This Unremembered US-France 'Quasi War' Shaped Early America’s Foreign Relations

SGT (Join to see) France was much more concerned with the European powers were fighting against it. The First Coalition had ended in 1797.
Since Horatio Nelson; Viscount Nelson of the Nile and Burnham decisively defeated the French fleet at the August 1798 Battle of the Nile (or Aboukir Bay), the fledging US Navy which had some experienced sailors and leaders was able to engage the remnants of the French fleet.
Yes the French employed privateers which the USA successfully engaged. The most significant naval battle was certainly the February 9, 19999 battle between the USS Constellation and the l’Insurgente in the Caribbean during which the USS Constellation captured the l’Insurgente
"The US Navy considered Insurgent a prize in the Quasi-War with France. The frigate was taken to the West Indies and refitted for service in the young American navy. She cruised under Lt. John Rodgers in company with Constellation until May 1799. Ordered back to the United States, Insurgent was purchased by the Navy for $84,500. Commissioned with Captain Alexander Murray in command, Insurgent sailed from Hampton Roads for Europe on 14 August 1799. Cruising in European waters during the winter of 1799-1800, the frigate captured the French ship Vendémiaire and recaptured the American ships Margaret, Angora, Commerce, and William and Mary. Insurgent returned to the United States in March 1800 via the West Indies.
Loss
On 29 April 1800 Patrick Fletcher assumed command and was ordered to cruise between the West Indies and the American coast to protect American shipping interests and to capture any enemy vessels he encountered. Insurgent departed Baltimore 22 July and after a brief stop at Hampton Roads sailed for her station 8 August 1800. She was never heard from again, and the frigate and her crew were presumed lost during the severe storm that struck the West Indies on 20 September 1800."
From revolvy.com/topic/USS%20Insurgent%20(1799)&item_type=topic
Here is a video focused on the Quasi war from 1798 to 1800 with primarily naval engagements depicted..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKT8RzCCnKM
background:
"The American merchant vessels often being picked off by foreign powers and the US no longer permitted to trade in British owned ports, President Washington sent New York Governor John Jay to England to forge a trade treaty, allowing US ships to trade in British owned ports and sometimes providing protection in convoys when traveling through dangerous waters. France could not promise the same for its organized Navy was now dis-organized what with all the political upheaval in their country; however, France saw this treaty as a betrayal and began to seek reprisals against the US with French privateers, picking off American vessels, seizing goods “destined for England” (whether or not was besides the case), impressing men to serve aboard French vessels (ironic as England would do the same, leading up to the War of 1812), and all but actually declaring war against the US out of spite."
From ussconnecticut1799.com/?page_id=55
"Military operations during the Quasi-War involved encounters between the U.S. Navy and French privateers, first along the Atlantic coast but then mostly in the West Indies. In two major naval battles, the USS Constellation engaged two French ships in the Caribbean, capturing l’Insurgente and severely damaged La Vengeance. The USS Enterprise, USS Eagle, and USS Experiment were among the most successful U.S. ships, capturing twenty-five French privateers. Despite these effective U.S. military operations, however, the French seized some 2,000 U.S. vessels during this conflict."

