Dueling Frigates-- Part 7: Still Negotiating for That Duel

Presumably, had a frigate duel come to pass, with an American victory, at least that frigate would be free of the blockade and able to make its escape, since the rest of the British fleet would be held back from pursuing in the name of good sportsmanship. At least one of Decatur's ships would be free to roam.

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STILL NEGOTIATING FOR A SHIP-TO-SHIP DUEL

British officer Richard Coote, commander of the brig HMS Borer, was sent to Stephen by Thomas Hardy with Hardy's reply.    According to the Connecticut Gazette, the meeting went like this:

"Com. Decatur  offered to dismount (dismount cannons from his ships) until their force was precisely equal; but Captain Coote  replied, that they did not consider two or three guns of any consequence -- 'the difference  was in the men' --  'the crews were everything' -- because battles were commonly won by  boarders swarming aboard the enemy vessel."

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 2: Advantages of American Super Frigates and Frigates

The strength of a warship were measured in several ways

First was number of guns carried.  The American Super-Frigates which carried at least 44 and sometimes 50 cannons were more heavily armed than all but a few British frigates, which usually carried 38 guns.

Second was the weight of cannon balls fired.    U.S. frigates were commonly armed with cannons firing 24-pound shot, whereas British vessels commonly had 18-pounders.

Thirdly, was the size of the crew.  Naval battles often were settled by boarding an enemy ship and hand-to-hand fighting.  A large crew would help in this case and American crews were generally larger.

So, especially when it was an American Super-Frigate like the USS Constitution up against a smaller British frigate like the HMS Guerriere, the American ship had a decided advantage in a ship-to-ship fight.

--Brock-Perry