When war was declared against Britain on 18 June 1812, "Essex", commanded by Captain David Porter, made a successful cruise to the southward. On 11 July near Bermuda she fell in with seven British transports ("Silverside" being one) and by moonlight engaged and took one of them as a prize. On 13 August she encountered and captured the sloop after an engagement. By September, when she returned to New York, "Essex" had taken ten prizes. The youngest member of the "Essex" crew was 10-year-old midshipman David Glasgow Farragut, who would become the first admiral of the US Navy. Farragut, who was Captain Porter's foster son, remained with the ship for the next two years.