Cruise of the USS Essex
Captain David Porter, USN

US Frigate ESSEX, at sea, 2 July 1813

On the 23d March last, I sailed from _________ shaping my course to the northward, and on the 26th of the same month fell in with the Peruvian corsair ship NEREYDA, mounting 15 guns. She had, a few days before, captured two American whale ships, the crews of which (amounting in number to twenty-four men) were then detained prisoners on board her; and they could assign no other motive for the capture, than that they were the allies of Great Britain, and as such should capture all American vessels they could fall in with; therefore, to prevent in future such vexatious proceedings, I threw all her armament into the sea, liberated the Americans, and dismissed the NEREYDA. I then proceeded with all possible despatch for Lima, to intercept one of the detained vessels, which had parted with the NEREYDA only three days before, and I was so fortunate as to arrive there and re-capture her on the 5th of April, at the moment she was entering the port. This vessel (the ship BARCLAY, captain Gideon Randall, of New Bedford) I took under my protection, and have had her with me ever since.

From Lima I proceeded to the Gallapagos Islands, where I captured the following British ships, viz:

The GEORGIANA being reputed a very fast sailer, and apparently well calculated for a cruiser, I mounted 16 guns on her, and gave the command of her to that excellent officer, lieutenant John Downes, with a complement of 42 men; appointing midshipman W. H. Hadaway acting lieutenant on board her, and sent her on a cruize. Lieutenant Downes joined me at Tumbez, near Guyaquil, on the coast of Peru, on the 24th June, after capturing 3 prizes, to wit:

The 1st had two men killed and six badly wounded in her rencontre with the GEORGIANA; and the ROSE was discharged (after being deprived of her armament) with all the prisoners captured by the GEORGIANA, as they amounted to nearly double her crew; she was furnished with a passport to proceed to St. Helena.

My own prisoners I liberated on parole at Tumbez. I found by experience that the GEORGIANA did not deserve the character given of her sailing. I therefore shipped her officers and crew to the ATLANTIC, and mounted on her 20 guns, with a complement of 60 men, and appointed midshipman R. Dashiell acting sailing master on board of her. To this vessel I gave the name of the ESSEX JUNIOR. I also fitted up the ship GREENWICH, as a store-ship, and mounted on her 20 guns, placing her under the command of lieutenant Gamble, of the marines. On board her I have put all the provisions and stores of my other prizes, except a supply of three and a half months for each, and have by this means secured myself a full supply of every necessary article for seven months. I had hoped to dispose of my other prizes at Guyaquil: the governors in Peru, however, are excessively alarmed at my appearance on the coast, as my fleet amounts now to nine sail of vessels, all formidable in their appearance, and they would, if they dare, treat us with hostility little short of declared enemies.

I have given to Mr. John G. Cowell, sailing master, an appointment to act 3d lieutenant; midshipman John S. Cowan to act 4th lieutenant, and midshipman Odenheimer as sailing master. I beg, sir, that the appointment of those officers, as well as of lieutenant S. D. M'Knight, who is acting second lieutenant, and those serving on board the ESSEX JUNIOR, may be confirmed by the department. I have given to Mr. M. W. Bostwick, my clerk, the appointment of acting midshipman; not that he is desirous of coming forward in the navy in that line, but I hoped by this means to introduce him to the notice of the department, as I shall take the liberty to recommend him strongly as a suitable person to hold the appointment of purser. Doctors Richard R. Hoffman, and Alexander M. Montgomery, two gentlemen of great merit, who volunteered their services with me at the commencement of hostilities, have received acting appointments from me, the first as surgeon to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of doctor Miller; the other as surgeon's mate. To the great care and attention of those gentlemen, may, in a considerable degree, be attributed the extraordinary health of the crew; and as they are both desirous of joining the navy, I hope their appointments may be confirmed.

I have also appointed my marine officer and chaplain to the command of prizes. They all enter with cheerfulness into their new duties; and if the expedition should not prove successful, it will not be, I am persuaded, owing to our want of activity or vigilance; and of this you must be satisfied, as for the last eight months we have been constantly at sea, with the exception of 23 days, and yet, sir, we have enjoyed extraordinary health and spirits; no symptom of the scurvy having yet appeared in the ship, nor have we, at this moment, more than two on the sick list; and their diseases are more owing to the infirmities of old age than any other cause. Indeed, sir, when I compare my present situation with what it was when I doubled Cape Horn, I cannot but esteem myself fortunate in an extraordinary degree. There my ship was shattered by tempestuous weather, and destitute of every thing; my officers and crew half starved, naked and worn out with fatigue. Now, sir, my ship is in prime order, abundantly supplied with every thing necessary for her. I have a noble ship for a consort of 20 guns, and well manned; a store-ship of 20 guns well supplied with the best of every thing we may want, and prizes which would be worth in England two millions of dollars; and what renders the comparison more pleasing, the enemy has furnished all. Excuse me, sir, for not making known my present intentions, as this letter may not reach you. It, however, may be satisfactory to you to know how I intend to dispose of my prizes; let it suffice to say that I shall endeavor to [cypher.]

British letters of marque are numerous in these seas, and, were it not for my arrival, our whale fishers would have been much harrassed; but they now find it necessary to keep together for mutual protection. I expect to be [cypher] but shall be [cypher.]

Subjoined is a list of deaths since I left the United States, and beg you will relieve the anxiety of my family, and all our friends, by communicating as much of this letter as you may think proper.

The times of my best men have expired: but their attachment to the ship, and their zeal for the service we are engaged on, prevent all complaints on that account. It is not probable that you will hear from me for several months to come, unless some disaster happens; but, I beg leave to assure you, sir, that I shall not be idle; and I hope before my return to make the services of the ESSEX as important as those of any other ship. We may not be individually benefitted, but we shall do the enemy much injury, which will be a sufficient compensation to us for all the hardships and privations we must naturally experience, while cut off from all communication with the rest of the world, and are dependent on the precarious supplies the enemy may afford.

List of deaths on board the Essex since my departure from the United States.
1812	December 3	Levi Holmes, seaman, palsy
1813	January 24	Edward Sweeny, ordinary seaman, old age
	January 24	Samuel Groce, seaman, contusion of the brain, by a fall from the main yard
	March 1	Lewis Price, marine, consumption
	April 4	James Shafford, gunner's mate, accidental gun shot-wound of the lungs
	May 25	Dr. Robert Miller, surgeon, disease of the liver
	May 26	Benjamin Geers, qr. gr. inflammation of the stomach
	June 29	John Rodgers, qr. gr. fall from the main yard.

John Brannan, ed. Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the United States During the War with Great Britain in the Years 1812, 13, 14, & 15 With Some Additional Letters and Documents Elucidating the History of that Period. (Washington: 1823), pp. 176-179.