Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)
19 Aug 1812 "Wednesday.‑‑ Cloudy and foggy. Course S. & W. Wind N. by E. Lat. observed 41‑42 N. Long. by D. R. 55 W. At 2 P.M. discovered a large sail to Leeward. Made sail and stood down for her. At 4 discovered her to be a large Frigate. When we were within about 2 or 2 1/2 miles he hoisted English colours and fired a Gun. We stood towards her with reefed topsails without shewing our colours. She then commenced firing, and gave us several broad sides without much effect before we commenced firing. She kept wearing several times with a view probably of trying to get the weather gauge of us, which we avoided by wearing also. We hoisted our colours and fired the first gun about 15 minutes past 5 o'clock P.M., but did not come into close action until about 6 o'clock, and after 25 minutes from the time we were closely engaged she struck, having previously lost all three of her masts and Bowsprit. Her hull was much injured. Several of her guns were dismounted or otherwise rendered useless on the gun deck by our shot. She had 15 men killed and 62 wounded, most of them very dangerously, immense mischief and destruction having been done by our grape & cannister shot. We had Killed Wm S. Bush, 1st Lt. Marines; and Seamen, Jacob Sago, John Brown, Caleb Smith, James Ashford, Robert Brice, James Reed. Wounded: Charles Morris, 1st Lieutenant, Dangerously; J. C. Aylwin, Master, slightly; Richd Dunn, Seaman, Dangerously; Danl Lewis, do.do.; Taylor, do. slightly; Mullen, Marine, d.; Geo. Reynolds, Seaman, do. Besides 4 or 5 others so slightly as not to be disabled from coming to Quarters.
"During the engagement she came against our stern with her bows twice, and carried away her Jib boom and injured our Taffrail. It was when in that situation that Lt. Morris and Lt. Bush were shot. Mr. Morris first jumped on the Taffrail with an intention of boarding her and was instantly wounded in the parietes of the abdomen. Mr. Bush jumpd into his place the instant he fell and immediately one musket shot entered his face and passd into his brain. Little or no other injury was done us at that time, and her quarter deck and forecastle were completely swept. Her Second Lieutenant was killd [sic] the Captain, 1st Lieutenant, Sailing master, and one of the Master's mates wounded. She hoisted 3 or 4 flags at the commencement of the action, and struck immediately after she got clear of our stern. Her foremast and mainmast and mizzenmast fell about the time she was in contact with us. After she struck Capt. Js. Rd Dacres Esq came on board and informed us that it was His Brittanick Majesty's Ship La Guerriere. We sent Lt. Reed on board and finding the ship in a situation that was considered dangerous to attempt getting in we were employd all night getting the men and crew [sic] from on board. She mounted 49 Guns and had about from 260 to 300 men, having sent previously part of her crew in prizes. Capt. Dacres is a pleasant, agreeable young man, 24 years of age.
"Our crew behaved very nobly. They fought like heroes, and gave three cheers when the colours were hoisted. They also cheered when each of her masts went over the side, and when her colours were struck. Whilst she was on our stern one of her forward guns was run nearly into our Cabin window and fired, but did (fortunately) little or no execution. A shot that entered our after port on the starboard side of the gun deck killed 2 men at the after Gun and wounded one. From the firing of the first gun to the close of the action was one hour & ten minutes. The Guerriere had 15 killd and 62 wounded."
20 Aug 1812 Calm ‑‑ day spent transferring prisoners and repairing rigging ‑‑ amputated Richard Dunn's leg ‑‑ about 3 P.M. fired the prize; she blew up ‑ L:ieutenant Bush and a British seaman buried at sea in evening.