But they did not carry the political potency of "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights" at the time. Other mottos from the era have had greater staying power in our history textbooks-phrases like Captain James Lawrence's "Don't give up the ship" and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's "We have met the enemy, and they are ours." These mottos may have been remembered as battle cries trumpeting military heroics for later jingoistic generations. This simple banner with which Porter sought to identify his ship created an important political slogan that encapsulated for many Americans the meaning of the War of 1812. As a result, Sir James Yeo of the frigate Southhamption issued a challenge, offering "his compliments to Captain PORTER," declaring that he "would be glad to have a tete a tete" with Porter's ship, in which "he would have the pleasure to break his own sword over his DAMNED HEAD and put him in irons." Porter, who like other American naval commanders believed in the code duelo, responded by returning his compliments to Sir James Yeo, and with tongue in cheek accepted "with pleasure his polite invitation." Porter pledged "his honor to Sir James that no other vessel shall interrupt their tete a tete." To make it plain he would not disguise the Essex this time, Porter declared that his frigate "may be known by a Flag bearing the motto- Free Trade and Sailors Rights." 1 The uneven battle lasted about eight minutes and, along with the deception, made Porter appear ungentlemanly from the British perspective. Porter had disguised the Essex as a merchantman and lured the inferior 20-gun Alert into range and then opened a devastating broadside. The British, on the other hand, were irate. When Porter returned to the United States, he was greeted with praise as his sailors poured into Philadelphia's taverns with pockets bulging with prize money. This achievement was the beginning of a series of spectacular victories won by the American navy during the opening years of the conflict. In seventy days he captured ten prizes, including the outgunned HMS Alert-the first British warship to surrender to an American vessel during the War of 1812. Upon a mast he hoisted a white flag, with these words: "A free trade and sailors rights." Porter's cruise was short and incredibly successful. On July 2, 1812, Captain David Porter sailed the United States Frigate Essex out of New York harbor.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |