page_title: USS Argus (1803)
hierarchical_section_title: USS Argus (1803)
caption_attribution_description: English: Identifier: americannavalbat00kimb (find matches) Title: American naval battles; Year: 1837 (1830s) Authors: Kimball, Horace. (from old catalog) Subjects: Publisher: Bsoton, C. Gaylord Contributing Library: The Library of Congress Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation View Book Page: Book Viewer About This Book: Catalog Entry View All Images: All Images From Book Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book. Text Appearing Before Image: After remaining at L'orient a few days, he proceeded on a cruise in the British channel, where he captured twenty English vessels&#160;; the crews of which he treated with humanity and generosity. The injury which captain Allen did to the British commerce is, in some of their papers, estimated to the amount of two millions. While employed in burning, sinking and destroying the enemy's property, he was peculiarly careful to distinguish his character from those who depredated for selfish purposes only. The property of the passengers was sacred from hostility&#160;; not an article of that kind would he suffer to be touched. The passengers were allowed to go below, and to take what they claimed as their own, and no hands belonging to the Argus were permitted to inspect them while they were employed in so doing. On one occasion, when a passenger had left his surt out behind him, it was sent after him, in the boat: on another occasion, captain Allen ordered one of his hands, who was detected in the act of some petty NAVAL BATTLES. 109 Text Appearing After Image: 110 W. . BATTLES. plunder of this kind, to be flogged at the gangway.The English papers, while they were writhing under the severe injuries thus inflicted, were unanimous in their testimonials of respect to the conduct of this gallant officer, for the humanity and delicacy with which he performed a service so invidious. Probably no action of his life could more plainly distinguish his character than this: he loved danger as much as he abhorred to plunder he defenceless. On the 14th of August, being in latitude fifty-two degrees fifteen minutes north, longitude five degrees fifty minutes west, he discovered, at four o'clock, A. M. a large brig of war, standing down under a press of sail upon the weather quarter of the Argus. Captain Allen immediately prepared to receive her; and being unable to get the weathergage, he shortened sail, and gave her an opportunity of closing. At six o'clock, the brig having displayed English colours, the Argus hoisted the American flag, wore round, and ^a Note About Images Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.
context_page_description: The first USS Argus, originally named USS Merrimack, was a brig in the United States Navy commissioned in 1803. She enforced the Embargo Act of 1807 and fought in the First Barbary War – taking part in the blockade of Tripoli and the capture of Derna – and the War of 1812. During the latter conflict, she had been audaciously raiding British merchant shipping in British home waters for a month, when the heavier British Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Pelican intercepted her. After a sharp fight during which Argus's captain, Master Commandant William Henry Allen, was mortally wounded, Argus surrendered when the crew of Pelican were about to board.
context_section_description: The first USS Argus, originally named USS  Merrimack, was a brig in the United States Navy commissioned in 1803. She enforced the Embargo Act of 1807 and fought in the First Barbary War – taking part in the blockade of Tripoli and the capture of Derna – and the War of 1812. During the latter conflict, she had been audaciously raiding British merchant shipping in British home waters for a month, when the heavier British Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Pelican intercepted her. After a sharp fight during which Argus's captain, Master Commandant William Henry Allen, was mortally wounded, Argus surrendered when the crew of Pelican were about to board.
caption: Argus during the War of 1812
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