Cadwallader	Commander Henry Johnson
Sloop-of-War	23 March 1779-
Massachusetts Privateer Ship

Commissioned/First Date:	23 March 1779
Out of Service/Cause:

Owners:

Henry Mitchell et al of [Boston], Massachusetts

Tonnage:

Battery:

Date Reported: 23 March 1779 Number/Caliber  Weight        Broadside 14/ Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/ Swivels:

Crew:

23 March 1779: 61 [total]

Description:

Officers:

Cruises:

(1) Boston, Massachusetts to, [15] May 1779-, with New Hampshire Privateer Ship Minerva and Massachusetts Privateer Ship Charming Sally

Prizes:

1) British Privateer Ship Revenge (Sheppard), with New Hampshire Privateer Ship Minerva and Massachusetts Privateer Ship Charming Sally

Actions:

(1) Action with Revenge, [5] June 1779

Comments:

Massachusetts Privateer Ship Cadwallader was commissioned on 23 March 1779 under Commander Henry Johnson  of Boston, Massachusetts, a former captain in the Continental Navy. She was listed as being armed with fourteen guns and as having a crew of sixty men. The signers of her Continental bond ($10000) and her Massachusetts bond (£4000) were Johnson and Francis Johonnot and George Stewart Johonnot, both of Boston. Her owners were listed as Henry Mitchell and others.¹

Cadwallader probably sailed about mid-May 1779, perhaps in company with New Hampshire Privateer Ship Minerva (Commander John Grimes) and Massachusetts Privateer Ship Charming Sally (Commander Alexander Holmes). About early June 1779 these three fell in with the British Privateer Ship Revenge (Sheppard), mounting twenty-four (or twenty-six) guns, along with assorted swivels and cohorns. Her principal owner was Sir George Collier, the British naval commander there. Revenge had sailed from Halifax twelve days before and had already captured one small American privateer brig. Revenge was the former Rhode Island Privateer Ship Blaze Castle.²

The three American privateers ganged up on the Revenge, which put up a very stout resistance. A two hour fight followed before Sheppard surrendered, with his ship “much shattered” and five men killed and several wounded. The Charming Sally was in the principal action and had one man killed and three wounded, including Holmes. The prize was sent into Boston, where she arrived on 10 June.³

¹ Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 90

² The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, June 29, 1779, datelined Boston, June 14; The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Tuesday, June 22, 1779,  datelined Boston, June 17; The Massachusetts Spy: Or, American Oracle of Liberty [Boston], Thursday, June 17, 1779; The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Monday, June 14, 1779

³ The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser [Philadelphia], Tuesday, June 29, 1779, datelined Boston, June 14; The Norwich Packet and the Weekly Advertiser, Tuesday, June 22, 1779,  datelined Boston, June 17; The Massachusetts Spy: Or, American Oracle of Liberty [Boston], Thursday, June 17, 1779; The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser [Boston], Monday, June 14, 1779

Posted 1 July 2008

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