Kellow, Ken. "American War of Independence at Sea", entry for "Privateers: Dolphin", (www.awiatsea.com, post dated - September 2, 2017.)
Kellow, Ken. "American War of Independence at Sea", entry for "Privateers: Mayflower", (www.awiatsea.com, post dated - no date.)
Lewis, James A. The Final Campaign of the American Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Spanish Bahamas, (Columbia, SC: The University of South Carolina Press, 1991.)
Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
Lincoln, Charles Henry. Naval Records of the American Revolution, 1775-1788, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1906.)
McManemin, John A. Captains of State Navies during the Revolutionary War, (Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ: Ho-Ho-Kus Publishing Company, 1984.)
The posts which have occupied the last four posts in this overall blog between October 5, 2017 and January 11, 2018 have focused on Captain of Marines John Trevett and his adventures and exploits during the American Revolution. These four separate posts have all appeared under the titles of "...To Sail the Deep Blue Sea, in Defiance of the British Crown...": John Trevett, Captain of Marines on board the Frigate South Carolina: A Revolutionary Life Lived, Well and Widely, With a Few Questions Remaining, Pts. I - IV" and dated, respectively, "10/05/2017", "11/24/2017", "12/20/2017", and "01/01/2018". As far as the writer of this blog knows, Captain of Marines John Trevett is the only American, officer or enlisted, engaged in the struggle for American independence who participated in all three of the raids/assaults on New Providence, Bahamas during the American Revolution. The four previous posts attest to the wide combat experiences and varied exploits of Captain of Marines John Trevett. Truly, he was a fire-eating patriot, who fought long and valiantly for the freedom of his homeland. Thus, on April 22, 1782, on board the frigate South Carolina, he found himself preparing for his third and final assault on New Providence, Bahamas.
When Commodore Alexander Gillon sailed the frigate South Carolina into The Havana, Cuba's harbor on January 12, 1782, he could not have entered the port city at a more crucial moment. This crucial nature of the moment had been established by the frantic activity going on in the harbor related to the preparations for multiple Spanish planned invasions of areas around the Caribbean Sea. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 59:
"Spanish plans for the Caribbean included several projects that required only modest force. These actions were to be sandwiched between bigger undertakings, such as that against Pensacola and the forthcoming venture against Jamaica. One such adventure was an expedition to the Gulf of Honduras to roll back British advances along the Mosquito Coast. Another was a sortie north to capture Nassau. It was the later that would most concern the South Carolina.".
Negotiations took place between Commodore Alexander Gillon and Juan Manuel de Cagigal, the Captain-General of Cuba, concerning the American frigate being recruited to act as escort for the Spanish fleet of troop transports carrying the Spanish soldiery to invade the Bahamas. The frigate South Carolina was the heaviest-gunned ship-of-war in The Havana, Cuba's harbor and Captain-General Cagigal was keen to have the power of the patriot frigate as protection for his Spanish troop transports. He was willing to deal in additional supplies, food, martial materials, and other services on the parts of the Spanish port authorities for the frigate South Carolina in exchange for the presence of the American frigate in New Providence's harbor when the time came for it to appear there. But, Gillon took advantage of the presence of other American ships-of-war also moored in The Havana, Cuba's harbor to seek out further American participation in the assault on New Providence, Bahamas. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, pages 65-66:
"While the two leaders [Commodore Alexander Gillon and Captain-General Juan Manuel de Cagigal] worked together to create a convoy, they each also labored on separate parts. Gillon evidently concentrated on securing the armed escorts and Cagigal on finding transport vessels. Ultimately, Gillon recruited a dozen to fifteen American merchantmen in the port of Havana to protect the expedition. The American merchant ships included two so-called "frigates", five or six brigantines, and the rest sloops or schooners. Most, but not all, were armed. The majority worked out of Philadelphia and Baltimore, momentarily in Havana after delivering barrels of flour, a trade that thrived in the waning years of the war. In case the South Carolina ran into trouble or sank, Capt. James Montgomery of the brigantine Galvez was to take command. It is doubtful whether Cagigal and the Spaniards were consulted, or even knew, about this appointment.".
