“Feb. 24th. At 9 A. M. got out the launch to scrub the bottom. All hands employed in setting up and tarring down the rigging. At 7 P. M. put all prisoners in Irons for bad Conduct.”
“March 1. At 9 A. M. saw a sail bearing about S.W. Hauled up for him and set the mainsail, jib and mizzen. At 10 perceived the sail to be a ship of war, apparently a frigate; wore ship to the N.N.W. Set top gallant sails, stay sails and top mast studding sails, and sent up the Royal yards. At ½ past 11 fired a lee gun and hoisted our colors.
“March 2. Lost sight of the ship astern at 1 P. M.
“March 6. At ½ past 2 all hands to quarters for exercise. Got out the boat and carried an empty water cask from the ship, about 60 yards to fire at. Blew off one Broadside. All the shots went very near. At 4 went in swimming.”
On this cruise the America took an even dozen prizes. Touching at Portsmouth, N. H., to gather her crew, which had been dangerously reduced by manning prizes, the privateer refitted and sailed on her fourth cruise, Oct. 31st, 1814. This was her only unlucky voyage. She ran into a submerged derelict at sea, and was so badly damaged that Captain Chever returned to Salem for repairs before any capture had been made. Departure was made from Salem for the fifth and last cruise on Nov. 25, 1814. “On this cruise,” writes B. B. Crowninshield in an interesting summary of the America’s log, “the sea seemed to be full of English men-of-war and much of the America’s time was taken up in dogging and running away from frigates, and the crew no doubt realized that danger of capture to which they were continually exposed; at all events the log on Jan. 8th and on each succeeding Sunday records that ‘all hands were called to prayers,’ although prayers were in no way allowed to interfere with the management of the ship or the furtherance of the purpose for which she was fitted out. They attended prayers at intervals before, and had returned thanks for a Merciful Providence Dec. 11.”
On Feb. 27, the America fell in with the English packet, Princess Elizabeth, of 188 tons, armed with six nine-pound carronades, two long brass nine-pounders, and manned by thirty-two men. She proved to be a rarely plucky foeman, and during the hot engagement that followed, Captain Chever’s crew exhibited a skill in gunnery comparable with that of the tars of the Constitution and American frigates. Captain Chever describes the action in these words:
“At half past 4 P. M. saw a sail on our weather bow, made all sail in chase of her. At ½ past six P. M. lost sight of the above ship. At 9 P. M. wore ship to the S. and E., judging that after he lost sight of us he would keep his former course to the Eastward. Hauled up our main course. At 6 A. M. saw the above ship to the west. Wore ship and stood after him. At 8 A. M. still in chase of the above ship, coming up with him very fast. He hauled down his signals, fired a gun and hoisted an English Ensign and Pennant. At the same time we fired a gun and hoisted English colors. At 9 A. M. nearly on his lee quarter, hauled down English and hoisted American colors. He immediately bore away before the wind and gave us a broadside which we returned by giving him another, when the action became general. At 12 minutes past nine, seeing his colors hanging overboard, concluded that he had struck and ceased firing, but in two minutes, seeing his fire, commenced firing again. At 18 minutes past 9 he surrendered, we receiving no loss on board the America neither in men, rigging, sails, or hull.
“At ½ past nine boarded him; he proved to be H. B. M. Ship Packet Princess Elizabeth, John Forresdale commander, mounting 8 carriage guns and 32 men, from Rio Janeiro bound to Falmouth. Her loss was 2 killed and 13 wounded; among the latter was the Capt. by a grape shot through the thigh. The Packet was very much cut to pieces. She had 8 shot holes between wind and water, 3 nine-pound shot in her mainmast, just above deck, one in her mizzen mast, and one in her main topmast, and one in her fore topmast, with his braces, bowlines and part of his shrouds and stays cut away, and about 700 shot holes thro’ his sails besides a large number through his bulwarks. On our approaching them they thought us to be some cunning ship with 12 or 14 guns and the rest Quakers. But they found their mistake so as to convince them that Quakers were not silent at all times. Took out her guns, muskets, pistols, cutlasses, powder and shot on board the America, and gave her up to her original crew, to proceed on to Falmouth, after putting on board 6 prisoners, and a quantity of bread, as they had on board only 15 pounds for 25 men. Sent our Doctor on board to dress the wounded.”
After taking thirteen prizes on this cruise the America returned to Salem and the last entry in her log reads:
“April 18. (1814.) At 4 P. M. came to with the best bower in seven fathoms and handed all sails and fired a salute of forty guns. People all discharged to go on shore. So ends the ship America’s last cruise.”