In the 1817 book "A Full and Correct Account of the Chief Naval Occurrences of the Late War," author William James told of the battle between the British warship "Epervier" and the American warship the "Peacock" in the War of 1812. Savannah's important role in this affair was two-fold: it served as a port to which the captured British warship was taken; and it served as the site of legal proceedings over the fate of the ship and her cargo. The "HMS Epervier" a "Brig-Sloop," was built in 1812, and had a crew of 101 men and 16 ‘boys.' She was 110 feet long and 31 feet wide, and was commanded by Capt. Richard Wales.