claimed he had been the first to ask. Shortly after this a shot was fired, but it is disputed who shot it. The ships were soon engaged in a battle which the sloop had no chance of winning. After fifteen minutes, most of Bingham's guns had been put out of action, and Rodgers ordered a cease fire. President returned and Rodgers asked Bingham if he had struck. Bingham replied he had not, and President withdrew. Aftermath President had only one man injured. Little Belt suffered nine dead and 23 injured (two of them fatally). The sloop was also badly damaged in the encounter. The next morning, Lieutenant John Creighton went from President to Little Belt to lament the affair and offer Bingham space at any American port, which he declined. Bingham asked why President had attacked his much smaller ship. Creighton said it was because Little Belt had "provoked" the action. Bingham rejected the charge. President sailed on to New York City, and Little Belt went to the North America Station in Halifax, Nova Scotia, escorted by . The British and American governments argued about the encounter for months. Rodgers insisted that he had mistaken the sloop for a frigate and was adamant that Bingham had fired first. The Admiralty expressed their confidence in Bingham and promoted him to post-captain on 7 February 1812. On 19 August 1812, after war had finally broken out, HMS Guerriere sailed into her ill-fated action against . Painted across her foretopsail were the words "NOT THE LITTLE BELT". See also Timeline of the War of 1812 Chesapeake–Leopard affair Footnotes References Naval Chronicle, Vol. 26, pp. 37–38 Naval Chronicle, Vol. 27, pp. 57–58 External links USS President Conflicts in 1811 Naval battles involving the United Kingdom Naval battles involving the United States War of 1812 May 1811 events Combat incidents