(Note: The following information is found in the footnote that is associated with the above passage in Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 66. This footnote is located in Lewis's work on page 190, note 4 and is as follows:
"The exact size of the convoy and the total number of American ships are not easy to determine, particularly since people on the scene counted differently. The South Carolina, to illustrate one problem, sailed with at this time with her own tender, a schooner called The Surprise; some counted both vessels as one ship, others listed them separately. Also complicating the count was the tendency of ships to join or leave the venture. Even once at sea the number grew; Gillon forced sesvral Spanish truce ships to sail with the convoy. There were prizes taken along the way. Gillon's count, which should have been reasonably accurate since it was his responsibility to know the each member of the convoy; fluctuated. At one point, he reported fifty-nine ships (thirteen American) in the convoy, later sixty-two vessels (sixteen American). Intendent Urriza, who had to pay for each ship, listed fifty-seven ships (twelve American).".)
It will be the focus of this specific post to attempt to identify these additional American ships-of-war that accompanied the frigate South Carolina on the expedition to seize the British-held colony of New Providence, Bahamas. As has been pointed out in a few of the preceding posts, Commodore Alexander Gillon was the only American commanding officer to participate in the seizure of a foreign colony during the course of the American Revolution. But, the patriot frigate was not alone. There were other American ships-of-war with the frigate South Carolina, many of them armed vessels. From the passage cited above, it would appear that Commodore Alexander Gillon was quite effective in his recruiting efforts. All information concerning these ships-of-war will be recorded here in an effort to tell the story of these numerous American ships-of-war and their part in the overall story of the frigate South Carolina.
A list of these involved ships-of-war can be found in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies during the Revolutionary War, page 351. This list follows a listing of the individual ships-of-war of the Spanish fleet and is simply headed as "American Vessels". The citations begin with the three "ships" or "frigates", then moves to the five brigantines, and concludes with the four schooners and sloops. This listing of American vessels, as contained in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, is crucial due to the inclusion in this list of the caliber/weight of shot of the guns on board of each of these ships-of-war. Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, only includes the number of cannon mounted on each of the ships-of-war but, no reference to the caliber of these guns. Each citation contained in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, also contains other pieces of pertinent information regarding each of these ships-of-war. The lists from both of these works will be compared in the citations below. These two lists will be cited together for each of these patriot ships-of-war in order that a more full picture of these ships should be presented. The information oin these individual American ships-of-war are as follows:
Frigate - South Carolina
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, the following information is provided concerning the frigate South Carolina:
Captain: John Joyner
Guns: 28 - 36-pounders
12 - 12-pounders
Men: 150
Land Officers: 14
Troops: 142
Tonnage: 1355 tons
Lading: none listed
Draft of water: 22 feet
Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, does not contain a citation for the frigate South Carolina. The best description of the frigate South Carolina and her dimensions can be found in Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 1, as well as in the post entitled "Construction of L'Indien" and dated "09/17/2014" of this overall blog.
(Note: the frigate South Carolina was the only one of the American ships-of-war in this expedition that is cited as carrying a marine contingent. These men are contained within the dual citations of "land officers" and "troops". None of the other American ships-of-war are cited as carrying any of these two categories of fighting men.)
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Ship - Queen of France
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the ship Queen of France:
Captain: John Hunn
Guns: 12 - 6-pounders
Men: 52
Tonnage: 297 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 424, the following information is provided concerning the Queen of France:
Pennsylvania Ship - Queen of France
Date of Commission: December 22, 1781
Master: John Hunn
Mate: Richard Dale, Philadelphia, PA
Guns: 12
Crew: 40
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: George Henry, Philadelphia; John Hunn, Philadelphia
Owners: George Henry, Philadelphia; Robert Knox & Co., Philadelphia
Witness: James Trimble
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Ship - Dolphin
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the ship Dolphin:
Captain: James Forbes
Guns: 10 - 6-pounders
Men: 43
Tonnage: 268 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 273, the following information is provided concerning the Dolphin:
Pennsylvania Ship - Dolphin
Date of Commission: December 27, 1781
Master: James Forbes
Mate: William Stevens, Philadelphia, PA
Guns: 10
Crew: 40
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: John Ross, Philadelphia; James Forbes, Philadelphia
Owners: Robert Morris, John M. Nesbitt, and John Ross, Phialdelphia, PA
Witness: James Trimble
(Note: According to Kellow's work, "American War of Independence at Sea", entry for "Privateers: Dolphin", all of the information recorded in Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, for the Dolphin is corroborated in Kellow's work except that the ship-of-war is recorded as a being a "corvette" instead of a "ship". Also, Kellow's work records the Dolphin as having a crew of 42 men instead of 40.)
