Capture of USS President

14–15 January 1815, Off Long Island, New York

British victory; President captured

Stephen Decatur tried to take President out of New York after a snowstorm blew the blockading squadron off station, but she ran aground on the bar and pounded there for two hours, straining her hull and springing her masts. She got off and ran east along the coast of Long Island, but at dawn the British squadron was in sight, and the big 24-pounder frigate Endymion overhauled her in the afternoon. For two and a half hours Henry Hope kept Endymion on President's quarter, raking her, while Decatur fired high to cripple his pursuer. Endymion was left behind with her sails cut to pieces, but Pomone and Tenedos came up in the night, Pomone fired two broadsides, and Decatur surrendered. The peace treaty had been signed at Ghent three weeks before.