Sailing back to Newburyport, Captain Nichols encountered the British ship Commerce which was twice his size and mounted double the number of heavy cannons. It was a lopsided battle but even so, the Decatur won.
On his second cruise, Nichols captured even more prizes until he was captured by the British frigate HMS Surprise and taken to Barbados. When the Vestal showed up there, its captain took Nichols prisoner and put him in a 5 X 7-foot crate for 34 days and then placed in a British prison.
He was exchanged and returned home. In short order, he returned to his privateering business and put out in the brig Harpy.
--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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