It was as a reward of merit that he was given command of the _Argus_.

Alas, in this fight off the coast of Wales he lost both his ship and his life, and England had scored again.

There was no ill-luck this time--nothing to plead in excuse.

The American brig threw away a chance of victory because her shooting was amazingly bad, and instead of defending the deck with pistol, pike, and musket, when the boarders came over the bow the crew lowered the flag.
It was an early morning fight, on August 14, 1813, in which Captain Allen had his leg shot off within five minutes after the two brigs had engaged.

He refused to be taken below, but loss of blood soon made him incapable of command, and presently his first lieutenant was stunned by a grapeshot which grazed his scalp.