She brought the news that only a short time before her capture three smart English vessels had stopped at the port in which she had lain at anchor. Two of these three vessels were sent from England on a special mission; it was intended that they should round the Horn and cruise in company in the Pacific Ocean in search of the frigate Essex, that had spread terror from China to South America, and had chased the British shipping off the western ocean.
On the 27th of October, 1812, the Essex, under the command of David Porter, a fearless and persistent fighter, had set sail from the United States on a cruise to the southward, his orders being to join Bainbridge, his superior in the Constitution. The coast of Brazil was then the cruising-ground for a large force of English ships of war.
Porter, hearing that Bainbridge, after his action with the Java, had been forced to return to the United States, determined to make his way around the continent into the blue waters of the Pacific. He had made one important capture a few days before arriving at this last decision, having taken the Nocton, one of King George’s packets. On board of her were found eleven thousand pounds in specie.
After suffering severe hardships and meeting with many adverse winds and tides in rounding the Horn, Porter at last made his way along the harborless western coast, and arrived at Valparaiso on the 14th of March, 1813.
The Essex’s crew had been on short allowance of water and small rations, but not a murmur of dissatisfaction had been raised throughout the voyage.
Having rested and victualled his ship, in a short time Porter hoisted his anchors, spread his sails, and sailed out to sea again.
He had been out but a few days when he came across a Peruvian corsair. Ordering her to heave to, he boarded her, and found, to his astonishment, that she had on board twenty-four American sailors, the crews of two whaling ships which she had taken on the coast of Chili. When asked to explain his conduct, the Peruvian captain answered that, in view of the fact that his country was an ally of Great Britain, and that war was soon to be declared between Spain and America, he had taken matters into his own hand. Porter, much incensed, released the American sailors, and having thrown all the ammunition and guns of the rather previous pirate overboard, he was let go, with a letter to the Viceroy, complaining of his conduct.
Just before the Essex entered the harbor of Lima she overhauled one of the corsair’s prizes, replaced her crew on board of her, and sent them on their way to New Bedford rejoicing.
For a year the Essex cruised up and down the coast of South America, extending her voyages far to the westward, to the various islands, which were visited then infrequently by traders and whaling vessels.
During this cruise she frightened British commerce entirely from these waters, and the strange spectacle of seeing one ship in control of a vast territory was presented to the eyes of the world. The British Admiralty were vexed and astounded beyond measure. Here one day and there the next, Porter appeared to be in command of a fleet instead of a single frigate.