President

The ship Rodgers was pursuing was HMS Little Belt. Referred to variously a sloop of war or corvette, Little Belt had started life as the Danish Lille Belt, but had been seized by the British following the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. She was much the smaller ship, with a burden of 460 tons compared to President's 1576 tons. Her armament was correspondingly weaker, eighteen 32-pound carronades and two long 9-pounders versus the American's fifty-eight guns. Her captain, Arthur Batt Bingham, had been ordered to join HMS Guerriere somewhere along the coast. If (as was the case) he didn't meet up with that frigate, Bingham was to cruise alone in protection of British shipping. The Royal Navy commander at Bermuda, Vice-Adm. Sawyer told Bingham that, in view of the strained relations between the two countries, he must be especially careful not to offend the Americans.

Little Belt had spotted the taller President first at about 11 a.m. Determining her to be a frigate, Capt. Bingham closed her and hoisted the signal asking her to identify herself. He received no reply, but noticed the blue commodore's pennant which labeled the ship as American. Accordingly, Bingham turned south to resume his course to round Cape Hatteras.
Rodgers in turn was curious about the stranger and began pursuit. By 3:30 p.m. he had closed sufficiently to make out the upper portion of Little Belt's stern. From this angle, Rodgers maintained the sloop had the appearance of a larger ship. The wind decreased about this time, and President began to lose ground, preventing a closer look. By 6:30 p.m. Bingham realized he would not be able to get away during the night. He decided therefore "to bring to and hoist colors." Rodgers in his report wrote that about 7:15 p.m. that Little Belt "hoisted an Ensign or flag at her Mizzen Peak, but it was too dark for me to discover what nation it represented." [Sunset would have been about 7:10 p.m.] Rodgers also said that the ship finally offered a side-on view "but night had so far progressed, that altho' her appearance indicated she was a frigate, I was unable to determine her actual force." Bingham was concerned that President seemed to be trying to get into position to rake his ship. To prevent this, the British captain wore his ship [brought the ship about by bringing the stern through the wind] three times.

Finally, by about 8:15 p.m., President had gained a position about 70 to 100 yards distant and forward of Little Belt's weather beam. At this point, both captains called out the standard hail; "What ship is that?" Both failed to answer but instead hailed again. The official reports of Rodgers and Bingham differ as to who hailed first. Both stated they felt they deserved a reply having made the first hail. According to the American account, just after Rodgers' second hail a single cannon fired onboard Little Belt. The shot struck President's main mast. Even before Rodgers could order a response, a single American cannon fired. A ragged response from the British ship grew into a full broadside. Rodgers claimed he had been hesitant to respond initially. After the broadside, he

"accordingly with that degree of repugnance incident to feeling equally determined neither to be the aggressor, or to suffer the Flag of my Country to be insulted with impunity; gave a general order to fire."

"[Rodgers] again repeated my words & fired a Broadside, which I instantly returned. The Action then became general & continued for three-quarters of an hour."

However long the firing may have lasted, it ended with the advantage to the Americans. President had only one boy wounded and slight damage to shrouds, main and fore mast. Bingham reported,

"His Majesty's ship is much damaged in her Masts, sails, rigging & Hull - [with] many shots thro' between Wind and Water & many shot still remaining in her Side and Upper Works all shot away, Starboard pump also."

" He lamented much the unfortunate Affair (as he termed it) that had happened, that had he known our Force was so inferior he should not have fired at me. I asked his Motive for having fired at all, his reply was that we fired the first Gun at him, which was positively not the case. He offered me every assistance I stood in need of, and submitted to me that I had better put into one of the Ports of the United States, which I immediately declined."

American popular opinion strongly supported Rodgers actions. Still dissenting voices were heard in the opposition press. In an early Nineteenth-Century example of spin-doctoring, a correspondent wrote the anti-administration Norfolk Gazette & Publick Ledger on 7 June:

