16 MAY 1811
PRESIDENT vs. LITTLE BELT
England and France were at war and American merchants were trading with both. England resented her former colonies' aid to her enemy, and His Majesty sent warships boldly into American waters to intercept French-bound cargoes. Such affronts directly off our coast were met with American indignation. When HMS Guerriere, 38, halted our freighter Spitfire off Sandy Hook on 1 May 1811, and took off Master Apprentice John Diggio of Maine claiming him an English deserter, Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton ordered the frigate USS President, 44, and the brig Argus, 16, to sea. CAPT John Rodgers slid President down from Annapolis and headed into the Atlantic past Cape Charles.
About noon this day a warship's sail was sighted on the horizon. Rodgers gave chase but was only able to gain slowly through the day. By 1530 he could spy the vessel's stern through his glass, at an angle that seemingly confirmed her a frigate-- possibly the sought-for Guerriere! But it wasn't until 2015 that Rodgers gained a position about 100 yards off his quarry's weather bow. From this vantage, too, she bore a likeness to a British frigate, and he hailed the ship. His hail was answered with an identical return hail. Still uncertain as to her nationality, at this pivotal moment a single cannon fired. It is unclear which ship fired first, but Rodgers' account indicates the first shot lodged in the base of his mainmast. Quickly another, then another cannon burst forth, and in seconds the firing became general. Broadsides arched in both directions, and splinters flew. It was then that Rodgers learned he was dueling the British corvette Little Belt, a weaker sloop of only 20 guns. In the darkness the two ships drifted apart. Rodgers kept lanterns burning in his rigging and took up a position that would keep him near his quarry.
Dawn revealed President to be little wounded in the engagement, suffering only some cuts to her rigging and an injury to a ship's boy. Little Belt however had been holed repeatedly between wind and water; 32 lay dead or wounded on her decks and she was nearly unmanageable. As England and the US were not officially at war, Rodgers sent over a boat with an offer of assistance. It was refused and Little Belt eventually made Halifax on her own.
The English Parliament was incensed over the incident, while Rodgers and President were hailed in America as noble avengers. An immediate war was averted when cool heads prevailed, but neither did British interference with American commerce stop. Particularly annoying, the impressment of American sailors continued. In truth war was only forestalled, for on 18 June a year later the continuing British transgressions spurred Congress to declare the War of 1812.
Topic: PRESIDENT vs LITTLE BELT (Read 56 times)