Naval Battles of 1777
February 6-9, 1777 at North Carolina coast, North Carolina (HMS Solebay vs. American ships) – On February 6, the frigate HMS Solebay captured the sloop Speedwell and its cargo of rice and indigo. The Solebay sent an officer and some men aboard and sailed the Speedwell to Jamacia.
On February 7, the Solebay captured the schooner Hope and the brig Fortune. Both ships were sailed to Jamacia.On February 9, the Solebay captured the schooner Little Dick. This ship ended up getting stuck on the Nassau Bar.
Conclusion: British Victory
April 2, 1777 at Delaware coast, Delaware (HMS Roebuck vs. USS Defense) – On April 2, at 6:00 A.M., the frigates HMS Roebuck and HMS Perseus, commanded by Capt. Charles Phipps, spotted the South Carolina Navy schooner USS Defense, commanded by Capt. Thomas Pickering. They immediately started to chase the Defense. The Roebuck finally caught up with the Defense at 1:00 P.M. The Roebuck came alongside the Defense and demanded to know what ship it was. Pickering tried to decieve the British by telling them that they were a cruiser from St. Augustine. The Roebuck did not take any chances and ordered them to lower their sails. When Pickering refused to do it, the 2 British ships opened fire on the Defense. The Defense quickly surrendered.
The British ships sent a crew aboard the Defense and sailed it to New York Harbor.
Conclusion: British Victory
May 3, 1777 at Dunkirk, France (USS Surprise vs. HMS Prince of Orange) – Gustavus Conyngham, the “Dunkirk Pirate,” was appointed by the American commissioners in Paris, France at the beginning of March 1777 as commander of the USS Surprise.
He attacked and captured the British packet HMS Prince Of Orange and brought her into port at Dunkirk.
Conclusion: American Victory
May 8, 1777 at South Carolina coast, South Carolina (USS St. Louis vs. HMS Industry) – ?
May 21, 1777 at St. Augustine, West Florida (USS Comet vs. HMS Apalachicola) – On May 21, the South Carolina Navy brig USS Comet spotted the HMS Apalachicpla. The Apalachicola was bound from London to St. Augustine carrying a load of dry goods. The Comet tried to outrun it. Both ships fired on one another during the chase. The chase lasted all night.
The Comet finally forced the Apalachicola to surrender after destroying its sails and riggings.
Conclusion: American Victory
May 22, 1777 at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (HMS Daphne vs. Fanny) – On May 22, the frigate HMS Daphne, commanded by Capt. St. John Chinnery, was on its way to St. Augustine. With the Daphne was the frigate, HMS Union, commanded by Capt. ?? Wallace. The British ships spotted the Fanny, commanded by Thomas Tucker, on their journey. They quickly captured the ship.
Conclusion: British Victory
May 25, 1777 at St. Augustine, West Florida (USS Comet vs. Rebecca) - On May 25, the South Carolina Navy frigate, USS Comet, commanded by Capt. Edward Allen, was sailing the waters off the Georgia coast when it spotted two sails near the shoreline. One of the ships were anchored and the other one was the privateer sloop Rebecca, commanded by Capt. John Mowbray. Mowbray did not know that the Comet was armed and began to pursue it. The Comet prepared for combat. When mowbray discovered that the Comet was armed, both British ships began to flee the area towards the St. Augustine Bar. The Comet immediately gave chase.
The Comet chased the British for 3 hours and finally caught up with the Rebecca. Allen fired 3 broadsides at the Rebecca then sailed towards the coast. Rebecca caught up with the Comet and fired 4 broadsides at it, tearing apart its rigging and sails. The Comet fired back at close range.
This battle continued for another 1/2 hour. Both sides firing as quick as they could at each other. The Rebecca suffered torn rigging and sails, then pulled back, repaired the damage, and returned to the fight. The Comet fled the area, with the British right behind it. Around midnight, the fight stopped because the British ships were falling behind.
Conclusion: Draw
June 5, 1777 at South Carolina coast, South Carolina (Privateer Union Captured) – On June 5, the privateer brig Union was on its way to Ireland when it was spotted by the Philadelphia privateer Lively, commanded by Capt. Woolman Sutton, off the South Carolina coast. The Lively captured the Union, put a crew aboard it, and sailed the Union to Charlestown.
Conclusion: American Victory
June 8-9, 1777 at St. Johns River, West Florida – On June 8, the privateer Cotesworth Pinckney, commanded by Capt. William Ranking, captured the sloop Mary.
On June 9, the Cotesworth Pinckney spotted 3 ships on the horizen. The ships were the frigate HMS Daphne, and its 2 prize ships Fanny and Polly. Ranking ordered the Mary to the coastline until he found out information about the 3 ships.
The Mary sailed close to the shore. At the mouth of the St. Johns River, it was discovered by the Rebecca, commanded by Capt. John Mowbray. The Mary sailed as fast as it could to the east, but was soon captured by the Daphne. The Daphne then chased after the Cotesworth Pinckney for 6 hours until it escaped.
Conclusion: British Victory
June 14, 1777 at Stono Inlet, South Carolina – On June 14, as the captured British privateer brig Union was approaching the mouth of the Charlestown Harbor, the frigates HMS Galatea and HMS Perseus spotted it. The Union was chased by the British ships when it suddenly ran aground at Stono Inlet. The crew abandoned the ship. A British tender sent out a few boats to capture the Union. They boarded the ship and then set it on fire.
Conclusion: British Victory
June 17 , 1777 at South Carolina coast, South Carolina (St. Louis vs. HMS Industry) – On June 17, the privateer St. Louis, commanded by Capt. Samuel Spencer, captured the HMS Industry. The Industry was then sent to Charlestown.
Conclusion: American Victory
June 27, 1777 at Off the Coast, France (USS Reprisal vs. HMS Burford) – After a successful foray against British merchantmen in the Irish Channel (they captured 18 ships, destroyed 10, and kept 8 ships as prizes), Capt. Lambert Wickes and his 2 accompanying raiders encountered the British warship HMS Burford when they had almost returned back to France.
Wickes ordered the other ships to scatter while he tried to make good the USS Reprisal’s escape. He stayed out of range of the British at first, but the Burford’s caught up and turned to fire a broadside at the Reprisal. Wickes turned to prevent his sides from being exposed, had some beams sawed from the Reprisal to increase the ship’s bouyancy, and sped to safety.
Conclusion: American Victory
USS Notre Dame vs. HMS Judith , July 14, 1777 at Florida coast, West Florida – On July 14, the USS Notre Dame, commanded by Capt. Stephen Seymour, spotted and captured the brig HMS Judith while off the Florida coast. The Judith was sent to Georgetown and arrived there on July 20.
Conclusion: American Victory
September 26, 1777 at North Carolina coast, North Carolina (Nancy vs. British ships) – On September 26, the privateer Nancy, commanded by Capt. ?? Palmer, captured 2 British ships off the North Carolina coast that contained 100 slaves. Palmer sent the ships to Georgia.
Conclusion: American Victory
December 22, 1777 at ??, Cuba (HMS Daphne vs. USS Comet) – On December 22, the brig USS Comet, commanded by Capt. James Pyne, encountered and fought the HMS Daphne. The Comet was captured, its crew were sworn into the British Navy, and Pyne was sent to new York and imprisoned.
Conclusion: British Victory
