Action off James Island The Action off James Island was a naval battle of the War of 1812 . In May 1813 an American sloop - of - war captured three British privateer s off James Island in the South Pacific . The engagement was one of the few fought in Pacific waters during the war . Background . Following Captain David Porter ' s passage of Cape Horn in USS " Essex " a year earlier , the United States Navy vessel focused on commerce raiding by attacking British whalers off the coast of South America . After taking several vessels , Captain Porter made a prize out of the " Georgiana " , a 280 - ton converted sloop . The ship initially carried six guns but her armament was increased to six 18 - pounders , four swivel gun s and six blunderbuss es . Lieutenant John Downes was placed in command with forty - two others and six volunteers , recently liberated American sailors . Downes was then ordered to proceed from the coastal area to harass the British off James Island in the Galapagos chain . Action . Leaving the " Essex " on May 12 , Downes headed in a southern direction for James . While nearing the island in the afternoon on May 28 , lookouts aboard the " Georgiana " sighted a mast and sails on the horizon . In fact the sails belonged to the 270 - ton gun - brig privateer " Catherine " which also operated as a whaler and she was accompanied by a 220 - ton gun - brig named " Rose " . Downes ordered his men to give chase and raised the Union Jack to trick the enemy into believing that they were not under threat . When the Americans were within range they cunningly lowered a few boats filled with men and captured the two sloops without resistance . Later the British captains revealed to Downes that they did not realize they were being attacked until after the Americans were on deck . On board the two vessels were a total of sixteen guns , eight each , and fifty sailors who were taken prisoner . But just as the capture of the " Rose " and " Catherine " was completed , a third vessel was spotted , it was the 270 - ton " Hector " armed with eleven guns and crewed by twenty - five men . " Georgiana " maneuvered to pursue and after several moments of chasing , the sun had gone down before the Americans were in firing range . In the dark , the " Georgiana " fired a warning shot across the " Hector " and she returned fire with inaccruarate broadsides . The Americans then engaged and began raking the British vessel , ripping off its main mast and most of the rigging . Four more broadsides followed and when it seemed as though the privateer ' s fire was weakened , " Georgiana " moved in to board the enemy . Just as the Americans drew near , the British lowered their colors and surrendered so the boarding took place without hostilities . Two British sailors were killed and six others seriously wounded . Apparently all of the British shots passed over the " Georgiana " or fell too short thus no damage or casualties were reported by the Americans . Aftermath . Seventy - five prisoners were taken but because there were fewer than fifty Americans to guard them , Lieutenant Downes disarmed the captured " Rose " and transferred the prisoners to her . They were then released on parole and ordered to Saint Helena . " Georgiana " returned to the " Essex " which was anchored of Tumbez , Peru on June 24 . On the same day as the action , David Porter captured two more whalers without incident , the " Montezuma " of eighteen guns and the " Greenwich " of ten guns . Captain Porter was now in command of nine armed vessels in the Pacific . Lieutenant Downes was promoted on November 28 , 1813 for gallantry in many actions against the British and the natives of Nuka Hiva .