permitted to go below during action, 

 and the Macedonian eight, who were not allowed 

 that privilege, three of them being killed. Three 

 of the British sloop Peacock's men were Americans, 

 who were forced to fight against the Hornet" one 

 of them was killed. Two of the Epervier's men 

 were Americans, who were also forced to fight. 

 When the crew of the Nautilus was exchanged, a 

 number of other American prisoners were sent with 

 them; among these were a number of American 



broke out, while his country undertook largely to avenge 

 his own wrongs. 



12 See his letter in "Letters of Masters-Commandant," 

 1814, I. No. 116. 



