136 Naval War of 1812 



Even had the victories been due solely to superior 

 force this would have been no mean triumph for 

 the United States. 



On October 13, 1812, the American i8-gun ship 

 sloop Wasp, Captain Jacob Jones, with 137 men 

 aboard, sailed from the Delaware and ran off south 

 east to get into the track of the West India vessels ; 

 on the 1 6th a heavy gale began to blow, causing 

 the loss of the jib-boom and two men who were on 

 it. The next day the weather moderated somewhat, 

 and at 11.30 P.M., in latitude 37 N., longitude 

 65 W., several sail were descried. 38 These were 

 part of a convoy of 14 merchantmen which had 

 quitted the bay of Honduras on September I2th, 

 bound for England, 39 under the convoy of the Brit 

 ish i8-gun brig-sloop Frolic, of 19 guns and no 

 men, Captain Thomas Whinyates. They had been 

 dispersed by the gale of the i6th, during which 

 the Frolic's main-yard was carried away and both 

 her top-sails torn to pieces; 40 next day she spent in 

 repairing damages, and by dark six of the missing 

 ships had joined her. The day broke almost cloud 

 less on the i8th (Sunday), showing the convoy, 

 ahead and to leeward of the American ship, still 

 some distance off, as Captain Jones had not thought 

 it prudent to close during the night, while he was 

 ignorant of the force of his antagonists. The Wasp 

 now sent down her top-gallant yards, close reefed 



38 Capt. Jones' official letter, Nov. 24, 1812. 



39 James' History, vi, 158. 



40 Capt. Whinyates' official letter, Oct. 18, 1812. 



