The British commander seemed to appreciate this fact, for every effort was made to keep the news of the battle from becoming known in England, and when complete concealment was no longer possible, an official report was given out that minimized the British loss, magnified the number of the Americans, and totally mis-stated the facts bearing on the violation of the neutrality of the Portuguese port.

Captain Reid, however, was made a hero by his countrymen.

A Portuguese ship took him and his crew to Amelia Island, whence they made their way to New York.

Poughkeepsie voted him a sword.
Richmond citizens gave him a complimentary dinner, at which were drunk such toasts as: "The private cruisers of the United States--whose intrepidity has pierced the enemy's channels and bearded the lion in his den"; "Neutral Ports--whenever the tyrants of the ocean dare to invade these sanctuaries, may they meet with an 'Essex' and an 'Armstrong'"; and "Captain Reid--his valor has shed a blaze of renown upon the character of our seamen, and won for himself a laurel of eternal bloom." The newspapers of the times rang with eulogies of Reid, and anecdotes of his seafaring experiences.

But after all, as McMaster finely says in his history: "The finest compliment of all was the effort made in England to keep the details of the battle from the public, and the false report of the British commander." In finally estimating the effect upon the American fortunes in the War of 1812, of the privateers and their work, many factors must be taken into consideration.