Combat· War of 1812
Argus vs HMS Pelican
The end of a daring cruise in the enemy's own waters.
The brig USS Argus, under Master Commandant William Henry Allen, had spent weeks raiding British shipping in the English and Irish Channels, taking some twenty prizes and spreading alarm along the British coast. On 14 August, in St. George's Channel off the Welsh coast, she was brought to action by the British brig HMS Pelican. Allen was mortally wounded early in the fight, losing a leg, and with her commander down and her rigging cut up the Argus was overpowered and forced to surrender after a sharp engagement; her Marines fought through the action under a sergeant. The loss closed one of the boldest American commerce-raiding cruises of the war. Allen was buried with full military honors by the British, who respected the gallantry of a beaten enemy.
Record no. 225