noon
In the opinion of all persons of sober judgment , there was nothing in the condition of affairs at this time so dangerous to the peace of the two countries as the presence of these American cruisers in the fishing waters . The Eliza Drum was late in her arrival on the fishing grounds , and having , under orders from Washington , reported to the commander of the Lennehaha , the United States vessel in charge at that place , her captain and crew went vigorously to work to make up for lost time . They worked so vigorously , and with eyes so single to the catching of fish , that on the morning of the day after their arrival , they were hauling up cod at a point which , according to the nationality of the calculator , might be two and three-quarters or three and one-quarter miles from the Canadian coast . In consequence of this inattention to the apparent extent of the marine mile , the Eliza Drum , a little before noon , was overhauled and seized by the British cruiser , Dog Star . A few miles away the Lennehaha had perceived the dangerous position of the Eliza Drum , and had started toward her to warn her to take a less doubtful position . But before she arrived the capture had taken place . When he reached the spot where the Eliza Drum had been fishing , the commander of the Lennehaha made an observation of the distance from the shore , and calculated it to be more than three miles .