August 2 1812: Emulous Runs Aground

On August 2 1812, the HMS Emulous a Royal Navy 28 gun Cruizer, class brig-sloop, is about 19 miles from Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia. It is sailing with the Colibri trying to find an American privateer nearby. Emulous has been cruising the Atlantic coast for the last month and has been very successful in capturing American merchant vessels. Today, the officer of the watch,  Lieutenant Thomas Fowler, does not send out a pilot as the vessel approaches the coast. Master John Wilson, does not take depth soundings during his watch. The result is that the Emulous suddenly runs aground. Colibri takes off all non-essential crew and  prisoners. The Emulous then falls over onto her beam-ends. She is not salvageable.