▁single - ship ▁action ▁that ▁occurred ▁on ▁ 5 ▁August ▁ 1 8 1 3 ▁off ▁the ▁B erm ud as ▁during ▁the ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 8 1 2 . ▁American ▁private er ▁ ▁and ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁war ship ▁ ▁engaged ▁in ▁a ▁fier ce ▁contest ▁that ▁ended ▁with ▁the ▁capture ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁ship ▁after ▁a ▁long ▁battle . ▁ ▁Background ▁HMS ▁Domin ica ▁was ▁a ▁sch oon er ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁young ▁Lieutenant ▁George ▁Wil mot ▁B aret te . ▁She ▁had ▁a ▁crew ▁of ▁ 8 8 ▁men ▁and ▁was ▁armed ▁with ▁twelve ▁ 1 2 - p ound er ▁guns , ▁two ▁long ▁ 6 - p ound ers , ▁one ▁br ass ▁ 4 - p ound er ▁and ▁one ▁ 3 2 - p ound er . ▁The ▁British ▁vessel ▁was ▁esc ort ing ▁the ▁packet ▁ship ▁Princess ▁Charlotte . ▁ ▁At ▁about ▁ 1 0 : 3 0 ▁am ▁on ▁ 5 ▁August ▁ 1 8 1 3 ▁the ▁sch oon er ▁Dec atur ▁appeared ▁on ▁the ▁horizon . ▁Captain ▁Domin ique ▁Dir on ▁commanded ▁the ▁private er , ▁which ▁was ▁armed ▁with ▁one ▁ 1 8 - p ound er ▁Long ▁Tom ▁and ▁six ▁ 1 2 - p ound er ▁guns . ▁She ▁had ▁a ▁complement ▁of ▁ 1 0 3 ▁officers ▁and ▁crew . ▁ ▁Dir on ▁approached ▁c aut iously ▁but ▁none ▁of ▁the ▁vessels ▁were ▁flying ▁colours . ▁For ▁over ▁an ▁hour ▁the ▁three ▁vessels ▁sa iled