In the next five months, "Essex" captured thirteen British whalers, including , (ex-"Atlantic") which cruised in company with her captor; Porter put his executive officer, John Downes, in command of "Essex Junior". The two ships and nine of their prizes put in at the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands on 25 October 1813 for repairs. While they were there, their crews became involved in a local dispute that resulted in the Nuku Hiva Campaign, which temporarily established the United States' first colony and naval base in the Pacific Ocean. "Essex" and "Essex Junior" departed Nuku Hiva in mid-December 1813.