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Maryland Privateer Brig Bacchus




Bacchus [Bantrus]

Commander Charles Wells

Armed Brig

8 June 1778-[April] 1780

Maryland Privateer Brig


Commissioned/First Date:

8 June 1778

Out of Service/Cause:

[April] 1780/captured by the British


Owners:

William Hammond et al; and Goodwin & Russell, all of Baltimore, Maryland; (2) William Hammond et al of Baltimore, Maryland


Tonnage:


Battery:

Date Reported: 8 June 1778

Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside

6/

Total: 6 cannon/

Broadside: 3 cannon/

Swivels: six



Date Reported: 8 June 1779

Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside

6/

Total: 6 cannon/

Broadside: 3 cannon/

Swivels: six


Crew:

(1) 8 June 1778: 19 [total]
(2) 8 June 1779: 19 [total]


Description:


Officers:


Cruises:

(1) Baltimore, Maryland to Nantes, France, [summer 1778]


Prizes:


Actions:


Comments:

Maryland Privateer Brig Bacchus1 [Bantrus]2 was commissioned on 8 June 1778 under Commander Charles Wells3 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.4 She was listed as having a battery of six guns, with six swivel guns, and a crew of eighteen men.5 Her $5000 bond was executed by Wells and William Hammond of Baltimore, Maryland.6 Her owners are given as Hammond and others of Baltimore, Maryland.7


Bacchus, sailing from Baltimore, arrived at Nantes, France about July 1778.8


She was re-commissioned on 8 June 1779, as the Maryland Privateer Brig Bantrus, with Wells as the commander. She was listed as having a battery of six guns, with six swivel guns, and a crew of eighteen men. Her owners are given as William Hammond and others of Baltimore, Maryland.9


Nothing else is known of her activities until early 1780, when Bacchus was captured by the British and taken in to Antigua.10

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1 NRAR, 231

2  Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:126

3 NRAR, 231; Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:126

4 NRAR, 231

5  Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:126

6 NRAR, 231

7  Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:126

8 The Pennsylvania Evening Post [Philadelphia],  Friday. October 23, 1778, datelined Baltimore, October 6

9  Archives of Maryland: Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779, 21:126

10 The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Saturday. May 20, 1780, datelined Baltimore, May 16