November 9, 1814

Atlantic Ocean – Gen. Pakenham is impatient as Captain Swaine of HMS Statira seems overly cautious and the journey across is taking longer than anticipated. Swaine shortens sails at night and runs from any sail on the horizon. Swaine is worried. American heavy frigates are bigger than his ship and fast enough to catch Statira. The USS Constitution and USS President have already defeated British frigates. Royal Navy fighting instructions order British frigates to never engage American frigates unless we have a two to one advantage.

Pakenham’s staff officers hear from Lt. Dalby, Statira’s first officer, how they are particularly concerned about a new American super-frigate, USS Relentless. Dalby’s frigate was sunk by Relentless a year earlier, along with another frigate and a ship-of-the-line in a titanic battle in which the American frigate escaped unscathed.

from BATTLE KISS, Part 1, "The Redcoats are Coming" www.oneildenoux.net