Capture of the Policy and Georgiana
Captain David Porter, USN

US Frigate Essex, Pacific Ocean, 2 July 1813

I have the honour to inform you that on the 29th of April, in the latitude of 40 north, longitude 91 15 west, about 20 miles to the northward of the island of Albermarle, one of the Gallapagos, in the Pacific Ocean, I captured the British ship Montezuma; two others being in sight, close together, distant from us about 7 miles, which we were informed were the British letters of marque ships Policy and Georgiana; the first mounting 10 guns, 6 and 9 pounders; the other six 18 pounders, 4 swivels, and 6 long blunderbusses mounted on swivels. The wind being light and variable, and confiding greatly in the bravery and enterprise of my officers and men, and apprehensive of their escape from the prevalence of fogs in that climate, I directed the boats of this ship to be armed and manned, and divided into two divisions, placing the first under the command of lieutenant Downes, 1st lieutenant, in a whale boat, accompanied by midshipman Farragutt. The officers in command of boats under lieutenant Downes, were lieutenant S. D. M'Knight, in the 3d cutter, accompanied by midshipman W. H. Odenheimer, sailing master John P. Cowell, in the jolly boat, accompanied by midshipman H. W. Ogden, and midshipman George Isaacs, in the 2d cutter. The 2d division under the command of lieutenant Wilmer, 2d lieutenant in the pinnace, accompanied by midshipman Henry Gray, and master's mate James Terry; lieutenant Wilson and Mr. Shaw, purser, in the 1st cutter, and lieutenant Gamble, of the marines, in the gig. Suitable signals were established, and each boat had her particular station pointed out for the attack, and every other previous arrangement was made to prevent confusion. The boats, seven in number, rowed off in admirable order. Guns were fired from the enemy to terrify them; they rowed up under the muzzles of the guns and took their stations for attacking the first ship, and no sooner was the American flag displayed by lieutenant Downes, as the signal for boarding, and the intention was discovered by the enemy, than the colours were struck, without a shot being fired; so much were they daunted by the intrepidity of our brave officers and men. They then left a crew on board the prize and took their stations for attacking the other vessel, when her flag was also struck, on the first call to surrender. Thus were two fine British ships, each pierced for 20 guns, worth near half a million of dollars, mounting between them 16 guns and manned with 55 men, well supplied with ammunition and small arms, surrendered, without the slightest resistance, to seven small open boats, with fifty men, armed only with muskets, pistols, boarding-axes, and cutlasses! Be assured, sir, that Britons have either learned to respect the courage of Americans, or they are not so courageous themselves as they would wish us to believe.

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. 175-176.