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Brigantine - Prosperity
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Prosperity
Captain: Alexander Murray
Guns: 7 - 9-pounders
Men: 51
Tonnage: 156 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: 11 feet
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 422, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Prosperity:
Virginia brig - Prosperity
Date of Commission: November 6, 1781
Master: Alexander Murray
Guns: 14
Crew: 12
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: Alexander Murray, Baltimore; Joseph Wilson, Virginia
Owners: Hugh Young & Co. [Baltimore, MD]
Witness: Charles Hay
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Brigantine - Galvez
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Galvez:
Captain: James Montgomery
Guns: 12 - 6-pounders
Men: 45
Tonnage: 151 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 308, the following information concerning the brigantine General Galvez:
Pennsylvania brigantine - General Galvez
Date of Commission: December 21, 1781
Master: James Montgomery [Philadelphia]
Mate: Charles Nuttle [Philadelphia]
Guns: 8
Crew: 30
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: James Craig, Jr., Philadelphia; John Patton, Philadelphia
Owners: James Craig, Jr., John Patton, Alexander Nesbitt, and others, Philadelphia
Witness: James Trimble
(Note: According to McManemin's work, this ship-of-war was referred to as the brigantine Galvez while according to Lincoln's work, this ship-of-war was more properly referred to as the Pennsylvania brigantine General Galvez.)
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Brigantine - Industry
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Industry:
Captain: J. McClenachan
Guns: 10 - 6-pounders
Men: 30
Tonnage: 107 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: 9 feet
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Industry:
Pennsylvania brigantine - Industry
Date of Commission: July 26, 1781
Master: John McClenachan
Mate: Jacob Hanse [Philadelphia]
Guns: 8
Crew: 20
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: Blair McClenachan, Philadelphia; John McClenachan, Philadelphia
Owners: Blair McClenachan, Philadelphia
Witness: James Trimble
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Brigantine - Polly
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Polly:
Captain: J. Jewett
Guns: 8 - 4-pounders
Men: 25
Tonnage: 87 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, there is no brigantine that goes by the name of the Polly or is commanded by an officer named J. Jewett. Further research may well reveal definitive information concerning this patriot ship-of-war at which time this information will be included in this post.
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Brigantine - Hannah
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Hannah:
Captain: St. Fisher
Guns: 10 - 3-pounders
Men: 25
Tonnage: 79 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: 8 feet
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 325, the following information is provided concerning the brigantine Hannah:
Pennsylvania brigantine - Hannah
Date of Commission: September 7.1781
Master: Hendrick Fisher [Philadelphia]
Mate: John Drinker [Philadelphia]
Guns: 10
Crew: 16
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: Harmon Courter, Philadelphia; Isaac Kershaw, Philadelphia.
Owners: Harmon Courter, Isaac Kershaw and Hendrick Fisher.
Witness: James Trimble.
(Note: the readership of this blog will immediately notice that the captain's/commanding officer's first names are different in McManemin's work and Lincoln's work. McManemin cited the first name as being the abbreviation "St. ----" (most likely "Stephen" or "Steven") while Lincoln cited the first name as being "Hendrick". The writer of this blog has decided this is the same ship for a few reasons. The Hannah is listed under the heading of "Five Brigantines" in McManemins' work. Lincoln's work also cited the Hannah as being a brigantine. Lincoln's work cited her as being a "Pennsylvania brigantine" which is in keeping with Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, pages 65-66, that "...the majority worked out of Philadelphia or Baltimore...". The number of guns cited in both works matches exactly even though the crew numbers do not match exactly. Finally, the date of commission would have provided the Hannah with enough time to have logically been in The Havana, Cuba's harbor for Commodore Alexander Gillon to have recruited her captain to join him on the expedition against New Providence, Bahamas in late April - early May 1782.)
