The Phoebe, agreeably to my expectations, came to seek me at Valparaiso, where I was anchored with the Essex, and my armed prize the Essex-Junior, under the command of Lieut. Downes, on the lookout of the harbor; but contrary to the course I thought he would pursue, Com. Hillyar brought with him the Cherub sloop-of-war, mounting twentyeight guns, eighteen 32 pound carronades, eight 2 -Is, and two long 9s on the quarter-deck and forecastle, and a complement of 180 men. The force of the Phoebe is as follows: thirty long 18 pounders, sixteen 32 pound carronades, one howitzer, and six three pounders in the tops, in all fifty-three guns, and a complement of 320 men; making a force of eighty-one guns and 500 men; in addition to which, they took on board the crew of an English letter of marque lying in port.
Both ships had picked crews, and were sent into the Pacific in company with the Racoon of 22 guns, and a storeship of twenty guns, for the express purpose of seeking the Essex, and were prepared with flags, hearing the motto, " God and country; British sailor's best rights; traitors offend both." This was intended as a reply to my motto, "free trade and sailor's rights," under the erroneous impression that my crew were chiefly Englishmen, or to counteract its effect on their own crews. The force of the Essex was 4G guns, forty 32 pound carronades, and six long 12s, and her crew, which had been much reduced by prizes, amounted only to 255 men. The Essex-Junior, which was intended chiefly as a storeship, mounted 20 guns, ten 18 pound carronades, and ten short 7s, with only 60 men on board.
In reply to their motto, I wrote at my mizzen, " God, our country, and liberty; tyrants offend them." On getting their provisions on board, they went off the port for the purpose of blockading me, where they cruised for near six weeks; during which time I endeavored to provoke a challenge, and frequently, but ineffectually, to bring the Phcebe alone to action, first with both my ships, and afterwards with my single ship, with both crews on board. I wTas several times under way, and ascertained that I had greatly the advantage in point of sailing, and once succeeded in closing within gunshot of the Phoebe, and commenced a fire on her, when she ran down for the Cherub, which was two miles and a half to leeward.
This excited some surprise and expressions of indignation, as previous to my getting under way, she hove to off the port, hoisted her motto flag and fired a gun to windward. Com. Hillyar seemed determined to avoid a contest with me on nearly equal terms, and from his extreme prudence in keeping both his ships ever after constantly within hail of each other, there was no hopes of any advantages to my country from a longer stay in port. I therefore determined to put to sea the first opportunity which should offer; and I was the more strongly induced to u o do so, as I had received certain intelligence that the Tagus, rated 38, and two other frigates, had sailed for that sea in pursuit of me; and I had reason to expect the arrival of the liacoon from the N.
W. coast of America, where she had "been sent for the purpose of destroying our fur establishment on the Columbia. A rendezvous was appointed for the EssexJunior and every arrangement made for sailing, and I intended to let them chase me off, to give the Essex-Junior an opportunity of escaping. On the 28th March, the day after this determination was formed, the wind came on to blow fresh from the southward, when I parted my larboard cable, and dragged my starboard anchor directly out to sea. Not a moment was to be lost in getting sail on the ship. The enemy were close in with the point forming the west side of the bay; but on opening them, I saw a prospect of passing to windward, when I took in my top-gallant-sails, which were set over single-reefed top-sails, and braced up for this purpose; but on rounding the point, a heavy squall struck the ship and carried away her maintop-mast, precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were drowned.
Both ships now gave chase to me, and I endeavored in my disabled state to regain the port; but finding I could not recover the common anchorage, I ran close into a small bay about three quarters of a mile to leeward of the battery on the east side of the harbor, and let go my anchor within pistol shot of the shore, where I intended to repair my damages as soon as possible. The enemy continued to approach, and showed an evident intention of attacking, regardless of the neutrality of the place where I was anchored; and the caution observed in their approach to the attack of the crippled Escex, was truly ridiculous, as was their display of their motto flags, and the number of jacks at their mast heads.