"The agitation produced upon the public mind by the affair between our 50-gun frigate, and the British 22-gun sloop, having in some measure subsided, our citizens are prepared I trust to take dispassionate view of the subject. The conduct of Capt. Rodgers unquestionably sanctions the report (independent of other strong circumstances) that the frigate was sent out by the executive with orders to provoke a conflict with some British vessel. What does Capt. Rodgers say? That he was himself 14 leagues out of the jurisdiction of the United States - that he saw a sail a long distance from him in the east and of course just so much farther from our coast - that this sail was coming toward him - that he pursued her - that she soon changed her course and ran from him - that this pursuit continued from noon until nine at night when the encounter took place! What, let me ask, was the conclusion the British officer was to draw from such a pursuit? He knew very well the law of nations did not justify a neutral ship of war in pursuing any vessel at sea out of the jurisdiction of her own country, unless such vessel was first seen within that jurisdiction, and that was not in fact the case; and if such neutral vessel comes up with the vessel of any nation, he is bound to make it known he is a friend. In this instance, Capt. Rodgers does not say he made himself known, even when he was asked; and this neglect to make such a communication finds no apology from the sloop refusing to answer the frigate's first question; because the sloop had every reason to suppose her an enemy. As to the American flag being hoisted is no evidence, since all belligerents are in habit of hanging out neutral flags to decoy and deceive; and as Rodgers did not come up with the sloop until dark (nine o'clock) it was impossible to know the frigate was American.

I have always understood and believed our armed vessels were built to convoy and protect commerce - The present (nor the last) administration have not used them for that purpose. The government avow us a neutral nation, enemies to no country; and if we wish to maintain this character we must not continue to pursue every vessel that is seen at sea and in every respect assume the conduct and vexatious policy of a belligerent. There are men who consider this fracas an offset to the Chesapeake - I pray God it may not be an onset to War.
(signed) IMPARTIAL"

"Last week I got Rodgers' excellent letter on the affair off our Capes with the Little Belt. It gave me pleasure as it stated things so entirely favorable to his justification. I could wish him ready to resist any attack from a ship of any size, at the hazard of his ship & crew; or to punish any repetition of insult or aggression. But an unnecessary attack I should deplore, particularly against a vessel so much inferior. The letter perfectly justified his conduct to me, tho' the government will feel bound, I think, to inquire into the circumstances since the statement of Capt. Bingham as published officially yesterday, gives a diametrical contradiction in all the most material points. I have my own opinion on the letter of the English officer, from its general tenor, as well as my knowledge of Rodgers & his boarding officer Creighton; but not withstanding the unbearable aggression we have suffered, I wish with us in the conflict, if one is to ensue, the approbation of the World - & would establish the good conduct of an officer. I look forward to a repetition of this business on the first meeting of any ship of ours with any of the squadron of Sir Joseph Yorke which appears still to be off Plymouth, or in case of a meeting with any ship stationed on our coast, in which case, I do not see that hostilities can be avoided."

Fortunately, such British retribution did not appear immediately. Incidents of impressment did continue. A few months after the President - Little Belt affair, HMS Tartarus impressed three seamen off the Virginia brig Orion off the [Virginia] Capes. But no significant action occurred between warships of the two nations. President James Madison used the air of tension to bring Congress into action to "feel the duty of putting the United States into an armor and an attitude demanded by the crisis." Although Congress was willing to vote money to bring some [sic] mothballed ships into readiness, it refused to authorize any new construction. This had been predicted by the Norfolk Gazette & Publick Ledger shortly after the President and Little Belt had met. The paper had editorialized on 7 June: "The wonderful regard which the Democrats have recently manifested for our Seamen, and the Navy, would be pleasing, if we could believe it sincere. But when we recollect that only three years since these very democrats passed that cruel law [the Embargo Act of 1807], which left our brave seamen no alternative between starving in their own country, and seeking their bread in a foreign service, we cannot but doubt the sincerity of such professions. The same as the Navy - The opposition to the navy by the ruling party, is too well known to require proofs - and at this moment, the same hostility exists to a naval establishment."

Joseph Mosier writes and does research for The Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

President sailed from New York 21 June 1812 with United States; Congress, Hornet, and Argus on a cruise in the North Atlantic.
On 18 June 1812 Congress made a formal declaration of war against Great Britain and five days later H.M.S. BELVIDERA(36)(+6 32pdr carronade), ignorant of this fact, was cruising about 100 miles south of New London waiting for the French privateer MARENGO to come out. At daybreak five sails were seen in the S.W. which hauled to the wind in chase of BELVIDERA. The wind favoured them and the van ship, PRESIDENT, closed within point blank range of the weather quarter before opening fire. Five minutes later BELVIDERA replied with two 32-pounder carronades and two long 18-pounders from the stern. Shortly afterwards one of PRESIDENT's 24-pounders burst, killing or wounding 16 people and preventing the bow chaser on the same side from being used. Capt. BYRON decided it would be prudent to try and escape than to fight three large and heavily armed frigates [the other two were CONGRESS(38) and UNITED STATES(44).]
Lieuts. William BRUCE and George CAMPBELL directed her main deck 18-pounder stern-chasers, firing 3OO round shot at the enemy, and Lieut. John SYKES directed the two quarter-deck guns. BELVIDERA managed to escape during the night after the Americans hauled off. She had suffered a lot of damage and had two killed and 22 wounded. The armourer, John HILL, had two arms amputated but died the following day, the other man killed was seaman William GOULD.
Both captains were wounded in the thigh, Capt. BYRON by the carriage slide of a carronade breaking loose and Commodore Rodgers by the exploding gun. By retiring Capt. BYRON had led the Americans away from a homebound Jamaica convoy escorted by THETIS(46) whose track they would most certainly have crossed.