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Schooner - Surprise (tender)
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Surprise:
Captain: Tho. Hammond
Guns: 4 - 3-pounders
Men: 10
Tonnage: 30 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: 7 feet
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, there is no schooner that goes by the name of the Surprise or is commanded by an officer named Thomas Hammond. Further research may well reveal definitive information concerning this patriot ship-of-war at which time this information will be included in this post.
(Note: The Surprise is referred to at least twice in Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia. The first reference is within a footnote #4 located on page 190. This footnote addresses the difficulty in counting the American ships-of-war that embarked on the expedition to capture New Providence, Bahamas. The footnote states that "...the South Carolina, to illustrate one problem, sailed at this time with her own tender, a schooner called The Surprise; some counted both vessels as one ship, others listed them separately.". The second reference is found in the section of the overall work entitled "Appendix: Crew and Marines of the South Carolina", page 150, and is as follows:
Name: Position:
(Thomas?) Hammond Commanded tender Surprise
This citation even indicates that the full first name of individual in question is not known for certain, even though it is probably "Thomas". This is all the information recorded in this work concerning the schooner Surprise and her commanding officer. As more information is located and recorded, hopefully illustrating the history of this patriot ship-of-war.)
(Note: See note at the end of this list of ships-of-war.)
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Schooner - Hannah
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Hannah:
Captain: Chr. Gardner
Guns: 8 - 4-pounders
Men: 25
Tonnage: 111 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 324, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Hannah:
Virginia schooner - Hannah
Date of Commission: June 21, 1781
Master: Christopher Gardner
Mate: none given
Guns: 12
Crew: 35
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: Christopher Gardner [Virginia]; Hunter, Banks & Co. [Richmond].
Owners: Hunter, Banks & Co. [Richmond].
Witness: Adam Craig
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Schooner - Mayflower
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Mayflower:
Captain: Ter. Simmons
Guns: 10 - 4-pounders
Men: 25
Tonnage: 102 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: 10 feet
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, page 389, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Mayflower:
Connecticut schooner - Mayflower
Date of Commission: December 14, 1781
Master: Jeremiah Simmons
Mate: none given
Guns: 6
Crew: 12
Bond: $20,000
Bonders: Jeremiah Simmons, Philadelphia; Levinus Clarkson, Philadelphia; John Hallam, New London.
Owners: Levinus Clarkson & Co., Philadelphia.
Witness: Win[throp] Saltonstall, Ann Saltonstall.
(Note: According to Kellow's work, "American War of Independence at Sea": entry for "Privateer: Mayflower", this ship-of-war was initially commissioned as a Connecticut privateer on December 14, 1781. According to Middlebrook's work, History of Maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, Vol. II, page 159, the Mayflower is cited as being an "armed victualler". Later in the war, this ship-of-war would be commissioned as the Pennsylvania Privateer Schooner Mayflower.)
(Note: The two cited "Witnesses" to the commissioning of the Connecticut schooner Mayflower were Winthrop Saltonstall and his daughter, Ann Saltonstall. Winthrop was the brother and Ann the niece of Dudley Saltonstall of New London, CT. Captain Dudley Saltonstall was the Continental Navy commander of the failed Penobscot Expedition which resulted in the total loss of forty-four patriot ships-of-war on August 13-14, 1779. This would stand as the greatest, single loss of American ships-of-war until the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.)
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Schooner - Betsey
According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the schooner Betsey:
Captain: N. Cook
Guns: none given
Men: 18
Tonnage: 70 tons
Lading: sugars
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, there is no schooner that goes by the name of the Betsey or that is commanded by an officer named "N. Cook". Further research may well reveal additional information on this patriot ship-of-war at which time this information will be recorded in this post.
(Note: See note below.)
