Captain Frazer Smith, of Isaac Todd, had acquired a letter of marque, and her task was to seize Fort Astoria, the Pacific Fur Company's trading outpost on the Columbia River.

Racoon then sailed on to Fort Astoria while Phoebe and Cherub set off to search for USS Essex.

Black arrived to find the matter already settled, though he went through a ceremony of possession and renamed the facility Fort George.

[3]) One person aboard Racoon when she arrived at Fort Astoria was Naukane (also known as John Coxe), a Native Hawaiian.

The North West Company had hired him as a laborer and to serve as an interpreter for future visits to the Hawaiian Islands.

From 13 to 19 March 1814, Racoon underwent repairs on the beach at Ayala Cove on the northern portion of Angel Island.

On 15 January 1815 Cherub and Racoon left Rio de Janeiro, escorting a convoy that included the storeships Prévoyante and Serapis, and seven merchantmen.