t
the gage of battle was offered, he promptly accepted.

At six o'clock in the morning, the "Pelican" came alongside, and
opened the conflict with a broadside from her thirty-two pound
carronades. The "Argus" replied with spirit, and a sharp cannonade
began. Four minutes after the battle opened, Capt. Allen was struck
by a round shot that cut off his left leg near the thigh. His officers
rushed to his side, and strove to bear him to his cabin; but he
resisted, saying he would stay on deck and fight his ship as long as
any life was left him. With his back to a mast, he gave his orders and
cheered on his men for a few minutes longer; then, fainting from the
terrible gush of blood from his wound, was carried below. To lose
their captain so early in the action, was enough to discourage the
crew of the "Argus." Yet the officers left on duty were brave and
skilful. Twice the vessel was swung into a raking position, but the
gunners failed to seize the advantage. "They seemed to be nodding over
their guns," said one of the officers afterward. The enemy, however,
showed no signs of nodding. His fire was rapid and well directed, and
his vessel manoeuvred in a way that showed a practised seaman in
command. At last he secured a position under the stern of the "Argus,"
and lay there, pouring in destructive broadsides, until the Americans
struck their flag,--just forty-seven minutes after the opening of the
action. The loss on the "Argus" amounted to six killed and seventeen
wounded.

No action of the war was so discreditable to the Americans as this. In
the loss of the "Chesapeake" and in the loss of the "Essex," there
were certain features of the action that redounded greatly to the
honor of the defeated party. But in the action between the "Argus" and
the "Pelican," the Americans were simply outfought. The vessels were
practically equal in size and armament, though the "Pelican" carried a
little the heavier metal. It is also stated that the powder used by
the "Argus" was bad. It had been taken from one of the prizes, and
afterwards proved to be condemned powder of the British Government. In
proof of the poor quality of this powder, one of the American officers
states that many shot striking the side of the "Pelican" were seen to
fall back into the water; while others penetrated the vessel's skin,
but did no further damage. All this, however, does not alter the fact
that the "Argus" was fairly beaten in a fair fight.

While the