Argus	Commander Mullins
Frigate	January 1778-
[unknown] Privateer Ship

Commissioned/First Date:	January 1778
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

Tonnage:

Battery:

Date Reported: 4 January 1778 Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside 20/ Total: 20 cannon/ Broadside: 10 cannon/ Swivels:

Crew:

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

Prizes:

Actions:

(1) Action with Panther, 4 January 1778

Comments:

The [unknown] Privateer Ship Argus (Commander Mullins) was at sea in January 1778, off the coast of France. She was sailing in company with the [unknown] Privateer Ship Congress’s Delight (Commander Ward) and the [unknown] Privateer Brig Spider (Commander Budd). Argus was said to be armed with twenty guns, Congress’s Delight with twenty-two guns, and Spider with eight guns and ten swivels.

On 4 January 1778 these three sighted a convoy bound from England to the Mediterranean, escorted by HMS Panther, a sixty-gun ship and the flagship of Vice Admiral Robert Duff. Panther discovered the three sail at dawn and saw them bear down on the Panther, perhaps thinking she was an East India vessel. Panther cleared for action. The Americans opened fire on the Panther, and it was briskly returned. Panther steered for the nearest one, brig Spider. The Americans immediately began running, but a shot from Panther took off her main topmast, and the brig immediately hove to and struck. Panther sent a boat to the Spider and steered after the other two. In passing Panther received a “smart broadside” from each ship. The Americans then showed their heels to the British battleship. When he saw that pursuit was useless, Duff turned back to the convoy, which was nearly out of sight on the horizon.

From the captured brig the British learned the identities of the other two vessels. Seven men were wounded in the Panther in this little fight. Spider had one killed and three wounded.¹

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¹ NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from an Officer of H.M.S. Panther,” XI, 891 and notes. Letter is also printed in The Pennsylvania Ledger: or the Philadelphia Market-Day Advertiser, Wednesday, April 15, 1778