io8 ' Naval War of 1812 



At 4.30* the President's starboard forecastle 

 bow-gun was fired by Commodore Rodgers himself ; 

 the corresponding main-deck gun was next dis 

 charged, and then Commodore Rodgers fired again. 

 These three shots all struck the stern of the Belvi- 

 dera, killing and wounding nine men, one of them 

 went through the rudder coat, into the after gun 

 room, the other two into the captain's cabin. A few 

 more such shots would have rendered the Belvidera's 

 capture certain, but when the President's main-deck 

 gun was discharged for the second time it burst, 

 blowing up the forecastle deck and killing and 

 wounding 16 men, among them the Commodore 

 himself, whose leg was broken. This saved the 

 British frigate. Such an explosion always causes a 

 half panic, every gun being at once suspected. In 

 the midst of the confusion Captain Byron's stern- 

 chasers opened with spirit and effect, killing or 

 wounding six men more. Had the President still 

 pushed steadily on, only using her bow-chasers until 

 she closed abreast, which she could probably have 

 done, the Belvidera could still have been taken ; but, 

 instead, the former now bore up and fired her port 

 broadside, cutting her antagonist's rigging slightly, 

 but doing no other damage, while the Belvidera 

 kept up a brisk and galling fire, although the long 

 bolts, breeching-hooks, and breechings of the guns 

 now broke continually, wounding several of the men, 



4 Cooper, ii, 151. According to James, vi, 117, the Presi 

 dent was then 600 yards distant from the Belvidera^ half a 

 point on her weather or port quarter. 



