Back in the United States, Captain Nichols was put in command of the privateer Decatur and left Newburyport, Massachusetts, on Auguist 4, 1813. He spotted a large frigate ship which he took to be British and fled as quickly as he could, knowing a fight would come to nothing but bad for him. He ended up throwing 12 of his 14 cannons overboard in the attempt to escape, but was still overtaken by the frigate.
It turned out to be the USS Constitution. Once on board and greatly relieved, Nichols told the Isaac Hull, the Constitution's commander, that he had seen the HMS Guerriere prowling about in the local waters which set up the famous battle.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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