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Sloop - General Green
According to McManemin's work, Captains of State Navies, page 351, the following information is provided concerning the sloop General Green:
Captain: John Wares
Guns: none given
Men: 8
Tonnage: 77 tons
Lading: provisions
Draft of water: none given
According to Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, there is no sloop that goes by the name of the General Green or is commanded by an officer named John Wares. Further research may well reveal definitive information on this patriot ship-of-war at whcih time this information will be recorded in this post.
(Note: The two ships referenced directly above, the schooner Betsey and the sloop General Green, as well as the schooner (tender) Surprise, referenced earlier at the top of the section addressed "schooners", all have certain distinct similarities. These three ships represent the smallest three vessels of the American contingent. The schooner Surprise was the one one of the three that was armed and she was lightly armed at that - four 3-pounders. The schooner Betsey and the sloop General Green were both unarmed. According to McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, the list cited no guns as being on board either of these two ships. This may well be the reason that neither ship is cited in Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution. This work only cites armed privateers operating during the American Revolution and neither of these ships were armed and thus are not cited in this work. Most likely, all three of the ships operated in a support role during the Spanish invasion of New providence, Bahamas. The Surprise would have accompanied the frigate South Carolina and for the Betsey and the General Green possibly sailed in the capacity of providing food sources for the invasion fleet or transportation for the large number of Spanish troops involved in the invasion.
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Commodore Alexander Gillon had evidently finally achieved a personal goal or dream - the command of an assembled American fleet of ships-of-war. It also appears that he fully intended to retain control and command of this loosely organized fleet for as long as he could. After the successful invasion and capture of New Providence, Bahamas, the American vessels evidently all departed together for the mainland of America. According to Lewis's work, The Final Campaign of the American Revolution, page 31:
"On May 14, 1782, the South Carolina, and the American ships that wished to leave, sailed from New Providence. After patrolling a few days in the Northwest Providence Channel this small fleet, heavily armed by American standards, headed for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. The commodore dropped off disatches first along the South Carolina coast. Although at least one boat from this fleet put in at Baltimore, Gillon and most of his charges continued on to Philadelphia, arriving by the end of May. They brought welcome news about the conquest of New providence. Equally important for Philadelphia, merchant capital of the Confederation, Gillon's ships carried word of that the embargo at Havana had ended. The lucrative wartime trade with Cuba could resume.".
According to Lewi's work, Neptune's Militia, pages 77-78, more precise detail is provided concerning the movements about the Bahamas of the assembled American fleet after the capture of New Providence and its final departure for America:
"For nearly a week Commodore Gillon and his American escorts cruised the northwest and northeast channels leading to New Providence. Lookouts sighted nearly a dozen unfamiliar sail, some large enough to be threatening. Most were chased, and one was captured. She was a small Bahamian schooner, which Gillon turned into a tender for the South Carolina. On May 14, exactly eight days after the conquest of New Providence and at the end of the contracted period agreed upon by the Spanish treasury with the American sea captains, the Commodore called out the other American ships anchored in the port of Nassau and sailed away from his Spanish allies. There was some apprehension over whether Captain-General Cagigal would release all these escorts, but he did.
Gillon left behind a bitter ally, who had been stripped of nearly all his naval protection. The Commodore also left behind the best chance he would have during the war to earn money with the South Carolina. There is little reason to doubt that a significant financial reward would have been forthcoming if relations had remained harmonious between the two allies and the Commodore had escorted the Spanish transports to the Cape or Havana. Instead, the great frigate headed toward Philadelphia, where, in the Commodore's own words, a "choir of conspirators" awaited his arrival.
The small fleet of American escorts saw the last of the Bahamas on May 15 and headed north together. The prize captured by the South Carolina a few days before was sent by Gillon into Georgetown with letters for Governor John Mathews. Off the Chesapeake the American ships began to separate, those going to Baltimore bearing west while those heading further north continued straight ahead. At least one ship joined the South Carolina in her approach to Delaware Bay, which she reached on May 28. By this time even the Philadelphia part of the fleet had scattered somewhat, one having been captured by British ships without the knowledge of the Commodore. There is some evidence that the giant frigate captured a prize off the Chesapeake Bay and a second at the entrance to the Delaware. On May 29, Gillon docked at the City of Brotherly Love.".
