ARGUS AND PELICAN, Battle of the. In the War of 1812 Capt. William H. Allen (q.v.) in the sloop-of-war Argus (rated as a 16 but carrying 18 24's and two long 12's) had wrought great havoc among British merchant men in the English Channel, in a single month destroying more than 20 ships valued at $2,000, 000. Accordingly the British admiralty sent ships in pursuit, one of which, the Pelican (16 32's, four long 12's and one short 12), Capt. John F. Maples, overtook the American ship on 14 Aug. 1813 in the Irish Channel. off the Welsh coast. At first the Argus, having the advantage of position, raked the Pelican, but her guns •were so poorly served and so badly aimed that the Pelican was almost un injured. On the other hand, the British gun nery was excellent, and soon the rigging of the Argus was in such condition that she be came unmanageable, whereupon the Pelican for 20 minutes raked her at close range from the starboard quarter without receiving a single shot in return. After 43 minutes of fighting the British prepared to board the Argus, but the latter struck her colors, having lost six killed and 17 wounded, while the Brit ish loss was only seven killed and wounded.
Allen was mortally wounded and died in a hospital at Plymouth, England. As Allen was responsible for the high degree of excellence attained by the gunners of the frigate United States (q.v), the poor marksmanship of the Argus crew seems inexplicable unless, as some have stated, part of the crew was drunk, a brig from Oporto, laden with wine, having been captured the night before the battle. Consult Cooper, J. F., 'Naval History' (Vol. II, pp. 113-15); Maclay, E. S., 'History of the Navy' (Vol. I, pp. 523-29) ; Roosevelt, 'Naval War of 1812' (pp. 205-09); Adams, 'United States' (Vol. VII, pp. 303-08) ; Mahan, A. T., 'War of 1812> (Vol. II, p. 217 et seq.); James, William, 'Naval Actions' (pp. 74-78) ; Wiley and Rines, The United States' (Vol. V, pp. 475-77) ; Bowen, Abel, 'Naval Monument' (pp. 69-77); Spears, J. R., 'History of Our Navy' (Vol. II, pp. 356-71).