She sailed from Boston 30 April 1813 on a cruise off the coast of Europe. On 23 September she captured the Schooner H.M.S. Highflyer(5) guns, off New York and arrived Newport, R.I., 27 September 1813. She sailed from Providence 4 December on a cruise to the West Indies, returning to New York 18 February 1814, and was blockaded there for almost year by a British squadron.

She sailed from New York 14 January 1815 under Capt. Stephen Decatur, and the next day was captured by H.M.S. ships Endymion(50), Majestic(56), Pomone(38), and Tenedos(38).

ENDYMION, MAJESTIC, TENEDOS and POMONE were off Sandy Hook in January 1815 to prevent the escape of the USS President and other vessels ready for sea at Staten Island. They were repeatedly blown off shore by gales and, when this happened during a snow storm on the 14th, the PRESIDENT and the MACEDONIAN, armed brig, put to sea.
Capt. HAYES of MAJESTIC placed his squadron on what he judged to be the enemy's track. At 5 o'clock the following morning the American ships passed them about 2 miles to the northward and the squadron gave chase. When the wind fell,ENDYMION outsailed the rest and gained on the PRESIDENT, soon bring her to action. Musket fire from the enemy tops began to do execution on the ENDYMION's decks before the later passed under the PRESIDENT's stern and fired two raking broadsides. The ENDYMION's lower and main-topgallant studding sails were shot away and later the main-topmast studding sail was brought down by the American chain and bar shot. The ememy then hauled to the wind and ENDYMION, pouring a raking fire into her stern, followed in pursuit.
POMONE then fired a broadside into her and the PRESIDENT hailed to say that she had surrendered but a second broadside was fired before this was understood. Boats from TENEDOS then took possession of her.

The PRESIDENT was completely riddled from stem to stern with 6 feet of water in the hold. Several of her guns were disabled and, out of a crew of about 477 she lost three lieutenants and 32 men killed, and her commander, Commodore Decatur, master, two midshipmen and 66 men wounded. By comparison ENDYMION was principally damaged in her sails and rigging. Eleven men were killed and 14 wounded out of 346 persons on board.

On 17 January ENDYMION and PRESIDENT were caught in a violent storm while sailing for Bermuda. The former lost her bowsprit, fore and main-masts and had to throw her carronades overboard. PRESIDENT lost all her lower masts and was near foundering when her prize master, Lieut. William Thomas MORGAN brought her head to sea by using a form of sea anchor or 'umbrella'. When the sea abated jury masts were rigged and the two ships arrived safely at the island where the captain was presented with a piece of plate and the wardroom with a goblet. ENDYMION and her prize arrived at Spithead on 28 March 1815.

President was taken into the Royal Navy and was broken up at Portsmouth, England, in 1817, it being to costly to reconstruct her to an operational state.

Documents relating to The Capture of the U.S.S. President

His Britannic Majesty`s ship Endymion, at Sea, Jan. 18, 1815.

