ij6 Naval War of 1812 



As soon as he saw Captain Stewart's signal, Lieu 

 tenant Ballard had tacked, and at once made for the 

 anchorage at Porto Prayo, which he reached, though 

 pursued by all his foes, and anchored within 150 

 yards of a heavy battery. 70 The wisdom of Cap 

 tain Stewart's course in not trusting to the neutral 

 ity of the port, now became evident. The Acasta 

 opened upon the sloop as soon as the latter had an 

 chored, at 4.3O. 71 The Newcastle, as soon as she 

 arrived, also opened, and so did the Leander, while 

 the British prisoners on shore fired the guns of the 

 battery. Having borne this combined cannonade 

 for 15 minutes, 72 the colors of the Levant were 

 hauled down. The unskilful firing of the British 

 ships certainly did not redeem the blunders pre 

 viously made by Sir George Collier, for the three 

 heavy frigates during 15 minutes' broadside prac 

 tice in smooth water against a stationary and un 

 resisting foe, did her but little damage, and did not 

 kill a man. The chief effect of the fire was to dam 

 age the houses of the Portuguese town. 73 



After the capture of the President, the Peacock, 

 Captain Warrington, the Hornet, Captain Biddle, 

 and Tom Bowline, brig, still remained in New York 

 harbor. On the 22d of January a strong north- 



10 Letter of Lieutenant Ballard, May 2, 1815. 



11 Newcastle's log, as given by Marshall and James. 

 72 Ballard's letter. 73 James, vi, 551. 



