The Epic Cruise of the Essex

摘要

With war declared against Great Britain, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton, and his successor William Jones, pursued a strategy of destroying enemy trade and commerce. The frigate USS Essex, commanded by David Porter, cleared the Delaware Capes on Oct. 28, 1812, with the intent of a South Atlantic rendezvous with the frigate USS Constitution and the sloop of war Hornet to conduct guerre de course operations. Essex had already established quite a reputation. Built at Salem, Mass., at the turn of the 19th century, the 32-gun warship had fought in the Quasi-War with France and during the Barbary Wars. During a short summer cruise following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, the frigate captured nine ships — including a troop transport and the sloop of war Alert.