8o Naval War of 1812 



the Argus, in addition, had a couple thrust through 

 the bridle-ports. The guns were 24-pound carron 

 ades, with two long I2's for bow-chasers. The 

 proper complement of men was 100, but each sailed 

 usually with about 125. The four smaller craft 

 were originally schooners, armed with the same 

 number of light long guns as they rated, and carry 

 ing some 70 men apiece; but they had been very 

 effectually ruined by being changed into brigs, with 

 crews increased to a hundred men. Each was armed 

 with 1 8-pound carronades, carrying two more than 

 she rated. The Enterprise, in fact, mounted 16 

 guns, having two long nines thrust through the 

 bridle-ports. These little brigs were slow, not very 

 seaworthy, and overcrowded with men and guns; 

 they all fell into the enemy's hands without doing 

 any good whatever, with the single exception of 

 the Enterprise, which escaped capture by sheer good 

 luck, and in her only battle happened to be pitted 

 against one of the corresponding and equally bad 

 class of British gun-brigs. The Adams after sev 

 eral changes of form finally became a flush-decked 

 corvette. The Essex had originally mounted 

 twenty-six long I2's on her main-deck, and sixteen 

 24-pound carronades on her spar-deck; but official 

 fwisdom changed this, giving her 46 guns, twenty- 

 four 32-pound carronades, and two long i2's on 

 the main-deck, and sixteen 32-pound carronades 

 with four long I2's on the spar-deck. When Cap 

 tain Porter had command of her he was deeply 

 sensible of the disadvantages of an armament which 