SIR,
The painful duty of detailing to you the particular causes which preceded and led to the capture of the late United States frigate President, by a squadron of His Britannic Majesty`s ships (Majestic (razee), Endymion, Pomone, Tenedos, and Dispatch brig.) has devolved upon me. In my communication of the 14th, I made known to you my intention to sail on that evening; owing to some mistake of the pilots, the ship in proceeding to sea, grounded on the bar, where she continued to strike heavily for an hour and a half. Although she had broken several of her rudder braces, and had received such other material injury as to render her return into port desirable, I was unable to do so from the strong westerly wind which was then blowing; it being now high water, it became necessary to force her over the bar before the tide fell; in this we succeeded by ten o`clock, when we shaped our course along the shore of Long Island for 50 miles, and then steered S. E. by E.; at five o`clock three ships were discovered a-head, we hauled the ship up immediately, and passed two miles to the northward of the.; at day-light we discovered four ships in chase, one on each quarter, and two a-stern, the leading ship of the enemy a razee, and about three miles distant: at meridian, the wind became light and baffling; We had increased our distance from the razee, but the next ship a-stern, which was also a large ship, had gained and continued to gain upon us considerably; we immediately occupied all hands to lighten ship, by starting water, cutting away the anchors, throwing overboard provisions, cables, spare spars, boats, and every article that could be got at, keeping the sails wet from the royals down. At three, we had the wind quite light; the enemy, who had now been joined by a brig, had a strong breeze, and were coming up with us rapidly; the Endymion (mounting 50 guns, 24-pounders on her main-deck), had now approached us within gun shot, and had commenced a fire with her bow guns, which we returned from our stern. At five o`clock she had obtained a position on our starboard quarter, within half point blank shot, at, which neither our stern nor quarter guns would bear; we were now steering E by N. the wind N. W. I remained with her in this position for half an hour, in the hope that she would close with us on our broadside, in which case I had prepared my crews to hoard; but from his continuing to yaw his ship to maintain his position, it became evident that to close was not his intention; every fire now cut some of our sails or rigging; to have continued our course under these circumstances would have been placing it in his power to cripple us without being subject to injury himself; and to have hauled up more to the northward to bring our stern-guns to bear, would have exposed us to his raking fire.

It was now dusk, when I determined to alter my course south, for the purpose of bringing the enemy a-beam; and although their ships a-stern were drawing up fast, I felt satisfied I should be enabled to throw him out of the combat before they could come up, and was not without hopes, if the night proved dark (of which there was every appearance) that I might still be enabled to effect my escape. Our opponent kept off at the same instant that we did, and our fire commenced at the same time; we continued engaged steering south, with steering sails set, two hours and a half, when we completely succeeded in dismantling her. Previousiy to her dropping entirely out of the action, there were intervals of minutes when the ships were broadside and broadside, in which she did not fire a gun.

At this period (half-past eight o`clock) although dark, the other ships of the squadron were in sight and nearly within gun-shot, we were, of course, compelled to abandon her; in assuming our former course for the purpose of avoiding the squadron, we were compelled to present our stern to our antagonist; but such was his state, although we were thus exposed and within range of his guns, that he did not avail hiniself of this favourable opportunity of raking us; we continued this course until 11 o`clock, when two fresh ships of the enemy (the Pomone and Tenedos) had come up; the Pomnone had opened her fire on the larboard bow, within musket-shot, the other about two cables length astern, taking a raking position on one quarter, and the rest (with the exception of the Endymion, which ship was not in sight) within gun-shot. Thus situated, with ubout one-fifth of my crew killed or wounded, my ship crippled, and a more than fourfold force opposed to me, without a chance of escapc left, I deemed it my duty to surrender.

It is with emotions of pride, I bear testimony to the gallantry and steadiness of every Officer and man I had the honour to command on this occasion; and I feel satisfied that the fact of their having beaten a force equal to themselves, in the presence and almost under the guns of so vastly a superior force, when too it was almost self-evident that whatever their exertions might be, they must ultimately be captured, will be taken as evidence of what they would have performed, had the force opposed to them been in any degree equal.

If, Sir the issue of this affair had been fortunate, I should have felt it my duty to have recommended to your attemition Lieutenants Shubrick and Gallagher; they maintained throughout the day the reputation they had acquired in former actions: lieutenant Twiggs, of the marines, displayed great zeal; his men were well supplied, and their fire incomparable, so long as the enemy continued within musket range. Midshipman Randolph, who bad charge of the forecastle division, managed it to my entire satisfaction. From Mr. Robinson, who was serving as a volunteer, I received essential aid, particularly after I was deprived of the service of the Master and the severe loss I had sustained in my Officers on the quarter-deck.

It is with extreme regret I have to inform you that Lieutenants Babbit, Hamilton, and Howell, fell in the action; they have left no Officers oE swperior merit behind them. Of our loss in killed and wounded, I am unable at present to give you a correct statement, the attention of the Surgeon being so entirely occupied with the wounded that he was unable to make out a correct return when I left the President; nor shall I be enabled to make it until our arrival in port, we having parted company with the squadron yesterday; the inclosed list, with the exception, I fear, of its being short of the number, will he found correct.

For twenty-four hours after the action it was nearly calm, and the squadron were occupied in repairing the crippled ships; such of the crew of the President as were not badly wounded were distributed on board the different ships: myself, and a part of my crew, were put on board this ship. On the 17th we had a gale from the eastward, when this ship lost her bowsprit, fore and main-masts, and mizen top-mast, all of which were badly wounded, and was, in consequence of her shattered condition, obliged to throw overboard all her upper-deck guns. Her loss in killed and wouded must have been very great: they appear extremely anxious to conceal it. The number thrown overboard during the action, and the day following, I have not been ahle to ascertain: ten were buried after I came on board (36 hours after the action> the badly wounded, such as are compelled to keep their cots, occupy the gun-deck from the cabin bulkhead to the main-mast.

