Naval War of 1812 83 



The British vessels encountered were similar, but 

 generally inferior, to our own. The only 24-pounder 

 frigate we encountered was the Endymion, of about 

 a fifth less force than the President. Their 38-gun 

 frigates were almost exactly like ours, but with 

 fewer men in crew as a rule. They were three times 

 matched against our 44-gun frigates, to which they 

 were inferior about as three is to four. Their 36- 

 gun frigates were larger than the Essex, with a 

 more numerous crew, but the same number of guns ; 

 carrying on the lower deck, however, long i8's in 

 stead of 32-pound carronades, a much more effec 

 tive armament. The 32-gun frigates were smaller, 

 with long I2's on the main-deck. The largest sloops 

 were also frigate-built, carrying twenty-two 32- 

 pound carronades on the main-deck, and twelve 

 lighter guns on the quarter-deck and forecastle, with 

 a crew of 180. The large flush-decked ship-sloops 

 carried 21 or 23 guns, with a crew of 140 men. 

 But our vessels most often came in contact with 

 the British i8-gun brig-sloop; this was a tubby 

 craft, heavier than any of our brigs, being about 

 the size of the Hornet. The crew consisted of 

 from no to 135 men; ordinarily each was armed 

 with sixteen 32-pound carronades, two long 6's, and 

 a shifting 1 2-pound carronade; often with a light 

 long gun as a stern-chaser, making 20 in all. The 

 Reindeer and Peacock had only 24-pound carron 

 ades; the Epervicr had but eighteen guns, all car 

 ronades. 25 



w The Epervier was taken into our service under the same 

 name and rate. Both Preble and Emmons describe her as of 



