From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Former name retained.

(SlpW: t. 447; l. 100'; b. 30'6"; dr. 12'9"; cpl. 128; a. 16 32-pdr., 2 18-pdr.)

Epervier, a sloop-of-war, was captured by the sloop-of-war Peacock off Cape Canaveral, Fla., on 29 April 1814, during our second war with Britain. Despite the extensive damage inflicted in this engagement, she was dispatched to Savannah, Ga., for condemnation.

Following repairs she was taken into the Navy and assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., whose mission was to stop the harassment of American shipping by the Dey of Algiers. Epervier joined with Guerriere, Constellation, and Ontario in capturing the 46-gun frigate Mashuda.

Consequent to the signing of a treaty with the Dey of Algiers, Decatur chose Epervier, Lieutenant John T Shubrick in command, to bear a copy of the treaty and some captured flags to the United States. She sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar on 14 July 1815 and was never heard from again, remaining today one of the fascinating mysteries in the annals of the sea.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)