\n
\n \n l6 JVAVAL JVA/^ OF 1S12.
proposed to take the Essex by a coup de main.
They hauled into the harbor on a wind, the
Che7-ub falling to leeward while the Phabe
made the port quarters of the Essex, and then,
putting her helm down, luffed up on her
starboard bow, but 10 or 15 feet distant.
Porter s crew were all at quarters, the powder-
boys with slow matches ready to discharge the
guns, the boarders standing by, cutlass in
hand, to board in the smoke everything
was cleared for action on both frigates.
Captain Hilyar now probably saw that there
was no chance of carrying the Essex by sur-
prise, and, standing on the after-gun, he
inquired after Captain Porter s health the
latter returned the inquiry, but warned Hilyar
not to fall foul. The British captain then
braced back his yards, remarking that if he
did fall aboard it would be purely accidental.
Well, said Porter, you have no business
where you are if you touch a rope-yarn of
this ship I shall board instantly. The
Phoebe, in her then position, was completely at
the mercy of the American ships, and Hilyar,
greatly agitated, assured Porter that he meant
nothing hostile and the Phcebe backed down,
her yards passing over those of the Essex
without touching a rope, and anchored half a
mile astern. Shortly afterward the two captains
met on shore, when Hilyar thanked Porter for
his behavior, and, on his inquiry, assured him
that after thus owing his safety to the latter s
British merchant-vessels to raise their complements
respectively to 320 and iSo.
1 Life of Farragut, p. 33.\n \n
\n \n