146 Naval War of 1812 



casionally at the President, but without effect. 9 The 

 Pomona gained faster than the others, but by Capt. 

 Hayes's orders was signalled to go in chase of the 

 Tenedos, whose character the captain could not 

 make out; 10 and this delayed her several hours in 

 the chase. 11 In the afternoon, the wind coming out 

 light and baffling, the Endymion left the Majestic 

 behind, 12 and, owing to the President's disabled 

 state and the amount of water she made in conse 

 quence of the injuries received while on the bar, 

 gained rapidly on her, 13 although she lightened ship 

 and did everything else that was possible to improve 

 her sailing. 14 But a shift of wind helped the En 

 dymion, 15 and the latter was able at about 2.30, to 

 begin skirmishing with her bow-chasers, answered 

 by the stern-chasers of the President. 16 At 5.30 

 the Endymion began close action, 17 within half 

 point-blank shot on the President's starboard quar 

 ter, 18 where not a gun of the latter could bear. 19 

 The President continued in the same course, steer 

 ing east by north, the wind being northwest, expect 

 ing the Endymion soon to come up abeam ; but the 

 latter warily kept her position by yawing, so as not 



9 Letter of Commodore Decatur. 10 James, vi, 529. 

 11 Log of Pomone, published at Bermuda, January 29, and 

 quoted in full in the "Naval Chronicle," xxxiii, 370. 

 " Letter of Captain Hayes. l3 Letter of Decatur. 



14 Letter of Decatur. l5 Cooper, ii, 466. 



" Log of Pomone. n Letter of Capt. Hayes. 



18 James, vi, 530. " Letter of Decatur. 



