1 6 Naval War of 1812 



detached Chilian battery of one gun, the Essex 

 being within pistol-shot of the shore. 15 The Phoebe 

 and Cherub now bore down upon her, covered with 

 ensigns, union-jacks, and motto flags; and it be 

 came evident that Hilyar did not intend to keep his 

 word, as soon as he saw that Porter was disabled. 

 So the Essex prepared for action, though there 

 could be no chance whatever of success. Her flags 

 were flying from every mast, and everything was 

 made ready as far as was possible. The attack was 

 made before springs could be got on her cables. 

 She was anchored so near the shore as to preclude 

 the possibility of Captain Hilyar's passing ahead 

 of her; 16 so his two ships came cautiously down, 

 the Cherub. taking her position on the starboard bow 

 of the Essex, and the Phoebe under the latter's 

 stern. The attack began at 4 P.M. 17 Some of the 

 bow-guns of the American frigate bore upon the 

 CJierub, and, as soon as she found this out, the 

 sloop ran down and stationed herself near the 

 Phoebe. The latter had opened with her broadside 

 of long i8's, from a position in which not one of 

 Porter's guns could reach her. Three times springs 



18 Letter of Captain David Porter, July 3, 1814. 



16 Letter of Captain James Hilyar, March 30, 1814. 



11 Mean time. Porter says 3.54; Hilyar, a few minutes 

 past 4. The former says the first attack lasted half an 

 hour ; the latter, but ten minutes. I accordingly make it 

 twenty. 



