 Before the run of American victories in single-ship encounters early in the War of 1812, it was believed in the Royal Navy that a British 38-gun frigate could successfully engage a 44-gun frigate of any other nation.Before the battle, Dacres had appeared to be confident that, whatever its material state, his ship could defeat any American frigate.On 10 August, Dacres had captured an American merchant brig, "Betsey".