The Endymion, on the other hand, had a complement of three hundred and fifty sailors and marines, and in size and fighting power she was in the class of the American frigates President and Constitution.

Quite unreasonably, however, the master of the privateer decided to await events.
The unexpected occurred shortly after dusk when several boats loaded to the gunwales with a boarding party crept away from the frigate.

Five of them, with one hundred and twenty men, made a concerted attack at different points, alongside and under the bow and stern.

Captain Ordronaux had told his crew that he would blow up the ship with all hands before striking his colors, and they believed him implicitly.

This was the hero who was described as "a Jew by persuasion, a Frenchman by birth, an American for convenience, and so diminutive in stature as to make him appear ridiculous, in the eyes of others, even for him to enforce authority among a hardy, weatherbeaten crew should they do aught against his will." He was big enough, nevertheless, for this night's bloody work, and there was no doubt about his authority.