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7 July 1798: The U.S. frigate Delaware captures the French privateer Croyable off Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey.
The Delaware, one of the new navy's newest ships, was purchased and given to Capt. Stephen Decatur to command. The ship set sail from Delaware Bay on 6 July to link up with the USS United States and the USS Ganges and patrol the Atlantic Coast between Long Island and Cape Henry, Virginia.
The next day, Decatur spotted the merchant ship Alexander Hamilton limping across Great Egg Harbor Bay. The merchantman had been carrying a cargo of wine and brandy from Baltimore to New York City when it was stopped by a French privateer and ransacked.
Decatur surveyed the area and spotted four sails on the horizon. It was likely a privateer, so Decatur ordered the crew to deceive the French into thinking Delaware was a merchant vessel. The ploy worked. La Croyable gave chase and Decatur maneuvered until he had the French privateer pinned against the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay. The French commander surrendered to Decatur after only a few cannon shots.
It was the navy's first victory of the Quasi-War and Delaware set off with her prize for Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River near Philadelphia.
The government deemed the seizure to be lawful capture and the vessel was renamed USS Retaliation and given to Lt. William Bainbridge to command.
The Delaware, one of the new navy's newest ships, was purchased and given to Capt. Stephen Decatur to command. The ship set sail from Delaware Bay on 6 July to link up with the USS United States and the USS Ganges and patrol the Atlantic Coast between Long Island and Cape Henry, Virginia.
The next day, Decatur spotted the merchant ship Alexander Hamilton limping across Great Egg Harbor Bay. The merchantman had been carrying a cargo of wine and brandy from Baltimore to New York City when it was stopped by a French privateer and ransacked.
Decatur surveyed the area and spotted four sails on the horizon. It was likely a privateer, so Decatur ordered the crew to deceive the French into thinking Delaware was a merchant vessel. The ploy worked. La Croyable gave chase and Decatur maneuvered until he had the French privateer pinned against the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay. The French commander surrendered to Decatur after only a few cannon shots.
It was the navy's first victory of the Quasi-War and Delaware set off with her prize for Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River near Philadelphia.
The government deemed the seizure to be lawful capture and the vessel was renamed USS Retaliation and given to Lt. William Bainbridge to command.
Military History
France
American History
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 7
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. They sure changed the ship names often.
...."Renamed Retaliation and placed under the command of Lt. William Bainbridge, the schooner departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 28 October 1798 with Montezuma and Norfolk and cruised in the West Indies protecting American commerce. On 20 November the French frigates L’Insurgente and Volontaire overtook Retaliation while her consorts were away on a chase and forced Bainbridge to surrender the hopelessly outgunned schooner. However, even as a prisoner, the clever young American officer managed to serve his country. He saved Montezuma and Norfolk by convincing the senior French commander that those American warships were too powerful for his frigates and induced him to abandon the chase.
Renamed Magicienne by the French, the schooner again came into American hands on 28 June 1799, when a broadside from Merrimack forced her to haul down her colors. She performed convoy duty in the Caribbean before returning to Philadelphia in August. Her crew was then discharged and the schooner was sold on 29 November 1799. Delware continued to serve during the Quasi-War; after her final cruise off Cuba in the fall and winter of 1800-1801, she returned to Baltimore, Maryland, where she was sold in early 1801."
Posted by NHHC in Ships
...."Renamed Retaliation and placed under the command of Lt. William Bainbridge, the schooner departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 28 October 1798 with Montezuma and Norfolk and cruised in the West Indies protecting American commerce. On 20 November the French frigates L’Insurgente and Volontaire overtook Retaliation while her consorts were away on a chase and forced Bainbridge to surrender the hopelessly outgunned schooner. However, even as a prisoner, the clever young American officer managed to serve his country. He saved Montezuma and Norfolk by convincing the senior French commander that those American warships were too powerful for his frigates and induced him to abandon the chase.
Renamed Magicienne by the French, the schooner again came into American hands on 28 June 1799, when a broadside from Merrimack forced her to haul down her colors. She performed convoy duty in the Caribbean before returning to Philadelphia in August. Her crew was then discharged and the schooner was sold on 29 November 1799. Delware continued to serve during the Quasi-War; after her final cruise off Cuba in the fall and winter of 1800-1801, she returned to Baltimore, Maryland, where she was sold in early 1801."
Posted by NHHC in Ships
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