io6 Naval War of 1812 



Nautilus, 14, was cruising off New Jersey, and the 

 other small brigs were also off the coast. The 

 only vessels immediately available were those tinder 

 the command of Commodore Rodgers, at New York, 

 consisting of his own ship, the President, 44, and 

 of the United States, 44, Commodore Decatur, 

 Congress, 38, Captain Smith, Hornet, 18, Captain 

 Lawrence, and Argus, 16, Lieut. Sinclair. It seems 

 marvelous that any nation should have permitted 

 its ships to be so scattered and many of them in 

 such an unfit condition, at the beginning of hostil 

 ities. The British vessels cruising off the coast were 

 not at that time very numerous or formidable, con 

 sisting of the Africa, 64, Acasta, 40, Shannon, 38, 

 Guerriere, 38, Behidera, 36, ^Eolus } 32, Southamp 

 ton, 32, and Minerva, 32, with a number of cor 

 vettes and sloops; their force was, however, strong 

 enough to render it impossible for Commodore 

 Rodgers to make any attempt on the coast towns 

 of Canada or the West Indies. But the homeward 

 bound plate fleet had sailed from Jamaica on May 

 2Oth, and was only protected by the Thalia, 36, 

 Capt. Vashon, and Reindeer, 18, Capt. Manners. 

 Its capture or destruction would have been a serious 

 blow, and one which there seemed a good chance 

 of striking, as the fleet would have to pass along 

 the American coast, running with the Gulf Stream. 

 Commodore Rodgers had made every preparation, 

 in expectation of war being declared, and an hour 

 after official intelligence of it, together with his 

 instructions, had been received, his squadron put to 



