of the _Essex_ (which carried but about 300 yards), and opened fire. The time was 4:00 P.M. Now was made apparent the justice of Porter’s demand for a battery of long-range guns which he had made before leaving the United States, but which was refused him. He thus had to fight the action with but his six long 12-pounders. The result was the loss of the ship, but never was ship more gallantly fought. Near the end she caught fire and a quantity of powder exploded below. Many men were knocked overboard and some, jumping into the water to swim ashore when the ship had become a total wreck, succeeded. At 6:20 the ship was surrendered. Of the 255 of the crew 58 had been killed, 66 wounded, and 31 drowned; 24 reached the shore. The _Phoebe_ had lost 4 killed, including her first lieutenant, and 7 wounded; the _Cherub_ 1 killed and 3 wounded. Such were the benefits of being able to fight at long taw. Captain Hillyar is not to be blamed for so doing; his business was to capture the _Essex_, and he did this with as little loss to himself and consort as might be. But all the honors were with the American. Hillyar’s flagrant violation of the neutrality of Chile was in British eyes but an easily condoned incident, and he received all the praise and regard which would have been due for taking the _Essex_ in fairest fight. He gave at least every credit to the brave defenders of our ship. As usual in modern British accounts of this notable battle, no reference is made to the crippled state of the _Essex_, nor to her being in neutral waters, nor to the fact that she had a battery incomparably inferior in range, nor that two ships were employed against one to do the work. The “American frigate _Essex_ was captured by the British frigate _Phoebe_,” and British self-respect thereby saved. One officer who did his duty bravely and well in the _Essex_, as did all, was later to achieve fame as the most brilliant naval officer of his time: David Glasgow Farragut, then aged twelve years and eight months. Farragut continued his battle even after the surrender in a stand-up fight aboard the _Phoebe_ for the preservation of his pet young pig, Murphy, an animal always a favorite of sailors. He won.