No commander was ever more beloved by his crew than Decatur, and they were ready to follow him to the death, for he was always their leader and the foremost in personal danger.
Since every minute was valuable, Decatur put about and made for the _Endymion_ with the intention of engaging her at close quarters.

But the British vessel suspected his purpose, for she also turned, and, being much the superior sailer, was able to hold a safe distance between the two.

It was an exasperating disappointment, but Decatur opened with a heavy fire, hoping to disable his antagonist before the arrival of the others.
A furious engagement followed, in which Decatur lost several of his most valuable officers and was himself painfully wounded by flying splinters.
But the American guns were served with perfect precision and the _Endymion_ was so broken and shattered by the fire that after two and a half hours she was incapable of further resistance.

She would have surrendered had the time been sufficient for Decatur to enforce the demand, but the other blockaders were hurrying up and placed the American again in grave danger.

He crowded on all sail once more, but the scurrying clouds which gave him a chance of escaping were swept from the sky and the bright moon revealed him so plainly to his pursuers that they rapidly overtook the _President_.