From the crippled state of the President`s spars, I feel satisfied she could not have saved her masts; and I feel serious apprehensions for the safety of our wounded left on board. It is due to Capt. Hope to state, that every attention has been paid by him to myself and Officers that have been placed- on board his ship, that delicacy and humanity could dictate.

I have the honour to be, with much respect, Sir, your ohedient servant,
STEVEN DECATUR

President was later ascertained to have lost 24 killed and 55 wounded.
Endymion`s losses were 11 killed and 14 wounded.

It appears by the following, that some differences have taken place be between the British frigates engaged with the President, as to the honour of having captured her. In Bermuda, on Jan. 29. 1815 Pomone, Capt. John Richard Lumley, disputed the palm with the Endymion, Capt. Henry Hope, as these extracts from her log show.

About an hour before daylight of the 15th inst. two strange sail, a ship and a brig, were discovered on our lee bow, standing to the eastward, under a press of sail, wind N.W. by N. Majestic, Capt. John Hayes, and Endymion in company all sail was made in chase by the three ships, and it was soon evident we gained on them. As day dawned, another ship was seen hull down to leeward, and the commodore imagining her also to be an enemy, detached Pomone in chase; we immediately bore right up before the wind, and in three quarters of an hour ascertaining her to be the Tenedos, again hauled up to the E. being by this circumstance thrown seven or eight miles more a-stern of the original chace; however, we soon again began to approach the enemy, as did also the Endymion, who, from the above event, was now far a-head of the Pomone. At one, P. M. we passed the Majestic - President and Endymion at two occasionally exchanging stern and bow guns; the wind began to fall light, and Pomone was yet too far off to render any assistnnce, but still coming up. At 5. 30. the President bore up, closing with, the Endymion, and fired her starboard broadside, which was promptly returned by the Endymion`s larboard; a running fight then continued for some time, which gradually slackened, and at half-past eight ceased; the Endymion falling astern - Pomone passing her at half-past nine; and at this time she was observed to fire two guns, which the President returned with one. At eleven, being within gun-shot of the President, who was still steering to the eastward, under a press of sail, with royal, top-gallant. top-mast, and lower studding-sails set, finding how much we out-sailed her, our studding-sails were taken in, and immediately afterwards we luffed to port, and fired our starboard broadside. The enemy then also luffed to port, bringing his larboard broadside to bear, which was momentarily expected, as a few minutes previous to our closing her she hoisted a light abalt, which, in night actions, substitutes the ensign; our second broadside was fired, and the President still lofting up, as if intent to lay us on board; we hauled close to port, bracing the yards up, and setting the main-sail; the broadside was again ready to be fired into his bows raking, when she hauled down the light, and we hail`d demanding if she had surrendered - the reply was in the affirmative, and the firing instantly ceased. The Tenedos, who was not more than three miles off, soon afterwards came up, and assisted the Pomone in securing the prize and removing the prisoners. At three quarters past twelve the Endymion came up, and the Majestic at three in the morning. Of the officers, her first, fourth, and fifth lieutenants, were killed by the Endymion`s fire) and Commodore Decatur received a severe comtusion in the breast from a split ball; the sailing-master and one midshipmaa wounded. The number of seamen and marines killed and wounded is not ascertained; but from the firing of the two ships (Endymion and Pomone) must be considerable.

Commodore Decatur`s Deposition taken before the Admiralty Court of St. George`s, Bermuda, Jan. 1815.

The President was taken on the 15th January inst. for being under American colours. Resistance was made against the Endymion for two hours and a half, after which the Endymion dropped out of the fight. The next ships coming up, two hours and a half after the action with the Endymion, were the Pomone and Tenedos, and to those two ships the President was surrendered; The Pomone had commenced her fire within musket-shot. The Tenedos did not fire at the time of such surrender; the Majestic was in sight also; the Endymion was then out of sight. No other ships besides those named were then seen from the President.

When the Pomone`s boats boarded the President, Commodore Decatur insisted on having his sword sent to the captain of the black ship (the Endymion) which he had engaged, as he said he had struck to her alone - and when he ceased firing, he hoisted his light higher to indicate that he had struck. Notwithstanding all this, in his despatch he makes assertions of a contrary nature.