quently by Oxnard. She had an American cominission, and sailed under the American flag, but always fitted, and sailed out of French ports, viz., Brest, l'Orient, and Morlaix. This vessel was very successful. She cruised the greatest part of the war in the British and Irish Channels and made a large number of rich prizes. These she generally sent into French ports; sometimes, however, she sent a few to the United States. The privateer-schooner Saratoga, spoken of in this chapter, belonged to New York. She was a powerful vessel. On her first cruise she was commanded by Ricker, who made some prizes. On her second cruise she was commanded by Charles W. Wooster, who captured the British letter-of-marque brig Rachel, after a well-fought battle. Her third commander was the celebrated Guy R. Champlin, who made a great many very valuable prizes. Though this vessel had several battles with the enemy, she ran all the war without being captured. CHAPTER VI. The well known privateer Decatur, of Charleston, figures conspicuously in this chapter. The schooner David Porter, also here spoken of, under the command of George Coggeshall, was a letter-ofmarque, and belonged to New York. She made a successful cruise in the Bay of Biscay, and was subsequently sold in Boston, from which port she sailed as a privateer, and made several cruises under the command of Fish. CHAPTER VII. The well known and gallant Captain David Maffet, of Philadelphia, spoken of in this chapter, first commanded the privateer-schooner Atlas, and made many captures. He subsequently commanded the Rattlesnake, and made a great many prizes. He vanquished the enemy in several hard-fought battles. The little Saucy Jack, of Charleston, also mentioned in this chapter, figured conspicuously throughout the war. CHAPTER VIII. Cruise and capture of the Leo. See Index. CHAPTER IX. The privateer Portsmouth, of Portsmouth, was a conspicuous cruising vessel. She was commanded by John Sinclair, and made a great many valuable prizes. His widow, a very respectable lady is still living, and resides in Brooklyn, New York. The celebrated privateer-brig Yankee, also alluded to in this chapter, was owned by James De Wolf, Esq., of Bristol, R. I. In several of her first cruises, she was commanded by Wilson, and subsequently by Smith. She was a most fortunate vessel, and made a great many captures. She took the Royal Bounty, a British letter-of-marque-ship, after a severe engagement. She ran all the war, and was never captured. The privateer-schooner Jack's Favorite, belonged to New York. On several of her first cruises, she was Johnson, and made several prizes. commanded by She was subsequently commanded by Miller. CHAPTER X. The privateer-ship America, alluded to in this chapter, was a well-armed and well-manned vessel. She was very conspicuous and very fortunate during the whole She belonged to Salem, and was commanded by I. W. Chever. Perhaps this vessel made more money for her owners, captain, officers and crew, than any other privateer, cruising out of the United States. war. The heroic Captain Boyle commanded two privateers during the war, viz., the Comet, and afterwards the Chasseur. She captured a great many prizes, and vanquished the enemy in several hard-fought battles. See Index. CHAPTER XI. Captain Reid's famous defence of the privateerschooner General Armstrong, at Fayal. During the several years of the war, the number of privateers and letters-of-marque belonging to New York, amounted to 55. Of all the captains who commanded these vessels, but two are living at the present time, -Captain Reid, and the author of these pages. INDEX. Action between the Atlas and two British Ships, Adiona, British Brig, taken by the Constitution, Aduiral Warren's Blockade of American Ports, Remarks on, 21 76 Allen, Henry, Second Lieutenant of the Leo, Extract of Letter from, 291 318 A Memorial from the Merchants of New York to the Congress of the United States, . 89-95 Anecdote Illustrating the Spirit of the Times, 304 Anne, British Schooner, brought into Thomastown, by American Privateers, 297 307 24 149 Arrow, Privateer, Loss of, 321 Atlantic Ports, Prizes daily arriving at 38 Battle between the United States Frigate United States and the British Frigate Battle with and defeat of the Guerriere, Battle between the Privateer Nonsuch and an English Ship, off Martinique, 87-88 72-75 326 26-30 Battle between the United States Frigate President and a British Fleet, 340 Baltimore, Patriotism of City of 130 Barney, Commodore, returns to Baltimore, 84 Bay of Biscay, Terrible Gale in 182 Benjamin Franklin, Privateer, takes Schooner Industry, 60 Biddle, of the Hornet, engages and defeats the Penguin, 332 Blockade, Privateer, sails from Newport in company with Privateer Yankee, 144 56 Boyle, Captain of Privateer Chasseur, cruises on Coast of Brazil, &c., &c., 132 Intercepts three British vessels under Portuguese protection. Gallant encounter, and complete victory, 132 in the Chasseur, 139 Cruise in Schooner Comet, 166 Heroic and gallant conduct and achievements of, . 358 List of Prizes taken by, 358 Letter of, to one of the Owners, 362 Battle with and Capture of the St. Lawrence, 363 |