Images: 1998-08 Map Battle of the Nile Plan illustrating a line of shoals running roughly north to south; 1799-02-09 the USS Constellation (depicted at left) captured the French frigate L’Insurgente in the Caribbean Sea.
"The First Coalition 1793-1797: Between 1793 and 1797 the First Coalition was established in an attempt to defeat the forces of the French following the French Revolution of 1789. It comprised Spain, Holland, Austria, Prussia, England and Sardinia (S.H.A.P.E.S is the mnemonic used for this coalition). However, on land the French routed the European armies. In August 1793 France was made a 'Nation in Arms' when the Levée en Masse was decreed. Everyone and everything in France became available for the service of the Republic. An army of about one million men, with a will to win, was created. European monarchs could only muster armies of what Wellington later called the 'scum of the earth'. Soldiers were buttoned, powdered and drilled to perfection but had no personal interest in the results. The Allies also wanted territorial gains out of the wars. For example, Prussia and Austria squabbled over remnants of Poland; the Duke of York wanted to regain Dunkirk and Austria wanted to regain parts of Netherlands that had declared independence in 1790."
From historyhome.co.uk/c-eight/france/coalit1.htm
The Second Coalition was fighting France beginning in 1998 after Lord Horatio Nelson decisively defeated the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile (or Aboukir Bay)
The Second Coalition 1799-1801
In May 1798, to get rid of Bonaparte, the Directory sent him to capture Egypt. If the French dominated the Middle East they would have control of the overland route to India. This was a clear threat to Britain.
In August 1798 the Battle of the Nile (or Aboukir Bay) took place. Nelson wiped out the French fleet while it was at anchor in the shallows. 38,000 French soldiers were stranded. The French defeat allowed the formation of a second coalition, by restoring European confidence in Britain. Europe decided to attack France while she was weakened.
The second coalition lasted between 1799-1801 and comprised Turkey, England, Austria, Russia (T.E.A.R.). In 1799, European armies were successful: Austria drove the French back across the Rhine, a Russo-Austrian army drove the French out of Italy and Britain, under the Duke of York, drove the French out of Holland. A three-pronged attack was planned on France, by Britain, Austria and Russia.
Britain would attack through Holland
Austria would attack through Italy
a Russian army would attack France through Switzerland, now known as the Helvetian Republic, as set up by France.
Meanwhile, Napoleon had abandoned his army of Egypt to find its own way home; he had returned to France, where the Directory was stirring up war throughout Europe. The Directory had deported the Pope to France and set up the Roman Republic made Switzerland the Helvetian Republic under the French model and had installed an army of occupation attacked the Kingdom of Naples and created the Parthenopean Republic.
Bonaparte arrived in France on 9 October 1799 with only six officers but on 9 November 1799 (or 18 Brumaire, An VIII) he took over the government of France in the Coup d' état de Brumaire. The new constitution was the Consulate, modeled on the constitution of Ancient Rome, with 3 Consuls. The Consuls were Napoleon, Sieyés and Ducos. The Directory was dismissed as incompetent. There is some evidence to support Napoleon's accusation because European armies were having military successes, there was still a civil war in France and there had been no domestic reforms carried out since the beginning of the Revolution. When Napoleon made himself First Consul, no-one realized that a dictatorship was on its way.
In November 1799 Bonaparte took over effective government of France by coup d' état and began to defend France from the Allies' three-pronged attack. Immediately, France began to win land victories. The Russian and English forces were only token armies. The main army was Austrian. General Moreau led the French against Britain at Hohenlinden in Holland in 1799 and defeated British. Napoleon led French against Austria at the Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800 and routed the Austrians.
Napoleon was like Pitt in many respects, and embodied some of the best principles of the French Revolution. He appreciated and chose men of ability and talent rather than men of influence. His armies were made more professional, so the defeats of the allies were crushing and Napoleon divided, and so defeated, the coalition. Austria made peace with France in 1801 at Lunéville. Austria surrendered all territories south of the Rhine and all her possessions in Northern Italy to France. Russia was neutralized because Czar Paul (1796-1801) admired Napoleon as another autocrat. At the end of 1800 Russia left the coalition and became friendly with France. Russia became a threat to England because of the Eastern Question and because Britain relied heavily on Russia for naval supplies. The Russian threat to Britain was averted because:
Czar Paul was assassinated in 1801 and was succeeded by the pro-British Czar Alexander I
Britain defeated the Danish fleet at Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
Denmark was an ally of Russia after the League of Armed Neutrality had been resurrected. At the Battle of Copenhagen, the British fleet was commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker but Nelson famously disobeyed his orders ("I see no ships") and wiped out the Danish fleet. This was an example of Britain demonstrating her naval power yet again.
In 1802 the Peace of Amiens was concluded between Britain and France; both countries needed a breathing space after 10 years of war and the new Prime Minister of Britain, Addington, had always wanted to find a peaceful settlement to end the wars against France.'
From historyhome.co.uk/c-eight/france/coalit2.htm
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CPT Gabe Snell 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George MSG Andrew WhiteCpl Joshua Caldwell SGT Michael Thorin
Thanks for mentioning me SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas

I don't want to brag, but again, the Navy shines.

Always love a good history story, thanks.