and, if it seemed wise, to change the plan.
But, before any definite action was taken by him, war was declared.

Within an hour after he had received news of the declaration of war,
Commodore Rodgers had his squadron under way, and dropped down New
York Bay to the ocean. Under his command were the flag-ship
"President" of forty-four guns, the "Essex" thirty-two, and the
"Hornet" eighteen. In the lower bay these vessels were joined by the
"United States" forty-four, the "Congress" thirty-eight, and the
"Argus" sixteen. On June 21, 1812, three days after the declaration of
war, the whole squadron passed Sandy Hook, and stood out into the
ocean.

It is probable that the remarkable celerity of Commodore Rodgers's
departure was due, in part, to the fear that the authorities would
revive the obnoxious order laying up the ships in port. His chief
object, however, was to overhaul a large fleet of British merchantmen
that had recently left the West Indies, and, according to all
calculations, should have been in the vicinity of New York at that
time. All sail was accordingly crowded upon the ships, and the
squadron set out in hot pursuit.

For two days the monotony of the horizon was broken by no sail; but on
the third a ship was espied in the distance, which was made out to be
an enemy's frigate, after which chase was made by the whole squadron.
A fresh breeze was blowing, and both chase and pursuers were running
free before the wind. As sail after sail was crowded upon the ships,
the smaller vessels, with their lesser expanse of canvas, began to
fall behind; and in a few hours the frigate "President" had gradually
drawn away from the fleet, and was rapidly gaining on the enemy. The
sail had been spied at six o'clock in the morning, and at four P.M.
the flag-ship had come within gunshot of the chase. The wind then
fell; and the chase, being long out of port and light, began to gain
on her heavier adversary. Both vessels now began to prepare for a
little gunnery. On the English vessel, which proved to be the
"Belvidera," thirty-six, the sailors were busily engaged in shifting
long eighteens and carronades to the stern, making a battery of
stern-chasers mounting four guns.

The action was opened by a gun from the bow of the "President,"
sighted and fired by Commodore Rodgers himself; so that this officer
may be said to have fired the first gun of the war. His shot was a
good one, hulling the enemy. A second shot from one of t