After two weeks in port we sailed again, this time making a cruise to the northward. We reached the neighborhood of Halifax before we found a prize, and then captured a small brig. Learning that she was a part of a convoy, consisting of the frigate Elizabeth of twenty guns, the brig Observer of sixteen guns, and the sloop-of-war Howe of fourteen guns, and that there were under their protection two large ships with cargoes of great value, Captain Tucker determined “to make capital,” as he expressed it, and sailed to intercept them.
The next morning they were sighted, and hoisting the English colors we sailed boldly into their midst. Selecting the heaviest armed ship, we came up with her and hailed her:
“Are you the frigate Elizabeth, from Antigua bound to Halifax?” was our Captain’s query.
“Yes,” was the answer. “What ship are you?”
Instead of replying directly, Captain Tucker answered:
“I’ll come on board.”
He had already laid his plans. Fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Bates were in readiness to board her. To them and to the helmsman a set of special signals was given, and specific directions as to the part they were expected to play in the coming struggle. Then the first signal was given, and as if by accident the Boston ran afoul of the Elizabeth’s yards. Pretending it was the fault of the helmsman, Captain Tucker called out:
“Brace about there, sir,” but at the same time he gave his second secret signal.
The sailor at the helm saw it, and in obedience to that rather than to the spoken command, only entangled the vessel with her antagonist more and more, and soon was in close contact with her.
Seeing all was ready, our skipper gave his third signal, and a waiting sailor ran down the English flag and hoisted the stars and stripes. Then in stentorian tones came the command: