The Naval History of the United States. Volume 1Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)
History
The Naval History of the United States. Volume 1
Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)
United States -- History, Naval
A good example of the Baltimore privateers was the "Revenge," mounting
eighteen guns, with a crew of fifty men. In 1780 this vessel was
commanded by Capt. Alexander Murray of the regular navy. She was
engaged by a large number of Baltimore merchants to convoy a fleet of
merchantmen, but had hardly started to sea with her charges when she
fell in with a fleet of British vessels, and was forced to retreat up
the Patuxent River. While there, the American fleet was strengthened
by several privateers and armed merchant-vessels which joined it, so
that it was felt safe to try again to get to sea. Accordingly the
attempt was made; but, though the captains of the fleet had signed a
solemn compact to stand together in case of the danger, the sudden
appearance of a fleet of hostile armed vessels sent all scurrying up
the Patuxent again, except one brig and a schooner. The British fleet
consisted of a ship of eighteen guns, a brig of sixteen, and three
privateer schooners. Leaving the schooners to his two faithful
consorts, Murray threw himself between the two larger vessels and the
flying merchantmen. Seeing themselves thus balked of their prey, the
enemy turned fiercely upon the "Revenge," but were met with so
spirited a resistance, that they hauled off after an hour's fighting.
The other American vessels behaved equally well, and the discomfiture
of the British was complete.
Philadelphia, though not looked upon as a centre of privateering
activity, furnished one privateer that made a notable record. This was
the "Holkar," sixteen guns. In April, 1780, she captured a British
schooner of ten guns, and in May of the same year she fought a
desperate action with a British privateer brig, the name of which has
never been ascertained. Twice the Briton sheered off to escape the
telling fire of the American; but the "Holkar" pressed him closely,
and only the appearance of a second British armed vessel at the scene
of the action saved the Englishman from capture. This battle was one
of the most sanguinary ever fought by private armed vessels; for of
the crew of the "Holkar" six were killed and sixteen wounded,
including the captain and first lieutenant, while of the enemy there
were about the same number killed and twenty wounded. Three months
later this same privateer fell in with the British sixteen-gun cutter
"Hypocrite," and captured her after a sharp conflict.
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