The little fleet had entered their spotlight in history and performed heroically in assisting the Spanish invasion fleet to recapture the Bahamas Islands. Afterwards, with Commodore Alexander Gillon on board of the frigate South Carolina in the lead, they mostly left New Providence, Bahamas, and voyaged northward for America. The convoy began to break up at the Chesapeake Bay, with those who were out of Baltimore or another Virginia port turning westward while the remainder of the fleet continued their northward voyage towards Philadelphia, PA. It is somewhat possible to discern from which of the colonies these various different patriot ships-of-war originated. The frigate South Carolina obviously represented the colony of South Carolina, even though this colony was still officially occupied by the British. The schooner Mayflower represented the colony of Connecticut, though later it would be cited as a "Pennsylvania schooner". The schooner Hannah as well as the brigantine Prosperity represented the colony of Virginia. But, it should be pointed out here that the owning company as well as one of the bonders of the brigantine Prosperity were from Baltimore, MD. the colony of Pennsylvania was well represented by five of the fleet's ships-of-war - the "ships" Queen of France and Dolphin and the three brigantines Industry, Hannah, and General Galvez. These ships-of-war were all referenced in both Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, as well as in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies. But, it is Lincoln's work, Naval Records of the American Revolution, that gives the home ports of these various different patriot ships-of-war. Thus, for those four ships-of-war that are only found in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, there is no knowledge provided of from where these ships-of-war originated. These four ships-of-war were the brigantine Polly, the two schooners Surprise and Betsey, and the sloop General Green.
All the information presented in this post seems to verify that presented in Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, pages 65-66. This source states that "...Gillon recruited a dozen to fifteen American merchantmen..." and the citations here amount to twelve American ships-of-war, thirteen if one includes the frigate South Carolina. Lewis's work also states that "...most, but not all, were armed...". The only two ships that appear to be unarmed are the schooner Betsey and the sloop General Green. Lewis's work also goes on to state that "...the majority worked out of Philadelphia and Baltimore...." which appears to be fact for the five Pennsylvania ships as well as the the single Virginia ship, the brigantine Prosperity, which may well have worked out of Baltimore. The single Connecticut ship would eventually be cited as the "Pennsylvania schooner Mayflower" and would have also worked out of Philadelphia, PA. This would leave only the frigate South Carolina, which only put into the American port city of Philadelphia during her time as a patriot-controlled ship-of-war, and the four unidentified point of origin ships, which could easily have also worked out of one of these two colonial port cities. For the most part, both McManemin's and Lincoln's works corroborate the number of guns carried on each ship as well as the numbers of crew members, though they can have significant discrepancies between them at times. Almost all of the ships included in McManemin's work, Captains of the State Navies, page 351, with the exception of the sloop General Green, are cited as having a lading consisting of "sugars" when they departed the port city of The Havana, Cuba, bound for the invasion of New Providence, Bahamas. This would again corroborate the statement in Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 66, when it is stated that these American armed merchantmen were "...delivering barrels of flour, a trade that thrived in the waning years of the war.". Sugar was a highly sought after commodity in the North American colonies and would have been traded for flour which the Spanish in Cuba needed themselves. It is almost certain that none of these ships-of-war would have acted as troop transports for the invasion fleet due to being as loaded as possible with barrels or sacks of sugar for the return voyage. Only the sloop General Green is cited as carrying "provisions". The Spanish troops of the actual invasion forces probably by and large traveled to New Providence, Bahamas on Spanish transport ships and left the American ships to act solely as their armed escorts.
As stated a few paragraphs above, the small American fleet departed the Bahama Islands on May 15, 1781 and began their voyage northward for America. They reached Delaware Bay around May 24, 1781, nine days after departing the Caribbean Almost all of these patriot ships-of-war reached their destinations, except for a single exception. This single ship-of-war, the Galvez or General Galvez, and her captain, James Montgomery, will be the subjects of the following post.