Documents
Captain Thomas Truxtun's Report of the Capture of the Insurgente
[9 February 1799]
To Secretary of the Navy from Captain Thomas Truxtun, U. S. Navy
United States Ship Constellation in Sight of the
Island of Saint Christophers' 10th February 1799
Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 4th Instant to which I must beg leave to refer, and soon after weighed from Bassateer Road, Saint Christophers, and proceeded to Sea, having made the necessary Arrangements with the Merchants,
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| Commander Thomas Truxton. From the collections of The Mariners' Museum. |
& Masters of Vessels, for a Convoy to Sail on this Day for the United States, under charge of the Norfolk and Richmond, which Vessels I directed to cruize in the mean Time near Saint Bartholomews', and Saint Martins, so as to be at Hand to proceed with the Convoy at the Time appointed. As soon as I left the Road of Bassateer (which I did solus) I stretched under Montserrat, and towards Gaudaloupe by the Wind, and from thence under the Lee of Antigua, and Barbuda; in this Route, I only met two Merchant Vessels and a British Frigate; I therefore thought it best to change my Ground, which I did, and run down towards the Island of Nevis, and on the 9th Instant at Noon, that Island bearing W.S.W. five leagues Distance discovered a large Ship to the Southward, on which I bore down. She hoisted American Colours and I made our private Signal for the Day, as well as that of the British, but finding she answered neither, must confess that I immediately suspected her to be an Enemy, and in a short Time after found, that my Suspicions were well founded, for she hoisted the french national Colours, and fired a Gun to Windward (which is a Signal of an Enemy) I continued bearing down on her, and at 1/4 past 3 PM. she hailed me several Times, and as soon as I got in a Position for every Shot to do Execution I answered by commencing a close, and successful Engagement, which lasted untill about half after 4 PM, when she struck her Colours to the United States Ship, Constellation, and I immediately took possession of her; she proves to be the celebrated french national Frigate, Insurgente of 40 Guns, and 400 Men, lately out from France, commanded by Monsieur Barreaut, and is esteemed one of the fastest sailing Ships in the french Navy. I have been much shattered in my Rigging and Sails, and my fore top Mast rendered from Wounds useless; you may depend the Enemy is not less so; I intend to get into Bassateer Roads, Saint Christophers if possible, with my Prize, but the Wind being adverse and blowing hard, I much doubt, in the crippled State of both Ships (without a Change) whether I shall effect it, and if not I must make a Port to Leeward. The high State of our Discipline, with the gallant Conduct of all my Officers, and Men, would have enabled me to have compelled a more formidable Enemy to have yielded, had the Fortune of War thrown one in my Way; as it is, I hope the President and my Country will for the present be content, with a very fine Frigate being added to our infant Navy, and that too with the Loss of only one Man killed, and three wounded, while the Enemy had (the french Surgeon reports) Seventy killed, and wounded; several were found dead in her Tops &c., and thrown overboard, 18 Hours after we had Possession of her. I must not omit in this hasty Detail to do Justice to Monsieur Barreaut for he defended his Ship manfully, and from my raking him several Times,
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| Benjamin Stoddert, secretary of the navy. From the collections of The Mariners' Museum. |
fore and aft, and being athwart his stem ready with every Gun to fire, when he struck his Colours, we may impute the Conflict not being more bloody on our Side, for had not these Advantages been taken, the Engagement would not have ended so soon, for the Insurgente was completely officered, and manned.
I have the Honor to be, Dear Sir, with great Esteem,
Your most Obedt & very hble Servt
P.S. Be pleased to write Mrs. Truxtun a Line at Perth Amboy, and tell her I am well, for I have not Time. The Insurgente left Gaudaloupe the 8th Instant having returned from a short Cruize a few Days before, in which she took 5 valuable English Ships, and got 4 of them Safe in, the Other the Captain says had not arrived when he sailed. The french Captain tells me, I have caused a War with France, if so I am glad of it, for I detest Things being done by Halves.
Honble' BENJAMIN STODDERT
Secretary of Navy
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