2io Naval War of 1812 



by running up the rigging into it. Lieutenant Con 

 nor and Midshipman Cooper (who had also come 

 on board) saved themselves, together with most of 

 their people and the remainder of the Peacock's 

 crew, by jumping into the launch, which was lying 

 on the booms, and paddling her toward the ship with 

 pieces of boards in default of oars. 



The Hornet's complement at this time was 150, 

 of whom she had 8 men absent in a prize and 7 

 on the sick list, 12 leaving 135 fit for duty in the 

 action; 13 of these one man was killed, and two 

 wounded, all aloft. Her rigging and sails were a 

 good deal cut, a shot had gone through the fore 

 mast, and the bowsprit was slightly damaged; the 

 only shot that touched her hull merely glanced 

 athwart her bows, indenting a plank beneath the 

 cat-head. The Peacock's crew had amounted to 

 134, but 4 were absent in a prize, and but I22 14 fit 

 for action; of these she lost her captain, and seven 

 men killed and mortally wounded, and her master, 

 one midshipman, and 28 men severely and slightly 

 wounded, in all 8 killed and 30 wounded, or about 

 13 times her antagonist's loss. She suffered under 

 the disadvantage of light metal, having 24*8 op 

 posed to 32's; but judging from her gunnery this 

 was not much of a loss, as 6-pounders would have 

 inflicted nearly as great damage. She was well 

 handled and bravely fought; but her men showed 



12 Letter of Captain Lawrence. 



13 Letter of Lieutenant D. Conner, April 26, 1813. 



14 Letter of Lieutenant F. W. Wright (of the Peacock}, 

 April 17, 1813. 



