“We have been unfortunate but not disgraced—the defence of the Essex had not been less honourable to her officers and crew than the capture of an equal force; and I now consider my situation less unpleasant than that of Com. Hillyar, who in violation of every principle of honour and generosity, and regardless of the rights of nations, attacked the Essex in her crippled state within pistol shot of a neutral shore, when for six weeks I had daily offered him fair and honourable combat on terms greatly to his advantage. The blood of the slain must rest on his head; and he has yet to reconcile his conduct to heaven, to his conscience, and to the world.”
In a later letter to the Secretary of the Navy Captain Porter added these charges:
“Sir: There are some facts relating to our enemy and although not connected with the action, serve to shew his perfidy and should be known.
“On Com. Hillyar’s arrival at Valparaiso he ran the Phoebe close alongside the Essex, and inquired politely after my health, observing that his ship was cleared for action and his men prepared for boarding. I observed: ‘Sir, if you by any accident get on board of me, I assure you that great confusion will take place; I am prepared to receive you and shall act only on the defensive.’ He observed coolly and indifferently. ‘Oh, sir, I have no such intention’; at this instant his ship took aback of my starboard bow, her yards nearly locking with those of the Essex, and in an instant my crew was ready to spring on her decks.
“Com. Hillyar exclaimed in great agitation: ‘I had no intention of coming so near you; I am sorry I came so near you.’ His ship fell off with her jib-boom over my stern; her bows exposed to my broadside, her stern to the stern fire of the Essex, Junior, her crew in the greatest confusion, and in fifteen minutes I could have taken or destroyed her. After he had brought his ship to anchor, Com. Hillyar and Capt. Tucker of the Cherub visited me on shore; when I asked him if he intended to respect the neutrality of the port: ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘you have paid such respect to the neutrality of this port that I feel myself bound in honour, to do the same.’”
The behavior of Commander Hillyar after the action was most humane and courteous, and the lapse of time has sufficed to dispel somewhat of the bitterness of the American view-point toward him. If he was not as chivalrous as his Yankee foeman believed to be demanded of the circumstances, he did his stern duty in destroying the Essex with as great advantage to himself as possible. Captain Porter had shown no mercy toward English shipping, and he was a menace to the British commerce, which must be put out of the way. The inflamed spirit of the American people at that time, however, was illustrated in a “broadside,” or printed ballad displayed on the streets of Salem. This fiery document was entitled:
“Capture of the Essex
“Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights.
“Or, the In-glorious victory of the British with the Phoebe, Frigate, of 36 guns and 320 men and the Cherub, sloop of war, with 28 guns, and 180 men over the unfortunate Essex, Frigate of 32 guns and 255 men. Commanded by Captain David Porter. An action fought two hours and 57 minutes against a double complement of Men and force, by an enterprising and veteran Crew of Yankees.”
The closing verses of this superheated ballad were:
“The Essex sorely rak’d and gall’d;