The year 1813 was noted for the continued success of the American Navy. On February 24th, the Hornet captured the British brig Peacock on the coast of South America. On June 1st, the British frigate Shannon captured the Chesapeake after a terrible battle, in which the Americans lost 133 and the British half as many. Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake was mortally wounded, and his dying command, "Don't give up the ship!" has been the motto for many worthy enterprises.
In August, Captain Porter, with the American frigate Essex, cruising in the Pacific Ocean, captured twelve armed British whalers. In the same month, the American sloop-of-war Argus, cruising in the English channel, captured twenty-one British merchantmen, but on the 13th was herself captured by the British man-of-war Pelican after a severe engagement. On the 3d of September, the American brig Enterprise captured the British Boxer off the coast of Maine. Perry's victory on Lake Erie, which occurred on the 10th of this month, has already been noticed.
The year 1814 was not a line of unbroken success, though American victories were many and brilliant. On the 28th of March, the brilliant career of the United States frigate Essex, in the Pacific Ocean, was terminated by her capture by two British war vessels at Valparaiso. On April 21st, the United States sloop-of-war Frolic was captured by the British frigate Orpheus. On the 27th of the same month, the United States sloop-of-war Peacock captured the British brig-of-war Epervier with $118,000 in specie on board. On June 9th, the United States sloop-of-war Rattlesnake was captured by a British man-of-war. This reverse was followed by the loss of the United States sloop Syren on the 12th. On the 28th, the American sloop Wasp captured the British sloop Reindeer, in the British channel. On the 1st of September, the Wasp captured the British sloop Avon, and after taking three other prizes, this remarkably successful vessel mysteriously disappeared. Her fate was never known, though it is supposed she was lost at sea.
On January 15, 1815, the United States frigate President was captured by four English vessels. On the 28th of February, although peace was declared, the United States frigate Constitution captured two British vessels of war, off the island of Madeira. In March, the United States frigate Hornet captured the British brig Penguin, off the coast of Brazil.
The last hostile act at sea took place in the Straits of Sunda, in the East Indies, where the United States brig-of-war Peacock captured the Nautilus, a British sloop-of-war. The three American vessels at sea when the war closed each came home crowned with laurels. The part taken by the American privateers during the war was considerable and a detailed history of them would fill a volume larger than this. During the war there were I,750 British vessels captured, against a loss of I,683 American ships. The spirit and energy of the American seamen, under all their embarrassments, gave an unmistakable indication of the future greatness of the power of the United States Navy.
On the first night after Sukey and Terrence joined Fernando, the three sat about the bivouac fire, while all save the sentries slept, talking over the past which, to Fernando, seemed like a troubled dream.
"Did either of you ever meet Captain Snipes?" asked Fernando.
"Bad luck to him, I did not," said Terrence. "It's bad it would have fared with the spalpeen if I had."
At mention of Captain Snipes, there came an expression over Sukey's face which is indescribable. His face grew pale, and his brow contracted, his teeth set, and his eyes seemed to have the glitter of steel, while he shrugged his shoulders, as if he again felt the cat-o'-nine-tails about them.
"Did he never come aboard the Macedonian again?" asked Fernando.