256 Naval War of 1812 



tice of the crew of the frigate United States. Cooper 

 says that the powder was bad; and it has also been 

 said that the men of the Argus were over-fatigued 

 and were drunk, in which case they ought not to 

 have been brought into action. Besides unskilful- 

 ness, there is another very serious count against the 

 crew. Had the Pelican been some distance from 

 the Argus, and in a position where she could pour 

 in her fire with perfect impunity to herself, when the 

 surrender took place, it would have been more justi- 

 fiable. But, on the contrary, the vessels were 

 touching, and the British boarded" just as the colors 

 were hauled down ; it was certainly very disgraceful 

 that the Americans did not rally to repel them, for 

 they had still four fifths of their number absolutely 

 untouched. They certainly ought to have suc- 

 ceeded, for boarding is a difficult and dangerous ex- 

 periment ; and if they had repulsed their antagonists 

 they might in turn have carried the Pelican. So that, 

 in summing up the merits of this action, it is fair 

 to say that both sides showed skilful seamanship and 

 unskilful gunnery; that the British fought bravely 

 and that the Americans did not. 



It is somewhat interesting to compare this fight, 

 where a weaker American sloop was taken by a 

 stronger British one, with two or three others, where 

 both the comparative force and the result were re- 

 versed. Comparing it, therefore, with the actions 

 between the Hornet and Peacock (British), the 

 Wasp and Avon, and the Peacock (American) and 

 Epervier, we get four actions, in one of which, the 



