The capture of HMS "Epervier" was a naval action fought off the coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral on 28 April 1814, between the United States ship-rigged sloop-of-war , commanded by Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, and the British under Commander Richard Wales. The Americans captured the British vessel after a one-sided cannonade, but the British merchant convoy escaped.
Prelude.
USS "Peacock" was one of a class of three heavy sloops-of-war designed by William Doughty, and was named after the victory the previous year over the Royal Navy brig . "Peacock" sortied from New York on 12 March 1814 and, having eluded the British blockade, delivered some stores to St. Marys, Georgia. "Peacock" was then supposed to rendezvous with the frigate , but "President" had been unable to break out of New York. While waiting for "President" to appear, Warrington cruised around the Bahamas, hoping to intercept British merchant ships sailing from Jamaica.
Early on the morning of 28 April, several sail were sighted to windward. They belonged to a small convoy that had sailed from Havana on 23 April, escorted by "Epervier". When the convoy sighted "Peacock" the merchant ships made all sail to escape, while "Epervier" prepared to engage.
The British vessel was more lightly armed than the American. "Epervier" carried sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two 18-pounder carronades as bow chasers. "Peacock" carried twenty 32-pounder carronades and two 12-pounder guns. The ratio of the vessels' broadsides was 256 pounds to 320.
Battle.
As the two vessels made toward each other, the wind shifted to the southward, giving neither "Peacock" nor "Epervier" the advantage of the windward position. At about 10:20 in the morning, both ships fired their starboard broadsides on opposite tacks, aiming high to disable their opponent's rigging. Both vessels received damage aloft, after which "Epervier" turned downwind and engaged "Peacock" on a parallel course.
"Peacock" directed her fire against "Epervier"'s hull with great effect. The British fire fell away rapidly, and "Epervier" probably scored no hits after the first broadside from the port battery. After 40 minutes, "Epervier" was badly damaged, with 45 shot holes in the hull, and of water in the hold. Commander Wales summoned boarding parties to muster, intending to board and capture "Peacock", but his crew refused. At 11:05, "Epervier" struck her colours. "Epervier" had eight men killed and 15 wounded (about 20 percent of the crew.)
Aftermath.
The Americans repaired the damage to "Peacock"'s rigging within an hour. "Peacock"'s first lieutenant took charge of the prize and succeeded in preventing it from sinking; the prize crew had the brig ready to sail by nightfall. "Epervier" was found to be carrying $118,000 in specie, which was private rather than Government property.
The next day, The Americans sighted two British frigates. "Peacock" successfully decoyed them away from "Epervier" and also herself escaped, with the result that both vessels reached Savannah, Georgia, a few days later. The Americans repaired "Epervier" and took her into the United States Navy as USS "Epervier". Warrington set out again in "Peacock" and made a successful raiding cruise in British waters, capturing 14 merchant vessels.
Results.
The victory of "Peacock" over "Epervier" was one of the most one-sided of the War of 1812, even though the two opposing vessels were not grossly disparate in strength. It was stated that although "Peacock"'s fire had dismounted some of "Epervier"'s carronades, more of them fell from their mounts when they were fired. Wales had carried out little of the gunnery practice that would have revealed defects in the guns or carriages before it was too late to remedy them. Wales had also reported disaffection and unrest among his crew and, unusually for the Royal Navy in the War of 1812, they failed in their duty to fight to their utmost. The court martial (on 20 January 1815) revealed that "Epervier" had the worst crew of any vessel on her station. In particular, her crew consisted mostly of invalids from the hospital.
Post script.
On 21 October 1814, Congress passed a resolution that in honour of their capture of "Epervier", each of "Peacock"'s officers would receive a silver medal and each of her midshipmen would receive a sword.
Citations.
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