190 Naval War of 1812 



and having been known to exist for over three 

 weeks, no effort was made to avoid the British ves 

 sel; but when the gunboat neared the latter she 

 was suddenly hailed and told to heave to. Mr. 

 Hurlburt answered that he had despatches for Ad 

 miral Cockburn, to which Captain Bartholomew 

 responded, with many oaths, that he did not care, 

 he would sink her if she did not send a boat aboard. 

 When Mr. Hurlburt attempted to answer some 

 muskets were discharged at him, and he was told 

 to strike. He refused, and the Erebus immediately 

 opened fire from her great guns; the gunboat had 

 gotten so far round that her pivot-gun would not 

 bear properly, but it was discharged across the bows 

 of the Erebus, and then Mr. Hurlburt struck his 

 colors. Although he had lain right under the foe's 

 broadside, he suffered no loss or damage except a 

 few ropes cut, and some shot holes in the sails. 

 Afterward Captain Bartholomew apologized, and 

 let the gunboat proceed. 



This attack was quite as wanton and unprovoked 

 as Warrington's, and Bartholomew's foe was rela 

 tively to himself even less powerful; moreover, 

 while the Peacock's crew showed great skill in 

 handling their guns, the crew of the Erebus most 

 emphatically did not. The intent in both cases was 

 equally bad, only the British captain lacked the abil 

 ity to carry his out. 



